Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-03-28
An Amuaing rxnosa.


fact TINT great excitement existed In Zlnesyile
/ Ohio, with regard to the disappearance Of Mr.
Curtis, who, IL Is said, had diyulged the seeret
Of the Sons of Malta, aud had heen spirited awal
by the members of the Order. TO the great dis
tress of his family and the ast0nishmeut vi th
public at large. who scarcely knew what 10 thini
OF the bodncSs OF the proceeding, IL turns GU
that the expose which gave such offence 10 the
Order. was not written by Curtis, but by hi
wife, who comes out with an ayowal OF the fact
Gnd gives IL u $ her opinion that the Sons are no
to blame for his disappearance.
Mrs. Smith writes u very amusing account o
Mr. Curtis aud Mr. Smith becoming Sons Oi
Malta, and the natural curiosity Of herself and
Mrs. Smith 10 find out the secrets of the Order
The two ladiss agreed 10 have themselves propOs
cd as members, and got Mr.. Smiths cousin Il
attend 10 the matter. - Well Mrs. Curtis goes
on TO say We were proposed aud elected, and Joe
came down into the store where we were, and
told US SO we hurried through with the dress
ing, and went up into tho ante'chamber, where
We all sut down in Il row. We hadn't sat there
long before two men came out to MS from the in'
side room, all muillcd up in gowns, and having u
kind Of lin hats on their heads, which covered
their faces. They asked Us for $5 each aud
joe handed over the money for us and himself, as
we had given him nearly our amount, and prom
iSed him the rest soon, Then there cane two
more men like the other two, who formed US into
line, (they call it single ile) and told us to
walk right along, They had swords, and one ol
them walked before Joe, who was in front while
the other walked behind me. 1t was dark, or
nearly so, when we passed in. | was glad oi the
darkness, because, having on suit OF my hus'
bands clothes, was not sure that they lit very
well"
she next describes some of the scenes inside rs
she SAW them, and says
=" was not frightened for | am not one Of
your timid people, being reared to ride colts,
shoot pistols, skate and swim. So got through
all the manOeuvres, previous to thnt coat busl-
ness, pretty well. But when the conductor said,
- Can YOU swim " said :. Yes" I" Can you
swim in fourteen feet of water | said Yes
the deeper the better" Well, take of your
coat and try Yourself" Now, when he said
take Oh your coat. that scared me, because
had put Oh u loose sack ON purpose, lor reason
YOU will see yourself. However, thought mo-
mcut, and chen said, &" No, sir never heed the
c0at--l can swim us we'll with as without 1t y
" Very we'll, (said the cohductor) your peril will
be upon your own head. Now hold up Jour
right hand, sir Take this lite-prcServcr and
Here he gave me push, and ! went over back
wards and as soon as alightcd wentup again,
llying-thcn down and up in the same manner,
until thought all the brains were flying out oil
the top of my bead, and then everything swan
round and round until | diI not know anything
at all, for had tainted.
The next place found myself was in the ante
chamber, or rather, just being led into the ante
chamber, by two men and was first conscious
that must have been sitting in a bath tub with
my clothes on. thinl; that the cool air brought
me to my senses. The two men looked very
scared and sorry. looked about for Mrs. Smith
and Joe, but they had gone as soon rs they heard
the noise made in initiating me. asked ono o!
If Mr. Guvtis rvaa in tho lodge, The man
said he was, l said would like to see him Il
minute. The man went into the lodge rooln and
presently out came my beautiful husband, all
mutled up. just whispered a word in his ear.
and may be he didn't pull off his gown in short
order and walk home with me-
lie left ne that night in anger and mortiiica-
tion III | have not seen him since. But then
he had no need to be angry because he has always
known that have been in favor Of " Woman =
Rights" and have always held that women are
as capable as men But when it comes to the
q" Sons of Malta l think Womcns Rights is a
lailure-Aey cannot do ii.
do not suppose any Of the members recollcct
my initiation, but they will recollect the man
who tainted, unless there have been Others who
have tainted as well us myself, which last think
quite probable =
Mrs. Curtis stops here. Her husband, we may
add is yet missing, and not very likely soon to
turn up ; but she bames herself for the whole
thing.