New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12

GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
THE SuBJUGATION OF THE SULTAN OF
STLU.
HOW THE FRIENDSHIP OF THAT foTENrA u
WAS sECTEED THROUGH MODERN INVEN-
rIoNS THE ALASKAN SURVEY
MISS Lillian PACNCEFOTES
ENGAGEMENT.

ENGAGEMENT
Washington Nov 11-If tie present war con-
tinues there will be no lack Of material Tor
opera bouffc plots for years to come Wheh 'ha'
magnificent old grandee. the Governor of Guam
after the firing upon his little domain by the
American cruisers. sent his compliments and
regrets through a much uniformed subaltefh
that he was unable to return the very courte-
Gus salute owing to the fact that he was out
OF powder II was seized upon by librctto writer's
as good stuff" While not as subtle in It's
humor. the conquest Of the Sultan OF Sulu is
equally available for literary purposes. SIX
months ago this Oriental potentate had never
been heard Of 10y the majority of people in this
country; now his name appears in big type III
the newspapers, he is a subject Of gossip at
fashionable tea tables, and ambitious students al
the high school select him as a theme
The story Of MS subjugation. as told in let
ter from an officer in General Batess command
is interesting enough. but the story as it might
hc rccountod by the Sultan Of Sulu himself
would furnish another entertaining chapter to
the tales OF Schcherazadc. and would be set
down 10y the ninitiated quite rs un5elieva-
hle as the other marvcls recountcd 10y that
hypothetical person.
The Charleston it seems was sent to take
possession Of the Sulu Islands. but tho com
mander Of that ship, preferring peaceabe means
To- warlike measures. sent cordial invitation
to the ruler Of the group asking him to come
aboard for tfin. The royal parsonage readily
accepted and his arrival alongside the snip
was salutcd with seventeen guns. which 50 Nat
tocG his self-esteem that he stepped on deck
swelling with pride and puned up with mn
por;anoe with much emprcssement the dis
tingushcd guest was conducted to the captain
cabin and seated where the breeze of an cleo
tr.c fan fell full upon him. Wonderingly he
Uccred around to see where the mysterious
tIeeze came from. and finally his Interpreter
asked the cause for the refreshing wind when
the air was quite still outside. The fan was
brought and placed in front Of the Sultan. De
lighted beyond measure. he watched its re-
Vo,ving and questioned the officers about this
wonderful machine which could create breczes
that should come only from heaven. Would it
stop sometime. or would it go On forever"
BLOW on it," he was instructed. the ma
chine is entirely under your control and Will
do your bidding"
The sultan blew his royal breath. when 10,
the fan stopped Ashast at his power. he asked
the officers cagery what shond be done to
start it again. BLOW once more" he WAS told
and at his breath It's whrring began. Carried
away by this new experience His Royal High
ness played with the toy until the engineer CON
ctaled from view. must have bccpm" weary
with turning the current on ard off at the whm
" the astonished padishah
Before he had tired II the fan the electric
lights were shown to him, and he was permitted
e. turn them on and OF by blowing against The
glass bulbs. Already. it is said. he began e.
think it would I've / good idea 10 swear allegianc"
to the government Of country whence such
things emanated. but his subjuratiun was com
Ileted 10y The phon0FraDh and the chink ana
right Of more Mexican dollars than ne had ever
sccn before The nox containing the imprisoned
human eoul was brought out. II spoke to him.
it sang for him. brt it was trick joke: it was
H. a strange language; he would see His inter
prefer was instructed to talk to it, Here was a
wonder indeed; the thing talked back 1t re-
Tcatcd the exact words of his secretary in the
came tone of voice even. Would they give this
wonderful box and some Of the Mexican dollars
OF which IA y seemed to have So many If he
would sign IT," treaty? I'hc conquest was COM
Ilcte. il bloodoss and when the seventeen guns
doomed over the water he left the ship his
chest could barely contain his swelling heart
Professor NeWComh has returned from Il tri-
smphal tour through Europe. where hi, col
leagues never fail to show ~ some tangible way
the respect and admiration they feel for this
great astronomer On his recent visit Prof ssJr
NcwComb was hunOrod by another degree from
oxford and was made ii membcr Of the Bureau
dcs I.ongitud,s of France His itinerary in
,'uded Holland, the Eneadine and a part Of Ger
many where At Wieshad,n be ATTENDED the con
icrences 81 representatives, OF different national
academies
News ha+ been received at the Geographical
tf Ia, e., rriX AT .f f.