The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-29

would expect to see a city without wo-
men. Its name is SunnySide. and it is
inhabited by some 400 men who work
in the new collieries recently estab-
lished there. Most of the men are
married, yet on no account are they
permitted to bring their wives into
the village. This Punishment of the
fair sex is not due to any freakishness
The reason is purely business one
There is some hitch in the title to the
5000 acres on which the village and
mines are situated. The law of the
ting rights on the claimed lands, and
the company fears that if the men
We're allowed to bring their better
halves to Sunnyside claims might be
established to their cabins as perma-
nent places of abode.
On the borders between China and
Russia in Asia, almost due south of
Lake Baikal, is a good sized town
known as Maimatehin, which is exclus-
lively inhabited by men. The place has
a considerable trade, and is also a mill
itary outpost. An old law forbids Chi
nese women to live in this territory. In
deed, they may not pass the great wall
of Kalkan or enter Mongolia at all
The Prison of Ten Thousand is the
name. given by the wandering Arabs of
the districts across Jordan to the for
tress monastery of Mar Saba on the
Dead sea. Not many years ago there
were actually 0.000 monks living in this
grim and mournful retreat, and even
today there are more than 1000 left.
The monastery is one of the oldest in
the world, having been founded some
1900 years ago by Euthymius, who
lived there in a cave dug in the rocky
wall of the Kedron ravine. The fair
Empress Eudoxia formed a romantic
attachment for this stern anchorite,
and built near by a tower, which still
exists from which she might watch
him at a distance. for, true to his vows,
Euthymius utterly refused ever to see
or speak to a woman.
Now the tower is inhabited by a
Waterman, who keeps constant guard
against the fncursions of prowling
Arabs. Twice during the past century
the place has been raided by bordes
there today are the most rigorous of
any in the Greek church. They pass
their lives in everlasting penance, with
no hope OF pleasure and no cheerful in
cident. Many of them go mad from
the horror and desolation of their sur
roundings No woman is permitted to
come within sight of Mar Saba.
News came recently of the burning of
Montana City, a good sized place in the
state of Montana, which once held over
5000 inhabitants. For two whole days
the fire ragged, until the whole place was
reduced to ashes. Small wonder that
the inhabitants left in the place were
about 100 Cinnamon, who lived by work.
ing the taflings of the once valuable
mines. 1t is said that for many years
a woman had not been seen in the once
prosperous town.
Another far western settlement which
is composed exclusively of men is Ex
celsior City, situated in a wild, rugged
stretch of country on the Mexican edge
of southern California. This, too, was
once a mining town and has many fine
buildings, but the ore gave out and it
was deserted. Gradually it became a
resort for escaped criminals and out
laws, who are practically all men. There
are said to be 800 of them in all, muir
derers and desperadoes every one. But
as there is no porto railway anywhere
near they are entirely isolated and prac-
tically prisoners. They do no harm to
any one, and are, therefore, let alone.
You will not find Midi marked on the
charts. 1t is, indeed, practically I'M
known to civilization, and yet it is on
the shores of that highway Of civiliza-
ton, the Red sea. It is the home of
pirates and slavers, a regular nest of
criminals. The place is Inhabited almost
by men; for the sheik who
holds absolute rule there only permits
very few of his best warriors to marry. !
Midi pays no tribute to the Turkish |
and as it lies at the far end
of a long, narrow, muddy harbor, mac |
to war vessels, it seems proba- |
BILE that it may pursue its lawless ca
reer unchecked for many years to come. |
London Tit-Bits.