davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1891-01-25
A Criminal Trial in China

a friend in China sends me an account of
trial OF criminal in a Chinese conrt quite
recently, III which the witnesses were treat
ed more severely than the accused prisoner.
There was u suspicion, whether we'll found
ed or-not my friend does not saw that The
witnesses would not tell the truth when
called upon to give their evidence. In order
to induce them to be veracious the Judge
ordered that they should be tortured in his
presence. Some we're flogged with strips of
bamboo, others were bound hand and foot
and seated on the edge of aboard less than
an lnch IN thickness, others were made 70
SIT on sharp stones or pieces of crockery,
and Others were suspended by cords at
tacbed TO their wrists and held so hiCb
that their feet just touched the floor Tor
ture OF witnesses Ill Chinese courts is by no
means rare, though it is less frequent now
adays than before the empire was opened to
the OUTSIDE world. The same customs were
formerly observed in Japan, but that cuuu-
try mas been so greatly Europeanized that
the practice has been abolished. Wit
neSses IN Japan may be locked up and
kept until wanted, but as this barbarsm
prevails In some countries calling themselves
civilized we cannot consistently censure the
Orlentats Tor following this custom of secur-
ing eVi1ence against an accused person.
Inc Japanese are even moro con siderate
than the New Workers, as they do not al
low prisoner 10 be put on bail and to post
pone tne calling OF the case at his pleasure.
wnile no bail is allowed for the unfortunate
witness against him. New York has it's
Home OF Detention, where man WHO has
been so unfortunate as TO witness, or per-
maps De victim Of, an attempt to violate
the laws OF the land may be kept indefi-
nitely. Inmates of the House of Detention
may not be liberated on bail, while the ac-
eused, who goes to Jail. may be let out in n
lew days or hours. In Japan and China
the Jail and house Of detention are one and
the same. and SO is the treatment of the In
mates, whether they be accused or wit
The morning call., 1891-01-25

in the public resorts give romantic air not
Otherwise obtainable. Palermo has all
the romance of an italian city, with all
the comfort of London or Paris. or
course the cathedral is the principal attrac-
ton, and il is we'll situated for display, be-
ing placed opposite TO the great public
| square. Its dimensions give 1t wonderful
| grandeur, while its walls, covered with iu-
terlacing arches, its Campanile. giant
mass OF columns, towers, statuary, and
tracery, make it triumph Of combined
| Norman and Gothic art 1t was founded
on the site of a Saracenic mosque, and its
walls were begun by an EngliShman, Arch
bishop Walter, who by some strange chance
had found his way into this land far distant
| from the place of his birth. In the crypt
rep0ses his body, side by side with that of
the EmperOrs Henry ~ and Frederick Ii of
Germany. Fabulous wealth is everywhere
to he seen in this great edifice; every altar
gilstenS with jewels and gold; the shrine of
st. RoSalia IS composed of 1900 pounds of
pure silver, and not year passes but what
on her feast day thousands of dollars are
poured into the Golfers of the cathedral, the
willing gifts of deYout pilgrims.
But the Cathedral of Palermo is not the
only shrine IN Sicily. MOntTeae, a half
days drive distant, is now only q country
village, the brgandiSh inhabitants of which
are Kept from exercising their profession by
the constant presence of a large body of SOL
dlery. Prevented from following their fav-
compelled TO work. and at the doors may be
seen the tailor, the shoemaker and other
craftsmen exercising their trade in full
view of the pasSer-by, while others, unsEilled
IN handlcraft, give to the orange tree the
little cultivation II requires, and transport to
the markets Of Palermo donkey loads of the
delicious fruit MOntreale, though only an
insignificant village, has a cathedral known
to artists the world over. Walls, Vaulting
pavementS, arches, almost every portion of
the cathedral within, and much without are
covered with mOsaics Every sort of scene
Is represented in these wonderful pictures;
assumptions, ascensions, and from the
great arch in front of the nave
there looks down upon the congre-
cation mighty face OF the Redeemer in
mosaic, of precious and semi-precious
stones, Nothing like this church is to be
found IN the world; the wealth of mosaic
decoration, the value of the materials en-
pioyed, the marvellous character of the
Workmanship, which dates from the elev-
work unapproachable. Many other locali-
ties, many other churches and public ediices
in the interior of Sicily are worthy of
visit but are not often seen by men of other
lands, on account of the dangers of travel
In spite OF the constant efforts of the Gov
eminent, in spite of the Jealous patrols
which day and night pass up and down the
highways, briganGs still swarm in the
mountain districts, The mail-coach, the
diligence. on every trip are protected by
cavalry escort, and even this is sometimes
Insufficient to guard against the well-armed
ana numerous bandits. The traveller who
would see Sicily in all its country districts
must be protected by at least a full COM
The morning call., 1891-01-25
BERNHARDT'S TASTE.
An Elaboration of Costume That Set
Paris Wild With Envy.

An Elaboration of Costume That Sets
Paris Wild With Envy.
Sarah Bernhard has set all Paris crazy by
her African complexion, the cosmetic for
which is n connection of her own. The com
pound consists of saffron, well kHeaded with
powdered coffee, combined with delicate
mixture OF musk and chieory, diluted with
rose-watsr until sufficiently liquid to be
spread over the skin. Instead OF making up
for the part she brushes up. 1t has been
the dream of her life to play Cleopatra, and
for years she has been collecting jewels, Cir
dies armlets, bracelets and necklaces saws
the London Star. Every dress consists of
diaphanoUs piece of material seven yards
long embelished with metallic OF silk enl-
broiiery. The long strip of garze is wound
and draped about her lithes0me form
and held in place ut the hips, belt
ers, brooches and girdleS, incrusted
with stones of every conceivable
shade. Through the garment other jewels,
buckles and enibroideries, used to ornament
aud secure an undergarment, Skinner and
shine. In her hair, about her fingers, arms
and ankles bandeaus, bangles and bracelets
blaze, and the sandals in which her feet
are slipped are also finished with rain bow
effect. Row after row and chain upon chain
of jewels encirce her chest and breast, AMI
the unparalleled display of opals. turquOises,
topaz, scarabeeS, coralS, SapphireS, anne
thystS, rubles, sardonyx, malachites and
pearls produce the almost overpOwering
sense OF luxury. One dress, an Egyptian
robe, is certainly most wonderful creation.
The material in itself is of g0ld-c0lOred
gauze, appiqued with a design of laurel
leaves The belt of pearls and turquoIseS
that holds the delicate fabric in at the waist
also secures a harbaric drapery at the hips
made of tigers skin. Fancy the contrast
of embroidered gauze and tigers furi For "a
head dress she wears skull cap OF pearls,
fringed with coral and turquoiSes.
The morning call., 1891-01-25

beyond belief. The finest wines of Sicily
are from grapes grown on the slope of Etna;
the best oil comes from the same quarter
But even in this fertile district may be seen
evidences of volcanic action. for here and
there the black walls of lava streams
are found in the midst of fertility,
Above this is the wooded region, belt
around the mountain from six to eight miles
wide, covered with dense growth of pines,
oaks, chestnutS and cork trees In and
above this wooded country are found the
cones of extinct volcanoes, side issues of
the great crater. More than 100 of these
cones are known, and elsewhere they would
be mountains of respectable size, some of
them exceeding 1900 feet in height Large
as they are, in reality they are so trifling
In comparison with the great mass of noun
tam above them, that, when seen from the
sea-Snore, Etna seems 10 be perfectly conf
cal Above the vineyards, above the groves
OF cork trees, the climber enters upon
region of desert where not even the hardest
moss can find sustenance. In summer time,
underneath the foot are lava, hot scorise and
ashes, thrown out at the last eruption. In
winter the scene is varied by mantle of
snow which, from October till April, covers
the upper portions of the mountain. Erup-
tions of Etna extend back into antiquity,
so far that history does rot record the
earliest. The first on record is that in the
The morning call., 1891-01-25
WEST POINTS MONUMENT.
A Memorial to The Officers and Men who Died
in The Civil War.

The Battle Monument to be erected on the
plain at Trophy Point, West Point, will be
commemorative OF the officers, non-eom-
missioned officers and privates of the regu-
lar army of the United States who were
killed or who died Of wounds received in
action during the War of the Rebellion, says
the New York Herald. The funds available
for the construction proper are $4,000 in
cash. There are also at the disposal of the
Battle Monument Association fifty brass
cannon which may be employed in any way
deemed proper, presented for the purpose by
a joint resolution OF Congress, approved
April %. 1870.
The desisn of Messrs. McKim, Mead g.
White of New York was accepted some
time ago. The monument is TO be martial
one, distinct in its own character and i'm
pressiYe in its design The beauty of its
site and the surroundings seemed TO the sue
cessful architects $50 they state) to preclude
any bulky or massive treatment and sug-
gested rather treatment where the impress
sion should be produced by height sup
ported by a base which should not interfere
with graceful and artistic treatment. They,
The morning call., 1891-01-25
ON THE sEAsHoRE xrAR SYRACUSE.

time is yet in the distant future. The Roman
Emperors from Sicil:an ports drew no small
share Of the gran which kept the turbulent
pQpulace-Ot Rune in good humor. but grain
las almost ceased to be an export of Sicily.
. " neat and other food grain require labor !;
The Slcillans do not love labor, so they have
planted their land in orange aud lemon
Trees ana in vines, so as 10 secure the largest
returns Tor the smallest outlay of effort.
rev countries in the world have greater ma
iural resources; few have improved them
But Sicily is the island of the past. In no
part OF Europe are there relics of so MANY
last civilizations. o. the various waves of
culture which have passed over the now un-
happy island that Of the Greeks is still the
most prominent. Here and there in the
country are still to be found the TEMPLES of
Attic qeites, almost as perfect to-day as
when they came from the hands of their
builders. Whole cities, in such a state of
preservation, II the expression is allowable.
as 70 Tender the walls ana houses plainly
visible, are to be found in almost every dis
trct OF the island. Palaces and theaters are
IN abundance. No part of the ancient world
more richly rewards the labOrs of the dig
ger. Every peasant has his little store of
art works, coins, medals, statues which he
Offers for sale and at rates that make the
ton aud envy. Not of the Greek age alone
are the remains, however, for side by side
with tie relics of the time Of Homer are rel
les OF the time of Bamba.
lhree cities in Sicily are well worth the
lime and attention OF the traveler-PalermO,
Messna and Syracuse. Palermo, the Happy,
Is. beautiful for situation; in front lies the
pay; as enhancing in its loneliness as that
OF naples. Behind are the fruit-prOduciBg
plainS, and the traveller passes through
miles upon miles of orange ana lemon trees
lnlerspeTsed with the dark green of the
vine, and here aud there relieved bv the
whlte marble villas of the nobility and land
clet Of heavily wooded mountains which in
close Palsrmo and its bay like theatpr
The city IS far superior to those of italy in
general, 1t is well paved, well lighted and
clean the avenues are shaded with lines of
trees, pubic squares and parks are fire.
quent, fountains have been established in
great abundance aud two or three grottoes
The morning call., 1891-01-25

therefore, adopted as the feature of their
design a single monOlithic shaft, treated in
the shape of a memorial column or column
of victory. In this form it is possible to OBJ
tain impressiveness and dignity without a
sacrifice of grace, at the same time preserv-
ing distlnctively architectural and monu-
mental character The shaft is to be mono
18th of polished Vermont granite forty-six
feet high and five feet six inches in diane
ter, probably the largest polished shaft in
the world.
1t is proposed 20 surmount it with figure
of Victory, and surround it by eagles-a dis
tinct mark of Its national character. The
shaft will rest upon circular base sur
rounded by flights of steps, giving the
greatest breadth and dignity possible to the
base.
The materials are granite and bronze. 1t
should be understood, however, that the
successful design is TO undergo some modfi-
cations III the details of its decorative
features. as well as in the relative proper
tiOns Of its base and shaft.
1t is hoped that the monument will be
completed during the ensuing summer.
The morning call., 1891-01-25

nhanemena Of the volcanic island gave rise
ia most Of these stories, for then, as in later
lines. earthquakes lava streams, volcanic
rfuptoHs, were almost annual occurrences.
Tourists to Ttalg and the Mediterranean
rarely see more Of Sicily than the sea-coast
ana enc or two Of It's towns, declares a
writer fnr the st. Louis Globe-D Democrat.
Eut the island is worthy Of TN extended
visit, for the diversity of its scenery is, in
SO small a compass, a wonderful feature :;
lis mountains its valleys, its plains are
continent in miniature. Here, there is a
Wild zea-ca3st; there, the island, though al
most level sands inSensibly sinks into the
waters of the Mediterranean, while above
All towers the gigantic volcano, which is the
must remarkable feature OF its natural
scenery.
The island Of Sicily has passed through
many hands. Originally settled by the Phe-
nicians it was conquered by tie Greeks.
from them taken by the Romans, on the fall
If the Western Empire was appropriated
by the Ostrogoths. These were driven out
by Belisarus. Then came the Saracens,
after them tie NormanS; then it was indie
pendent and last of all ruined by the Bour-
hons. Now a portion of the kingdom Of
Italy, 1t is recovering from the misrule Of the
bourbon kings, and may in time attain a
portion OF its ancient greatness. The area
The morning call., 1891-01-25
TALKS FOR BOYS.
By Colonel Thomas ". Knox.

Recently was reading a book in which
there was an account Of the voyage of
British man-of-war to the southern seas
about 200 years ago. According to this ac-
count the voyage must have been ANYTHING
but agreeable to the crew. There were fog
gings almost daily. and sometimes several
men were brought under the cato nine-tails
IN single day. For the slightest breach of
discipline, for failing 10 salute an officer as
required by the regulations, or for not NOV
Ing with sufficient aacrity when executing
an order, the punishment OF the cat was de-
creed. At one time full fourth of the
crew were in the hospital TO recover from
fosgings recently administered, or were
bearing the fresh sears of wells made by the
Instrument OF torture. Readers of Marry
att novels will recall the frequent admin
iStration of this mode of punishment Mar
ryat entered the navy of England in 1906,
and the periods OF most of his novels are
contemporaneouS with his service under the
flag. Very nearly the same state of affairs
existed in the American navy, though it is
doubtful if fugglngs were ever half as nu-
merous,i in American ships in proportion to
the number of the crews as in English ones.
Flogging was abandoned in the American
navy previous to its abolition on British
war-ships. Under certain circumstances
man may be flogged in the British navy to-
day. but the regulations are such that in
stances are rare where a man renders him
self liable to the application of the cat. He
must be convicted of one disgraeeful offense
against discipline before he can render
l>.arelf liable TO be fogged for a second Of
fonse, and even after one such degradation
he may be restored to the non-liabie class
by years good conduct. Even when a
sailor is liable to be logged some other pun
ishment may be substituted for the cat, and
under no circumstances can he legally re-
ceive more than fifty lashes.
The morning call., 1891-01-25

time of Pythagoras, six centuries before
Christ, and from then till the present, al
though all the time smoke ashes and lava
are coming forth in greater or less quantities,
seVenty-slX great eruptlouS, notable for their
deStructlyeneSS, have been noted. 1t is a
curious fact, and one not commonly known,
that the eruptlye periods alternate. In 1915,
Tor instance, there was terrible eruption of
Etna. Fifteen new craterS were opened in
the sides of the mountains; lava flowed forth
to an almost unprecedented extent. After
few months the internal fires Quilted down,
and in 1915 Il great eruption of Vesuvius
occurred, followed by a QuiScence in that
volcano and an eruption of Etna in 1852
The greatest on record was the outbreak of
1893, when over fifty cities and towns were
destroyed, and upward of 100, coo lives were
lost. Terrible earthquakes accompanied
the volcanic outbreak; tidal waves rose on
the coast Of Sicily, of Italy, Greece, and
even of far-away Syria and Egypt. Great
assures in the earth opened. from which
gases issued so poisonous as to DESTROY vege-
tatiOn and prove fatal to animal life. Streams
OF lava flowed away from the mountain to
The morning call., 1891-01-25

. Of Sic Is is 1900 miles, about one-sixth that
ri Missouri, and it contains a population of
10000. The population is engaged in fish
. ing or in farming, but old methods prevail
in both industries. The soil is cultivated in
the present day much as it was cared for in
= Tie time OF TheOcrituS; ptows are as primi-
tive as the methods of using them. There is
no progress among the people. A large por-
iron of the island is given mp TO forest
land, and a still larger portion, although
capable of cultivation, remains fallow from
. year IL year, because Of the indisp0sition of
the population to undergo the necessary
labor Of cultivation. Situated under a IA
" ;Vorable climate, where winter is practically
: unknown. and where, being surrounded by
large tracts Of sea, the heat of summer is
ssitened. it might become, as it once was,
tie gtauary Of Italy and Rome; but that
The morning call., 1891-01-25

purpose than that of cleansing the SYRIA
cusan clothing. On the hill above were tbe
temple and statue of Minerva, whose shin
ing shield was a landmark for the Syracusan
sailor many miles out at sea Thirty-six
thousand temples aud affairs were iu the five
cities of Syracuse, besides theaters and
amphitheaterS for land and naval combats,
and of all this immensely of buildings few
remain, even in a state of advanced dilapi-
dauon. Not many ancient cities, however,
are better known 10 us than Syracuse, for
so close and accurate were the descriptions
gwen that it Is quite possible by their aid to
trace the lines drawn by the Atheniaps and
the position of the Athenian camp estab-
lished in the year 3. c. 415 The downfall
OF Athens dates from the defeat before the
walls Of Syracuse, and Syracuse herself has
shared the fate of the Attic capital.
The morning call., 1891-01-25

But transcending all other objects of in
terest IS the great Volcano, which from be-
lore the dawn OF history has made Sicily
every respect the largest European volcano:
the circuit of the mountain base exceeds 100
miles, and its height, while variable from
the frequent. eruptons, is on the average
the clouds, for the time has never been
known when the great crater has not been
sending forth It's fiery smoke. In Sicily the
name Etna is unknown; the mountain is
there called Mongibello, the Mountain of
Mountains, and every zone is represented in
its slopes. Along the base is a cultivated
district of rich vole<.1ic soil. which is fertile
The morning call., 1891-01-25
NIoslem Missionaries.

LIS reported mat MOSlem missionaries
are about to leave India for London, where
they will seek to convert the English to the
religion of Islam. Their efforts are not
likely to meet with much encouragement on
the part of the people of the British Isles. as
the instances are rare where Elgiishmen
have adopted the religion of Mecca. These
missionaries will be Obliged to c0ntine them
selves to arguments, as they will speedily
lind themselves in the hands of the police if
they seek to make converts after the old
MOsem fashion-by force Muhammed,
the founder Of the religion, secured con-
verts by persuasion until he was strong
enough to take the aggressive, which hap
pened in the second year after his flight
from Mecca to Medina. Then he fought a
battle with and defeated his opponents;
after that time his work of conversion was
performed with sword and spear 1t is
needless to say that his religion made rapid
progress when he took the aggressive: after
his death the policy which he established
was carried out by his successors. No doubt
the Moslem missionaries who are to under
take the conversion of the British nation
would greatly rejoice if they could pursue
the same method OF showing the unbelieyer
the evil of his ways and the necessity. from
the point oil view OF continued existence OF
adopting the faith which is symbolZed by
the green flag of the Prophet. The true fol
lowers Of Mohammed lament bitterly the
privileges which have been given to tile un-
believer i'll MOSlem countries, and if they
could have their way the old forms of in
tolerance would be revived at once. Mecca
is only sixty-tive miles from the port of Jed
dab ON the Red Sea; a Christian may visit
Jeddah without peril, provided he keeps
away from crowds of Moslem fanatics. but
If he seeks to go TO Mecca he does so
at the risk of his life. The few Europeans
who have been there, less than a dozen in
all, have taken their lives in their hands,
and their success is due to the fact that they
were fluent in Arabic and had thoroughly
educated themselves in the Moslen forms
of religion The late Captain Burton was
one of these daring travellers, and he tells
that he had many narrow escapes. When
half way from Mecca to Jeddah, on his re-
turn to the cOast, he thought his disguise
was detected through an attitude that he in
cautiously assumed one evening, and he has
tened to the coast alone us fast as his feet
would carry him. Before his flight was dis
covered he was several miles on his way,
and reached the point Of safety about day
light, very much fatigued with the rapidity
is fiuh
The morning call., 1891-01-25

n distance of twenty-five NILS The island
was almost ruined, and generation passed
before complete recovery from the terrible
effects. But the eruptions Of Etna. although
frequent, excite little attention outside Of
the districts Immediately surrounding the
volcano. The people have grown accum-
toned to the fires. the earthquakes. the noe
turnal flames and the lava streams. What
TO men Of another country would prove
source of constant terror affects them no
more than the mud volcanoes of New Mad
rid do the people in the southeast corner of
Mis.nnr-i
The morning call., 1891-01-25
A nIIracnlans Esnnne

Henry Lasker, II years old, living near
Wathepa, Kans., had an almost miraculous
escape from death, few days ago, in the
waters of the Missouri He fell through the
ice while skating and was carried beneath
the Ice Tor nifty feet, where he emerged into
clear water, from which he was rescued in
an exhausted condition by some com
panionS.