New-York tribune., 1905-07-09
HONOR FOR MR.. JESUP.
Russian Decoration Conferred on
Him by the Car.

The knighthood badge and insignia OF the I'M
perial and ROYAL Order Of St Stanislaus of the
first degree. one of the oldest and most distn-
guished in the Russian Empire. has Just
been conferred by the Gar upon Morris
X Jesup, president Of the American Nfu-
scum of Natural History. This high honor,
thus bestowed for the first time upon
American, was in return for a series Of valuable
chronological specimens. representing the re-
Hgious and daily life of the Cars remote and
nomadic Siberian inhabitants. which was given
by Mr. Jesup to the Russian Academy OF Sci
ences. The contribution was selected from the
wealth of material now on exhibition at the
American Museum of Natural History. gathered
by the Jesup North Pacific expedition. which
was equipped through the generosity Of Mr.
Jesup, over $4,000 being expended for sys-
tematie exploration among the little known
tribes of Arctic Siberia and Northeastern Asia
and those Of the northwest coast OF America.
The main object was to learn the early history
Of the native races of our continent and their
relation to the races of the Old World The
Jesup expedition. it is held. established such a
relationship between the peoples of Asia and
America as points to the conclusion that the
tribes Of this whole area must be considered as
single race. with a single culture which at
one time found both in the northeastern
part of the Old World and in the northwestern
part of this continent
The Order of St Stanislaus was founded in
1865 The badge is of enameIled gold attached
TO red ribbon. The annual meeting Of the
| order is presided over by the Car himself
To Mr. Jesup the Car is indebted for much
/ information about some of his own subjects
which he probably would never have acquired
In any other way. Especially is this so Of the
tribe known as the Chukchee, numbering some
fifteen thousand These queer people antedats
Dr. Osler and his theory Of age limit and ex-
/ termination, the Chukehee having practised for
century or more the custom OF putting to
death-and this by voluntary request-au aged
and otherwise ineapaeitated persons who are
not physically capable OF supporting themselves
| The aged and infirm who cannot earn their
livelihood or contribute TO the support Of the
family seem willing to resign themselves TO the
| premature ending OF their DAYS Though ap-
pearing barbarous to Western minds 70 the iso-
lated and nomadic Chukchee it is considered
blessing, both TO the Individual and TO the COM
| munity. TO end the existence of the aged. For
| according 10 their mythology, the deceased will
| live again in one of the nine future worlds
| where game and reindeer are plentiful and Life
more enjoyable.
| An old man usually selects some near and
favorite kinsman TO end HIS life who. in many
instances carries him astride his shoulders To
| the designated spot After prescribed eere-
| mony a fatal thrust is made. usually by means
| of long lance or spear the same as used by
the herders in killing reindeer
Human life is likewise offered up on rare
occasions as a sacrifice TO appease the wran
or the evil spirits by the shamans. the Prae-
| utioners OF sorcery and magic. In the case ora
| recent epidemic, after meeting Of the shamais
IT was decided that killing the head man q
the tribe would be the only means OF satiSfyinS
the evil spirits All the people refused 20"
ever saying that they would rather die from 'D'
epidemic than consent to this. The head MAJ
| Notwithstanding. called his tribesmen toge'H@
and begged them to accept his life; but no sA
could be found who was willing to make :"
final spear thrust Then he called his oos'
mere lad. handed him the weapon. and oade -. =
plunge II In his heart. The boy hesitateG u's ~
completely terrified by his fathers cnEsssa
consented Soon afterward the epidemic p~