Morning journal and courier., 1893-01-21


 ObservatIon-Onew Way Thomas Car lyle Took Exercise-rhe O.tracised Cagots of the Pyrenecs-A Radiant Iy Peaceful Autumn Picture Along the SiIvery Tweed-weird Pagan Monuments or Carnac.
 PARIS, Jan. :. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 British pensioners in old Chelsea hospit- al, London, when desiring to be psrticu- lsrly sarcastic regarding the quality of their food, say that "Every sheep killed for Chelsea has nine breastiesl"-ths at is, somehow the officers messss se cure all the legs of mutton, while the pen sloner prIvstes get only the ribs and bris- kets. However this may be, the record is for long life to the pensioner after he en- ters this noble monument to the generosi- ty of pretty Nell Gwynne. There is one old fellow, William Merrill, late of the Thirty first Foot, who has seen over forty years actual service in the British army, and who has been 8 pensioneT at Chelsea for nearly quarter of century. He is now in his ninety-tbird year, and Is not only as spry as many youths of twenty, but he also enjoys a peculiar distinction.
 He has been chased, 80 Chelsesns relate, more miles by irate Thomas Carlyle than by any foe a6eld. These gay old pension CTS haunt the shadowy lanes and avenues of Chelsea for new larking-grouuds at public houses, or for grateful gossipiLgs with glib tongued housemside; and ancient tuncle William" formed a decided fond ness for red checked eerving woman em- ployed st 24, formerly ,, Great Cheyne Row, the home of the great philosopher aud scold. "Uncle William" took up his station unsbashed at Csrlyle's house area railing until the grirzled author of Ssrtor Ressrtus could stand it no longer. He went down to him and e1postalatsd. The British son of Mars answered in no hum bls spirit Beside himself with rage Car lyle grabbed his walking stick and chased Uncle William to the very hospital bounds. The next day serene and calm the psnsion- CT was found ID his accustomed place. Carlyle ssllied forth again. Thereafter until the housemsid was given her wages and A "chsrscter"-these daily retreats and pursuits were offered ss inspirating scenes to Chelsesns. "Ws could almost set our clocks by them," related one good old lady, "and often thought 1t was fine exercise both for Uncle William and Car lyle, dear souls"
 Ta ;r France and northern Spain I have come among 8 folk who, according to the super stitious belief of other pesssntry of the region, are regarded as outlawed souls, de- barred from mingling with other human kind, because of some old long ago physi. cal curse or taint placed by devil-leagued sprites upon their ancestors. They live among the Pyrenees, and Aquitanisn mountains and valley countries both sides of them. especially in Spanish Gslicis, Ma vsrre, Huesca, Serids and Gerons, In the French Heutes Pyrenees. Gsscony, Gui. enne, Poitou and spsreely In Brittany. The strange folk are called Cagots.
 The name Is derived from csnis Gothi- GUS, or Gothic dog. For long time these people were confounded with the Cretins, of northern Spain and southern France But the Csgots are another folk entirely. They have large, bony, muscular forms, well-shaped skulls, almost Grecisn noses, fine, blonde hair, blue eyes and fair, pinky complexlons with large but ex. preseive mouths and regular. perfect teeth. It is believed that the Cssots de. scended from the Arysn Goths. Wher. ever they live away from the Pyrsness. in France and Spain, these marked and summed people are variously called Cal. nbsrts, Csquins, Caooas and Cshsts. Fol c thousand years they were superstitious ly avoided by all other inhabitants nsa, them.
 They were dssp!asd, psFssostsd, mai