Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-08-30
A PLAQUE. Stricken CITY.


tion in the histories of these all-de-
vouring pestilences, from the days OF
Defoe downward. In "Eothen," Mr.
Kinglake gives a vivid picture Of
Cairo during the plague of 1847. When
Mr.. Kinglake arrivel at Cairo (he
rode in from the desert in spite of
friendly warnings) he found himself
the only European traveller there. 1t
was bold undertaking, voluntarily to
take up his abode in that plague
stricken city, and during his stay he
lived under perpetual apprehension,
for even in sleep, he says, there re-
mained with him some faint notion Of
the peril with which he was encom-
passed. Fear, he goes on to say, does
not necessarily damp the spirits.
When he first arrived the daily num-
Der of accidents by plague, out of
population of about 100000, did not
exceed 400 or 500, but before he went
away (Mr. Kinglake spent eighteen
daysin the city deaths werereckoneda at
1900 a day. His quarters were in one
of the chief thoroughfares of the city,
and the funerals passed under his
windows. These funerals were very
simply conducted. The bier was a
shallow wooden tray carried upon
a light and weak wooden
frame. The tray had in general
no lid, but the body was more or less
hidden from view by shawl or scarf.
" / never observed any appearance of
mourning in the mourners; the pace
was too severe for any solemn affecta-
ton Of grief" As the days passed
the funerals became more frequent
until at last the passing Of the howlers
from morn to noon was almost inces-
SAINT. "I believe that about ona-half
Of the whole people was carried off by
the visitation" The plague, however,
was never allowed to interfere with
the religious usages of the inhabitants.
The Mohammedans, it seems, refrain
from approaching heaven with their
complaints until the plague has en-
dured for a long space. And then they
pray God-not that the plague may
cease-but that it may go to another
cityl Those who believe in the eff
cacy of cordons and seclusion will ap-
preciate Mr.. Kinglake's account Of his
visit to his banker. He was a stanch
believer in the fatal effects Of contact.
" At his door several people were hang
ing about and keeping guard. At
length / was conducted through the
court, and up a fight Of stairs, and
finally into the apartment where busi-
ness was transacted. The room was di-
vided by good substantial fence of iron
bars, and behind these defenses the
banker had his station. From fear Of
the plague he had put himself in
strict quarantine 1 advanced to the
iron fence, and, putting my letter be-
tween the bars, politely offered it to
Mr.. Banker. Mr.. Banker received me
with sad and detected look, and not
with 'open arms but with a pair of
tongs. I placed my letter between
the iron fingers; 'nese instantly picked
it up as if it were viper and conveyed
it away to be scorched and purified by
smoke and fire." But, alasI despite
these ingenious contrivances for elud-
ing Fate, the money-changer, "who
had strove to guard the days of his
life with bolts and bars Of iron" was
carried off by the plague. Toward the
end Of his stay Mr.. Kingake had oc-
casion to consult one of the few avail
able doctors, Bolognese refugee. The
next day but one he sent to request
another interview. His messenger re-
turned presently, looking sadly aghast;
he had "met the medico-coming out
of his house-in a bier" Most of his
acquaintance, indeed, died.-London
Nez0S.