davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-03-19

Frenzied Fanatics.
AS the music rose to crescendo and the
rhythm became more frantic and involved,
the dancers got visibly more excited and
less conscious OF their surroundings. their
eyes taking on fixed and vacant express
sion. Then the leader of the dance applied
what seemed TO be the most effective and
eliminating intoxicant; at each ictus in
the dance all the heads were strained for
ward and everyone gave a deep staccato
groan, like the roar of wild beast, while
the blood rushed to the head and the mus
cles of the neck were strung like ropes
under the strain. 1t was not long before
this produced the results for which all
were waiting a man of about thirty. wiry
and thin, with a small head, tore himself
from the line of dancers and rushed up to
one of the two stewards standing in the
open space. The steward unwound his tur
ban and held him for a moment in a fra
ternal embrace. With his turban the
man seemed to have doffed the most OF his
humanity: his small face. almost covered
with black hair; his bristling whislSerS, his
! blue shaven scalp, with the little pigtail Of
black hair tapping behind at every mo-
ment: above all. the lips stretched across
| his large, white teeth, like those of a
snarling dog. all gave the impression Of
! and bestial.
| Then. bent nearly double. feeling with
outstretched arms. blinded by his ecstacy,
| he CROPPED his way down the open line be-
! tween dancers and musicians to the other
| steward. This man held in one hand a
| large cloth filled with broken pieces of
| glass; one of these he took out and held
| in his right hand at arms length. The
! ecstatic as he approached glared savageiy
at the glass, gnashed his teeth and stretch
/ ed out his head but he drew back; the re-
! ligious intoxication was not quite COM
| plete and some glimmerings of common
sense standards still struggled in his dis
| ordered brain. He rushed back to the first
! steward, was again embraced by him and
| again erept along the line.
The Terrible Mouthful.
Still the jagged shining glass was too
terrible Backward and forward he went.
sometimes cropping along slowly. sometimes
with the stealthy rush OF tiger stalking
its prey At last, when the eoGar gesture
of his outstretched neck made it clear that
no yestige of reluctance remained, the
| steward clapped the glass into his mouth
| and held his hand over 1t for second.
| The devotee rushed back as il were Tor
! consolation TO the first steward, and hell
him in a tight embrace. For some time he
remained so. making strange incoherent
gestures with his arms, while the steward,
gradually lifting up his head proceeded 10
massage his face and throat; when his
head was raised the man was still chewing
and swallowing the horrible mouthful Az
ter he had recovered himself somewhat his
turban was wound round his bead and he
was lifted and showed back into the line oi
dancers, where he went on juggling up and
down, his head falling now on one shoul-
The times., 1899-03-19
SELF-TORTURE OF THE
FAMOUS TAWIYAH
Religious Frenzy of a Strange
North African Sect.
Nails. Broken Glass and Poisonous
Leaves Eaten.
A New Description of the Weird
Ceremony Attending the scenes
in the Mosque.
nrom the cornl.iII Magazine. ,

II was a warm winter night. with a
blazing moon at the zenith-a moon that
bathed everything in a haze OF mellow tur-
.uoise green. The whitewashed mud walls
of the village, which struggled up bare
hillside, shone with phosphorescent light,
and at The top OF all the domes and cupo-
las of a great mosque giowed pale green
against the darker green Of the sky. Now
and then there fitted along the walls a
deep indigo shadow, cas-; by some passing
figure with a pale, shrouded head and white
burnOus-itself almost invisible against
the whiiewasbed walls. Only at rare in
teryals the dazzling brightness of the tur-
quoise town was broken by the formless
blot OF a doorway or window. or the un-
canny growth Of huge prickly pears.
The mosque of the Isawiyah was not the
big one which crowned the height, but a
little sauat-domed building on the out
skirts Of the village. Already round the
door was gathered a crowd OF solemn
Arabs; we went through the doorway down
into a little white moonlit courtyard. and
from that, with a whispered hinf from our
host 10 suppress our sense of humor, down
more steps into the mosque. The length OF
the buildings was at right angles 10 the
doorway opposite which was small apse.
where seats were put for us. In this way
we were cut of from any possibility of exit
By the whole congregation, an arrangement
which made us hope that the spirit might
not work too nightly that night. From
the low whitewashed domes hung colored
lamps of tawdry metal and glass. From
end 10 end Of the building sat cross-legged
on the ground double row Of singers and
musicians. and behind these stood the line
OF dancers. on whom the chief burden OF
she ceremony fell Seated as we were be-
hind the musicians. we looked over their
heads at the faces Of the dancers Between
the second row Of the musicians and the
long line of dancers was left an open space
IN which at some distance apart stood two
sher danced nor sang. their duty was &c
remain iInpassiye, the sole depositaries. as
IL were. OF the standards OF ordinary life
The times., 1899-03-19

and walked a few PAGES in front of the
Arab, and told him to aim at his heart.
He fired and the marked bullet was seen
on the pear. After the powder and wad
were rammed home, and while the Arab
was marking the bullet Houd n slipped z
little tube into the pistol. This tube was
closed at the lower end. and into this the
Arab dropped the bullet As he thrust
the wad down with the ramrod. the tube
fitted snrgIy on to it. and was Withdrawn
with it. being polished to resemble i.
Houdin thus got possession of the marked
ball and all was then plain sailing.
On one occasion during his visit TO A.
giers Houdin was placed in a very awS-
ward position. from which he only extri-
Gated himself by his quick-wittedness. n
was the guest of an Arab chief. Abou Al
lem. and entertained his host and friends
by few tricks One of the company wa;
! a marabout, who asserted that the specta-
tors in Algiers had been merely duped by
vision. Houdin. however. produced the
uarabouts watch in his hand, and on
feeling his sash the marabout found there
q five-franc piece Convinced by this and
other feats that Houdin was really a SOY
cerer, he challenged him to repent his per-
formance in the theatre. and produced two
pistols. You need not fear said the
Arab "since you know how to ward of
sion. Houdin explained that his invulner-
ability lay in a ta!isman which was with
his possessions in Algiers. BY six hours
prayer. however. l can do without that
talisman, and at o'clock tomorrow morn
ing you can fire at me-
AT the appointed time there was a large
concourse of Arabs, which the news had
attracted. The pistols were brought and
carefully examined. The marabout dropped
in the powder. Houdin handed him bull
let from the tray. and he rammed it down.
HOudin then loaded his own pistol, ana.
walking about fifteen PAGES away. turned
and faced the marabout- The shot was
fired and the Frenchman opened his mouth
and showed the bullet between his teeth.
You could not kill me- he said, land now
you shall see what my shots can do He
fired at the marssout. and Immediately &
red splash was seen on the whitewashed
wall before which he was standing The
| Arab was untouched; stepping up TO the
wall he dipped his finger in the red splash.
/ tasted it, and. realizing that il was biood.
collapsed in amazement.
| Though the trick was simple. only Hou-
! din could have devised and carried 1t out
successfully. During the night he had
melted some wax. blackened it to look like
| lead, and run it into a bullet mould, thus
/ obtaining a hollow globe Of wax exaetig
! resembling IL bullet in appearance. 1t was
| with this bullet the marahout loaded his
! pistol. and in ramming it down crushed u
| to powder A second bullet. similarly
| made. Houdin filed with blood obtained
from his own body. This he dropped into
his pistol and rammed it down very gem
| tIy. so as not to crush it. AS it struck the
| wall it was broken, leaving red SPLASH
| OF blood.
The times., 1899-03-19

1t was an Office for which we felt grate-
ful in the paroxysmal orgy thai followed
The light of the hanging lamps and OF
row of candles placed between the singers
on the floor threw a warm, yellow glow
on the dusky yaulted root which faded
into gloom at either end. But the dancers
were in a blaze OF light, and the line of
white. swathed figures. their red turbans
and even their dark features cut sharp
ever-chauging silhouette on the darkness
of the aisle behind and the night sky seen
through the open door. Dusky ochre,
white. and red were the dominant tones
OF the whole. but among the elder men.
who sang or merely looked on. were some
rich gandaras of turquoise and pale green,
others Of violet. puce. and scarlet.
Weird Choristers.
When everything was ready the music
began. All Arab music is strange TO Euro
pean ears, but the Isawiyah has a system
of religious inharmony OF its own, in
which the peculiar nasal discords of Arab
music are exaggerated to an exasperating
/ pitch, while the rhythm is as complex and
as frsnzied as the dance which it accom-
panies. The singers and musicians were
mostly elderly men in whom the youthful
! ecstasies of self-immolation had given
! place TO soberer and maturer joys. The
tambourine was the only instrument and
as they played all sang words from the
! writings Of Sidi ben lisa. | call it singing.
I but the tense and painful expressions of
| these elders, the corners of their mouths
drawn down, the eyes screwed uD to mere
/ slits. and heads strained upward, resembled
/ that of a row of fierce animals serenading
! the moon in the desert rather than a
church choir. The only exception was the
| holy man sitting just opposite to us, in
| whose face, beautiful with the religious ex-
| ereise, was reflected the light of heav-
/ emily vision. unmarried for him by the fact
that his private life. like that of some
European saints. was not entirely free from
reproach Meanwhile the tambourines
ratified necessarily with a dull, wooden
sound; the ictus of the rhythm was mark
I. ed by the holy mans lifting his tambour-
! inc above his head with sudden jerk and
giving 1t a violent thump from below
while he gazed up at IT as though its dirty
parchment covered an imminent paradise.
AS the music grew faster and more or
elastic the dancers became more and more
violent Standing shoulder to shoulder II
d close packed line. each grasped hii
neighbor's hand held rigidly down agains
the thigh. The basis of the dance. which
continued with scarcely any intermissioI
for the whole two hours of the service
was rapid jigging up and down OF th'
line of dancers, the bodies being KEEP
straight and stiff. and only the heads wag
ging Imply from side to side with th
movement In the center of the line stoot
the leader, the elected president of th
sect a handsome, finely built youth o
about twenty, who had been engaged al
day in making our hosts new croquet
ground. He it was who marked tn
changes In the dance by leaving the line
spinning round ON his heels. and clappini
his hands above his head. At sign iron
him the whole line would bend their bodie
forward TIL their heads nearly touched tn
The times., 1899-03-19
n, ac Tried for Nurder

James Riley will be put on trial in Criminal
Court No. l tomorrow for the murder of jaime:
Mahlney, on the Goth of May last. The mcI
had been friends from their early youth. On the
night of the killing Mahaney and Riley and othei
friends attended boat launching near the Alex
andria ferry wharf and adjourned to 4 nearby
saloon to take drink. On account of som,
tauntng remark made by Mahaney Riley drew
a knife from his pocket and stabbed his lifelong
friend to death. Riley will be defended by vii
liam S. Taylor and Thomas C. Taylor and til,
Government will be represented by Assistant Dis
triet Attorneys Slillington and Iaskey.
The times., 1899-03-19

der, now on the other, with Il blank. listles5
look in his face.
After this first example of frenzied de-
votion the spell of fear seemed TO be
broken. and one after another the dancers
left the line Ghe dance never ceasing for
an instant and the music keeping up its
maddening dim and rushed at the steward
who held the glass and dealt out piece after
piece. Soon even the boys took part in it,
and one handsome fellow of sixteen came
up and stretched out toward the jagged
morse as though it was for him the bread
of life. For the most part, too they
seemed to chew and swallow it with in
creasing ease and the first steward had
little to do but wind on their turbans and
put them back into the line OF dancers.
Then the man who had first eaten, and
who had meanwhile recovered his tone,
came back for a second, and a little while
after for a third, mouthful; but the frenzy
was increasing upon him and he had TO be
held by three or four Arabs, who rushed
up from the sides to help the steward. It
became a football scrimmage and the four
men had to put out all their strength to col
lar and throw him. Finally he was held
down on the floor in a sort of epileptic fit,
throwing his limbs about wildly, and liter
| ally barking like huge dog. The divine
ecstacy was too much for him and he had
become Il savage beast.
End of the Glnss-EatinE.
Nor was he the only one who became
unmanageable under the Intoxicating influ-
ence of dance and music. Sometimes, it is
true, when a devoteer was exceeding the
usual bounds. his growing excitement could
| be instantly assuaged by few words from
! the writings of the saint whispered into
his ear by the steward; but in spite of this
several broke loose. and one in especial
alarmed us by making his way round the
mosque toward our party, Fortunately,
| he was thrown and sat upon by assistants
! before he reached us. as lit is supposed
| that an Isawiyah will tear women in pieces
| when too powerfully worked upon by di-
vine influence. When the service was over
and the mosque gradually gmpted we saw
three or four of these victims of the divine
| frenzy lying about on the floor, by that
time quite calm and exhausted, and only
groaning and barking fitfully.
Finally the glass eating came to an alb
| rupt end, and in curious way. pecu-
liarly fierce looking and athletic Arab, who
| had for some time been developing more
| and more religious frenzy, and had eaten
| glass once or twice without diminishing
his desire for it in the least, sprang at the
steward-who resisted in vain-seiZed the
cloth In both hands. buried his face in it
and munched up the remainder.
Eating Nails and Cactus Leaves.
And now the other wonders began: First
a number of carpenters nails, at least
three inches long. were handed to the
steward and a demure little man stepped
forward He did not belong TO the ath-
letic and savage type of the majority;
he was quiet and domestic, man whom
in Europe one would have ascribed TO the
class of small shopkeepers. but he had a
look of calm contentment, a conviction OF
divine peace in his soul, which contrasted
The times., 1899-03-19
49c corsets, 19c.

We have bought especially for cur
anniversary sale lot of ladies' cor
sets-of black, white, and gray coutil-
in all lengths-which no store in town
has ever before sold for less than 49c-
to sell at 19c pair.
The times., 1899-03-19
Velvet ribbons cut.

Linen back black velvet ribbons for
dress trimming. in three widths-go to-
morrow like this:
No. 1-s-25e. yard.
No. 1-2-29c. yard.
No. 2 -35c. yard.
The times., 1899-03-19
Mems 5 silk front shirts
60 at 44c.

The offering of the season.
Mems white shirts, made of
Lonsdale muslin, with linen
bands and with puff silk fronts
finished with pearl buttons
44c. This is the 7sc shirt sold
in mems furnishing stores and
the 6ec shirt of the department
stores.
The times., 1899-03-19
81 Gloves, 5oc.

As a special souvenir" val
Tue of our anniversary sale we
shall offer ladies' fine dressed
kid gloves i'll cream, white,
champagne, pearl, red, oxblood,
mode, black, green, and blue,
in newest stitching-htted at
our risk-a glove nev,r sold
under 81 before-for 5ec.
The times., 1899-03-19
Anniversary values in suits.
SIS suits, $3.50.

$3 suits, Sl9.5U.
Still finer suits of Chew
lot serges. fashionable
broadcloths, -venetian5
and whipcords-in sever
al different styleS-tight
and loose fitting. inc I'D
ing the swell "Eton"
suits, with rever5 faced
with high-cost silks
with : jackets lined
throughout with an extra
fine quality taffeta silk
with full fare. perfect
fitting skirts having the
new loop and button fas-
tenings-will be sold at
$3.50, though they're
s25 suits.
The times., 1899-03-19
Wrappers at 59c.

A lot of 81 fine quality percale wrap
pers, in variety OF the handsomest
patterns. which are splendidly made,
viii go for 59c. Waists are separately
lined, and skirts are made extra wide
and full, and all are trimmed with
braid.
The times., 1899-03-19
New Receiver Amounted.

In the case OF James Fraser and Others against
the Capitol Trust Company, Justice Cox yeSter-
day signed an order discharging Aaron Caywood
and Albert Marshall. receivers. and appointing in
their stead Benjamin +. leighton. who is re-
quired to give bond in the sum OF $4,000
The times., 1899-03-19

Ladies' dongola bicycle boo:s q 40
tan or black-instead of $3.50. SI.tJ
The times., 1899-03-19
Usual $3.50 suits. 81. 90.

Four ninety eight tomorrow buys the
finest clay diagonal worsteds-the
finest English cheviots and cassi-
meres-in plaids. checks. and mixed
patterns. IL buys the fine novelty
suits-yesties, blouse suits and the like.
for which you pay $3.50 elsewhere
The times., 1899-03-19
SIS suits, $3.50.

Stylish vsnetians. chev-
lot serges, and mixed
covert tailor-made suits
in black and colors, with
short silk lined jackets
with flare skirts having
the new button and
loop fastenings-elegant-
ly finished garments with
as much style to them as
to be had with suits at
double the cost-will be
sold at $3.50. None of
these are worth less than
SIS.
The times., 1899-03-19
SOC taffetas, 33c.

The offering of SOC. all-silk taffetas
for 33c. during the three days of our
opening caused genuine sensation.
You will notice that other stores are
holding the prices OF taffetas up be-
cause they are scarce-hard to get-and
very fashionable. We are. pleased to
be able to announce the arrival of
more of them, and they go at 33c yard
during our anniversary sale Choice
of light blue, pink, cream, cardinal.
garnet, navy, and black, and positively
all-silk
The times., 1899-03-19
Anniversary values in silks.
$3.50 corded taffetas, $1.19.

Cords. Cords, Cords. Everything is
cords. And corded .taffetas are very
scarce. That makes their price high in
the wholesale market. But neverthe-
less, during our anniversary sale we
shall offer them at reduced prices. The
same extra heavy corded taffeta-in
medium and narrow cords. in all the
newest shades-pink. light blue. cerise.
turquoise. cream. white, new blue. etc.
the same as is selling about town at
$3.50 and s1.50. for S1.i9 yard.
The times., 1899-03-19
Sc cents.

Those ladies' trimmed fedoras which
are SO stylish just now in black, blue,
and mixed straws, which you have sesn
here at s1.25 each, are going TO be sold
tomorrow as an anniversary offering
for
The times., 1899-03-19
l9 cents.

Beautifully natural long sprays OF
geraniums and foliage-enough in
spray TO trim child's hat-same quail
ity flowers for which you'll pay CSC a
spray about town, will be offered for
Is cents.
The times., 1899-03-19
25c taffeta ribbons. t5c.

4 TO 6-inch alI-siIk plain and fancy
taffeta ribbons, in stripes, plaids.
checks-including newest corded effects
-25c. ribbon for 15c. yard.
The times., 1899-03-19

passed this
has taken
is equakd by this store three
rord testimonial to the which the
progressive selling than introduced
system which
The of here
making the what todayand in filling with
The times., 1899-03-19
Bows shirt waists, 12Hc.

A lot of boys "Merrimac'' pereaIe
shirt waists, in a variety Of patterns.
will 20 for u 1-2c
The times., 1899-03-19
Boys blouse Suits, 6oc.

A lot of ehildren's blue flannel blouse
suits, with large sailor collars and
trimmed with red and white soutache
braid. in the nattiest fashion, will go
for 6gc.
The times., 1899-03-19
SO suits, $3.50.

A lot of black and b.ue
cheviot serge suits, come
of the advance spring
styles. Jackets are all
silk lined-while the
skirts have the new loop
fastenings. They are
made in the most stylish
manner-and VIII be
selling for a great deal
more when the season is
a trifis advanced. Go for
$3.50.
The times., 1899-03-19
Ladies lie vests, &c.

100 dozen ladies' Swiss ribbed vests
with necks and armholes run with silk
ribbon-usually 12 1-2c.-for sc. tomor-
row.
The times., 1899-03-19
79 cents.

Bunches of roses-six in a bunch, in
all colors and punches Of bluettes, PAN
sizes, apple blossoms, clover blossoms in
all shades. and pretty liiacs, none of
which have been selling for less than
99c bunch, go fo-
The times., 1899-03-19
New 25c veilines, l5c.

Tomorrow we shall sell the new fish
net dotted and plain veilings az 15c.
instead of 25c. yard.
The times., 1899-03-19
Ladies 3oc hose. 25c.

Ladies 40-gauge hose-black. with
fancy tops. and all fast black (Herms-
dorf dyel-plain and drop-stitch-also
ladies' brilliant Isle thread fast black
hose-both lots worth Ssc.-for 25c.
The times., 1899-03-19
50 cents.

Children's hats will also go below
price-for instance, a lot of children's
hats of rough braid, with round and
square crowns, in royal, navy, brown.
green. and cyrano, which have been
81 1-2c at
The times., 1899-03-19

10c yard for 4O-inch, extra fin, fine VII, Vic
ally for 15c yard.
The times., 1899-03-19

52-inch all-wool navy
blue and black cheviot
serge-the elegant soft,
wafer and dust-repelling
quality which makes such
serviceable and such sty-
lish skirts which is
usually sold at 75c. yard.
Anniversary price. SOC.
The times., 1899-03-19
Bows golf caps, &c.

Large lot boys all-wool golf caps
in good patterns-will be sold at &C.
tomorrow Usual golf caps sold at 19c.
The times., 1899-03-19
Ladies t9c
handkerchiefs, I2lc.

100 dozen ladies' scalloped-edge deep
embroidered ndkerchiefs-usual lSc.
value-for IL lie. tomorrow.
The times., 1899-03-19
Shirring taffeta ribbons, Zoe

New shirring taffeta silk ribbons
inches wide-usually 19c.-for 10c. yard
tomorrow.
The times., 1899-03-19
49c gowns, 29c.

Lot of muslin gowns made with
tucked yoke-which have been selling
at 49c garment-will be sold for 29c
garment.
The times., 1899-03-19
75c neck silks, 55c.

43-inch mousseline de sole and Liber-
ty silk, such as are sold at 75c.-for
SOC yard.
The times., 1899-03-19

Yard-wide all-wool fan
ey mixed suitings. some
with two-color combina-
tions, a dress stun which
was never made to be
sold for less than see.
yard, will be offered dur
ing Anniversary sale at
19c.
The times., 1899-03-19
Boys knee pants, 19c.

Tomorrow we shall offer boys 29c
knee pants at Ice. This is a cut to cost.
and We trust you'll appreciate the re-
duction.
The times., 1899-03-19
39c wash silks, 28c.

The identical hand woven Japanese
wash silks which you have seen about
town at 39c will be sold here tomorrow
as a souvenir Of our anniversary
at 2Sc yard. Striped, check ef-
fects. in such shades as light blue,
pink, nile, cerise, lavender, turquoise,
etc. Anniversary price, 2Sc. yard.
The times., 1899-03-19
Anniversary prices
for millinery.

For this one day we shall bunch on
single table ladies' trimmed sailors of
pineapple and Mackinaw braids in
black, blue, brown, white, and mixed
straw-which We bought to sell for
gSo-at
The times., 1899-03-19
Silk neck bows. 98c.

Ladies' Liberty silk neck boas with
-pleated ends, very full-9Sc.
tomorrow.
The times., 1899-03-19

97C yard for plaid and satin-striped
JS Nainsook-a quality which never
sells under &c. and some of it for Sc
yard.
The times., 1899-03-19

1QC yard for medium and narrow
IL heavy welt Piques, such as sell
usually for 25e yard.
The times., 1899-03-19

unmatchabl din
the
organization naugurate,
beginning tomorrow, Sd anniversary sale
himself before odde seasnab
wearab1es
The times., 1899-03-19
Mems handkerchiefs, 7c.

Mems colored border hemstitched
Observation-Disclosures hem - for &C.,
which usually sell at I5c.