New-York tribune., 1906-12-03
THE CARAVAN OF THE DEAD.


Baron Henry RothschiId, the member of the
famous financial dynasty who has turned his
tention medicine instead of to banking. and who
has become celebrated not only of the
leading specialists IN France on maadies OF chill
dren but also the muniicent founder OF all
kinds OF hospitals and asylums for afflicted chill
dren IN France. has just delivered before The
Academy OF Medicine at Paris an address which
deserves careful attention in America as well as
in Europe. II consisted OF nothing more or less
than g warning 10 the germs of maadies which
are too frequently transmitted from the Orient by
textile fabrics and curios, the baron urges all
purchasers OF such goods from the Orient TO sub
ject them to the most careful disinfection before
placing them in their rooms. The baron cited nu-
merous instances where Diseases notably dysen-
terry, etc. had been imported from the Far Fast
into families in Europe in this fashion
How necessary is this warning may be gathered
from the fact, which mentioned some years ago in
these articles that whenever rich MosIem dies in
Persia, Central Asia Egypt Turkey etc hts bodv
Is IN accordance with his dying request almost in
vaTiably sent to Mecca or Medina for final burial
me conveyance Of the body, which fortunately is
most expensive process is effected for the most
part by means Of caels and for the trip the corpse
Is always wrapped in several Of the most costfv
and valuable rugs. When the so-caIIed caravan ot
the dead" composed Of hundreds or canneIs each
with coffin sung either side reaches its des-
ttnaCton at Mecca Medina these rugs become the
perqusites Of the people who have had charge op
the caravan. and who realize large sums by their
sale. They eventually find their way into the ba-
zaars OF Smyrna, Cairo Alexandria and CONSTANT
nopIe. and thence TO the houses OF the rich in
Europe and in America.
It may be readily gned that rugs no matter
how beautiful and artistic. that have been used TO
envelop the infected corpse OF some old Turk dur
ing camel back trip OF several weeks across the
desert, under the hlstering OF Arabia are not
precisely calculated to prove conducive TO the
health Of their European or American purchasers
In the past many epidemic in Cairo. Alexandria
Smyrna has started in the bazaars, or rather,
that portion of the latter devoted to the sale Of
rugs and many is the time that the authorities
! have been compelled to shut up the carpet bazaa1s
Just on this account
IN SPITE OF OATH. WILL BE AN Earl.
Inasmuch Lord Portsmouth has no son, and
| his next brother John is unmarried. the action
Of the third brother, the Hon. Oliver Wallop, IN
| taking out pers Of citizenship Of the United
| States deserves some note. For Mr.. Wallop, who
/ has married the daughter Of S. J Walker. Of
/ Chicago. and who owns a large sawnliu plant at
| Cody. Wyo, where he makes his home in taking
! the oath Of allegiance a citizen Of the United
| States has been obliged TO renounce not only the
prefix OF Honorable 70 his Christian name. to
| which he IS entitled the of peer. hut like
wise his succession 70 his elder brothers earldom
of Portsmouth to the viscounty Of Lymington and
! to the barony OF Wallop. II is said in the tele-
! graphic dispatches from Wyoming that he has
been compelled 10 become citizen in order to Sc
| large contract with the Iederal government
| to furnish lumber for the great Shoshone Dam,
| the United States insisting that those with whom
It does business should be its citizens 1t Is also
said that in renOuncing his rights 10 the success
sion Of his brothers earldom he has stipulated
that the remuneration shoGld not affect the rights
| Of his young American born son 10 the succession
| Of the family honors.
Mr.. Wallop rest easy on TINS score. me
mere fact II at he has renounced his rights TO the
| succession does not affect his position with regard
I4a has
| law no legal power to make any such remuneration
of his inheritance Of q peerage and should his two
| older brothers-that is to say. Lord Portsmouth
and the Hon John WalIace-stiIl be childless at
! their death as they are now he would then become
! Earl ~ Portsmouth Eiscount Lymngton and Lore
| WALTON whether he liked it not, and invested
with all the disadvantages and some Of the ad-
| Zantsges that fall to the share of peer OF the
| realm. Among the prerogatives of which ne WouIo
be deprived IN his qualities as an American ctiZei
! would be the right occupy a seat and 10 vote AS
. member Of the House Lords. In order 10 recover
| this he would have 10 take steps to resume his
! English citizenship.
| Through the female line he Is descended from
tho celebrated Sir Isaac Newton. owing 70 which
! eli the men OF the family since the beginning OF
| +bs last centurv have born the Christian name OF
| Newton The WaIlops belong to the ten or twelve
robIa houses who can their descent in an un
b-oken line 10 Saxon ancestors. and there is som'
rsason TO believe that their virtues are enshrnec
| :, the vulgar and expressive verb which they use
as a patronyrnic and which signihes the admins
| TO of severe chastisement. In old days the
WaIIops were terror 10 their enemies Especially
so was Sir John Wallop the most famous com
ING EygFT-y