The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-06
FREAK TOWNS.

About one-thrd of the population OF
the Flemish city OF Gheel are lunatics.
Those mentally deranged are sent there
from all over the Continent. the idea
being that the freedom given i'm this
town, which lives on lunatics. will help
10 cure the patients. Yet the cure is
founded on "A very improbable legend.A
kings daughter having. during the Mid
die Ages, eloped TO this city with for
bidden lover Was followed by her faith
er, VINO, ,chancing 10 meet her at a street
corner promptly cut off her head Two
lunatics passing at the tme We're SO
shocked by this act that they regained
their reason, and the town got its live
lihood.
The town of Gibraltar. owing TO it's
position in reDlrd to Spain, has practi-
cally been in state OF selge for over
two centuries, says the London Mail At
sunset the drawbridges are raised. and
at sunrise they are again let down TO
the tune of the reveille. The whole town
Is kept under strict military rule. none
but Englishmen being allowed TO en-
ter without pass, and none but resi-
dents under any conditions being al
lowed to sleep within the town.
The town of Iquitos, in South Amer
lea. is a seaport situated gome 1000 miles
from the sea. Yet il boasts some of the
finest dock yards in the world. ships
from every port and Of every build from
the tramp steamer 10 the Atlantic liner.
can enter its port by sailing or steam
ing up ths River Amazon.
There liz a large city In Northern CHI
ma whose inhabitants. numbering many
thousands, never speak 20 one another.
eat or drink. IL is a city of graves. The
corpses are deposited in earthen urns.
and, having left a little rice and opium
for the spirits OF the departed TO eat
or give as offering 20 the national dra-
gon, the living relatives hurry away
from the town of the dead. But at
nightfall from out of the hidden caves,
and even sometimes desecrated urns
creep lepers and outcasts, who, while
they make merry with the viands, laugh
at the simple faith OF the givers, who
suppose i'm the morning that the gods
have devoured them.
There are two cities many OF whose
inhabitants have never seen Gods sky
--Epernay, in France, and Wielicka, In
Poland.
The former consists OF miles upon
miles of subterranean streets hewn out
OF the chalky soil. and csmented with
millions upon millions OF champagne
bottles OF all blends ana NlntageS, lei
there to ripen.
Wielicka lis hewn out of salt--fn fact
n great salt mine. so large that th'
workers in il are also inhabitants. Man,
families date back three or four gener
ations since any of their number haV'
seen the world-from the outside.
Many centuries have passed since
woman was seen in or near the town o
Caryes, situate on the coast of Mace
COMA. The town is dominated ty iarg
monastery, and no woman Is ever al
lowed to enter it's gates. Even the in
| habitants and Turkish wards are oh
aiged to be bachelors. The greatest pun
| ishment in the Turkish army is TO ID
sent to Caryes.
Louds Island. lying off the coast o
| the American State OF Maine. Is IDEA
| from one point of view and also unique
| II boasts of no police or ruling power
| any kind. and consequently. no taxes
| This town. which has a population o
| nearly 1000. was started by deserte
| from the British navy, one John Loud
| and his descendants today are the aris
| tocracy. II speaks well for this tow
| that no murder has ever been commit
\ fed there. and only once have the in
| habitants been called in to settle 10
! cal dispute. and then the evidence wa
1 so strong for both parties that 10 re
stora peiace Il was decided That DOT
| we're in the wrong. and W they did no
keep the peace they would have 10 CIV
nm their right TO live in Loud town