Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-03-21

number of white men within the past
year. The latest news from New Guinea
is that Mr.. Armstrong, an Engllshman,
was recently lured to one of the coast
islands, where he was decapitated and
his head sent to the coast chiefs rs proof
that the islanders were attending 10
business. About year ago brave IN
one OF the wild tribes ON the Indian
frontier was not permitted to wed the
maiden of his choice because her rela-
tives were of the opinion that he HI d
not acquired a sufficient number OF
heads to demonstrate his prowess. 1t
was agreed that when he could show
two more heads he might have the girl,
and so he sailed forth to win reputation
and bride. 1t happened that the first
strangers the brave and his party en-
countered were Lieutenant Stewart, of
the British army, and his small escort,
who were led into an ambush and
slaughtered, and their heads taken back
in triumph to the village. This was the
cap sheaf of series of head-hunting
outrages, and the brave had not long
enjoyed his honeymoon before an Indian
expedition fell upon the tribe and gave
it some new views ON the ethics ofhead
hunting. This favorite pastimc has
hourished greatly in Boneo, but it is
now in bad way in the British part of
that island, where the penalty of death
is visited upon every head-hunter who is
unlucly enough to be caught. A while
ago the British authorities, in settling
dispute between two tribes, found that
one village persisted in head-hunting
because the other fellows had three
heads the advantage of them. The ac-
accounts were balanced by small sup
ply of trade goods, and the rival head
hunters promised thereafter to live in
amity.
THERE are ten or twelve half-breed
Chinese children in New York who will
one of these days become people Of
wealth, if not influence, either in this
country or in China. There is a custom
among the Chinese, no matter where
found, of giving money to the young
children of friends upon such occasions
as: First, upon the occasion of shaving
the head, or the mere ceremony of it,
which occurs when the babe is Just thir-
ty days old. This is also the regular
christening, and each guest is expected
to donate not less than IS in gold, while
the amounts frequently, even in New
York, run up rs high as two twenty-dol-
lar gold pieces wrapped in red rice-pa-
per. This the guest hands TO the father
or mother who holds the infant for in
spection. The second occasion is on the
Chinese New Years, when the amounts
depend much upon the social standing
of the parents of the recipients, and also
upon the individual loyeliness of the
child itself. These presents are frequent
iy as low as a silver twenty-five cent
piece, but occasionally among the best
friends OF the parents the children will
get five dollar gold piece inside of his
or her red rice-paper packet. No callers
who have any self respect would neglect
this little ceremony in the presence of
children ON New Years Day. Tho third
occasion is on birthdays of the young
ones, when only members of the family
and intimate friends give anything. The
presents thus received are legally the
property of the children, but occasionally
unprincipled parents appropriate them
Immediately afterwards.
A PRIVATE letter from Madrid received
here, dated February, says:
During the military manmuyres at
Madrid a dramatic incident occurred in
which the American Minister, Mr. Per-
~ Belmont, played commendable part.
The reviewing ground is about three
miles out Of the city. The Queen and
all the high Court officials were present,
and there was an immense concourse of
people. During one of the maneuvres
an artilleryman was thrown from his
horse, and before the onward hcould
be checked he was run over by the gun
carriage and badly hurt, his leg being
broken. The point at which this acct
dent occurred was just opposite to where
the American Minister was looking ON
from his carriage. Mr.. Belmont at
once alighted and had the injured man
put in his carriage and driven to the
hospital, some miles away. This humane
and graceful act was loudly cheered by
the crowd, and the Commander-in-C Chief
rode up and rendered Minister Belmont
his thanks in person.
JOSEPH H. IVES, florist of Danbury,
Conn, has a greenhouse roof which prob
ably has no duplicate in this country
Mr.. Ives found it necessary to replace
much Of the glass in one Of his hot
houses, and, thinking that some of the
photographers of the place might have
the size he wanted, he purchased enough
negatives to replace the entire roof, and
now his plants are shaded by the faces
of old citizens, many of whom are now
dead. One group represents the old
graybeards who have long since gone to
Their rest. Next comes the men of mid
die age, who are now old and bent. The |
women follow, and then the young men |
and young women, who are to-day grand |
fathers and glandmothers. In one cor
ner, over the heliotrope bed, Mr.. Ives 4
has placed the lovers-those who were so /
far gone in the days before they were
married rs to have their pictures taken |
holding each other by the hand.
Az extraordinary accident occurred I
the other day on hoard the steamer I
Riversdale while the vessel was coming