Indianapolis Journal, Volume 49, Number 99, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 April 1899 — Page 16

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THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1899.

HOLY WEEK IN HAVANA

uin seasov op sackcloth and ASHES AS OHSEHVED II V C I'll ASS. Peculiarities of Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday anil Kntler-Thc Empty Tomb of Columbni.

Epeclal Correfpon.lence of the Journal. HAVANA. April 3. lnt In Cuba bears Ilttlo resemblance to the penitential pta.scn In the United States and northern Europe, anI though tho people aro exceedingly devout, It seems to bo. well nlsh shorn of Its rigors. First is th matter of weather. We felt It a. wholly disjointed and unnatural proceeding to drlvo to midnight mass on Christmas eve through air as balmy as New England June, flower scented and murmurous with a gentle sea breeze playing1 amid th feathery foliage of the palm. And how much more unreal at-Kastcr, with the thermometer skylarking" toward the nineties. The altars In all the churches were glittering mountains of waxen candles, priceless laces and frost nork embroideries on cobweb pina embowered in strange exotic blooms; and tha congregation of men In cool white linen and women in thinnest muslins, with neither wraps nor bonnets but the lace mantilla, completed one's bewilderment. Even a protracted lenten fast could not be very severo In this tropical l.de of always simple living, pure air and luvbh fruits. If ono chooses to deny himself the morning coffee or chocolate, which Is served with bread Immediately on rising, there are sweet. Juicy, incomparable oranges to slake one a thirst, whilo a golden Cuban banana contains nourishment enough for a full meal. Depend upon It, the old monks we .read about, who lived on figs, raUlns and goats' milk cheese, did not fare badly. In this country it would be no deprivation to go without butter or tho Imported compound that passes under that honored nime, for wagon grease and soap fat is savory in comparison. If one Is heroically bent upon a veritable mortification of sense and spirit to atone for some grievous fin ho might perhapt shut his eyes to the small black dots that are sprinkled through the excellent toll allowed with hl3 morning coffee and let them go tho natural way with tho bread Instead of disgustedly pinching them out with their enveloping crumbs and hiding them under his plate rim. That would indeed bo a penance of antique robustness worthy of Spain in Inquisition dayjs for every black dot Is a flea, as recognizable in its minute anatomy and articulation as flies in amber. It is an open question whether the sweet, light, well-baked bread which is bo creditable to Havana bakeries could possibly Lo mado entirely without the wicked flea, which no Cuban pursueth, since in the daintiest private housekeeping of the Island pestiferous insects make life a burden, swarming the beds, the wardrobes, the caneseat chairs and couches, even the ?eams of the marble floors. Every carriage, car or other public vehicle Is literally alive with them; and ono invariably returns from a promenade with polka-dotted hose and undergarments. It Lj taken so mueh a matter of course, this pest of fleas, that nobody wonders when the person to whom he is talking suddenly retires for a private i".nt or pmiles to see the priest In the pulpit reach down to scratch a leg in the midst of prayer or exhortation. PASTING NO PENANCE. As for abstinence day3 in Cuba, the most carnivorous of mortals could have nothing to complain of where the encircling seas are swarming with an Infinite variety of the very best fish in the world. Havana's superb fish market built by the half pirate, half smuggler and whole scoundrel, Marti ivorth to the bon vivant, the naturalist and the artist taking a long voyage merely to look at. But.on Palm Sunday women, at least, may realize that Lent Is a penitential season. Think of being compelled to kneel on a hard stone floor three hours at a stretch! The stocks, the pillory and the Iron virgin were as nothing to this pious torture. While some seat3 are owned by the privileged few, there are no pews In Cuban churches", nor chairs and kneeling benches for hire, as in Europe. The swellest thing for ladles to the manor born Is to have a footman, or small black page in gorgeous livery, to carry a "prayer carpet" and spread it wherever he can rind room on the church floor, and then, when the soft knees of his mistress are crooked upon It, to drop on ono corner behind her for his own devotions. The men of the congregation stand throughout the Fervlces. leaning against the walls in solid phalanx, taking things easy after the manner of the lazy sex. expecting to get into heaven on the merits of their daughters, wives and mothers. The women, howeven, instead of rising to the feet at intervals, as in other countries, keep right on kneeling, from start to finish, regardless of bodily torture, relieving the position, when flesh and bones can endure no more, by settling back upon the heels in a kind of capital "Z" attitude. Only a born Havanese can do it gracefully. In a few minutes the foreigner wobbles Fideways in a demoralized heap and feels a good deal more like Cinderella in the ashes - than & decorous c hurch communicant. The Palm Sunday gospel, when read, is very long indeed, and thrice longer when chanted. To kneel continuously throughout the performance, without the slightest external support, is to the novice an experience which for painfulness throws far in the shade a walking tour to Mecca, with the dryest of peas in the tfghtcirt of shoes. Instead of the sprigs of box or hemlock, used in colder countries, whose leaves scatter themselves broadcast before one can get the blessed branches home, veritable palm leaves are. of course, distributed here, such as marked th Savior's entrance into Jerusalem. The Cuban ladle?, taught in convents, are wonderfully ingenious In plaiting the flexible palm leaves. Hesides the long branches blessed by tho priest and brought from tho church, which all the rest of the vear remain twined in window-bars "for luck." like the Druids mistletoe, it is the fashion to make little baskets, crosses, necklaces, bracelets and other pretty trifles of palm, have them duly blessed by some accommodating priest and distribute them among one's friends. SOLEMN OBSERVANCE. On Maundy Thursday morning the whole rlty goes into mourning and silence. Flags are furled, bands cease to play, not a bell rings, not a carriage Is permitted to traverse a street within the city walls. On Good Friday only business or work, public or private, of the most imperative need, is done, and in the houses of the devout it is as if the dearest member of the family were lying dead. Ladies wear sombre black, discarding all ornament. But one meal is served in the twenty-four hours, and that at midday, of bread, rice and bacalao. The latter is codfish, but so compounded with oil and saffron, tomatoes and peppers that a Nantucketer would fall to recognize his own. At twilight. Images of the dead Christ, of his sorrowing mother, of St. John and Mary Magdalene, together with the instruments of His passion, are borne through the streets, at the head of a vast following of. clergy, religious orders, confraternities, charitable associations and the general public. During the last decade these time-honored customs have been somewhat on the wane in the more cosmopolitan capital, and In this year of American occupation were comparatively omitted, but are still in full force in other parts of the island. Thn comes Holy Saturday, the blessed pause and lull of emotion that prevails in all Christian countries. Protestant or Catholic the loosening of the strain of weeks, the resting from the gloom of the latest days in the sure knowledee that a glad time, the great tl.iy the Lord hath made, is only a tew hours away. At sunrise on Easter morning comes another triumphal procession. The risen Christ is borne from the cathedral toward the old church of Santa Catallna. and is mt on the way by a procession from the latter, bearing St. Mary Magdalene seeking her Master. At the moment of meeting a salute is tired, on the instant cuMin boom, drums br.it. trumpets blare, the hushed church bolls clamor again, flags are flung out from tho harbor forts, towers and housetops, from government buildings and shins in th bay; carriages dash unchallenged through the ity gates, the orb of day rises glorious from the sea. and the Son of Illahteousness, too. U rien. having conquered the grave for the whole human race. Hleh imiss in any of Havana's twenty churches is a thing to be long n-mombere-d, and a military m;ss in th cathedral Is htartlingly impressive. The old building Itelf l very quaint an 1 interesting, antique Ppanish In architecture. Its stones moss f;rown and Us Interior ns religiously dim as heart could wish; rich m rare paintings.

vestment, gold and silver candelabra, altar equipments and sacred vessels: but there Is also too much of the tawdriness and bedizenment so dear to Ignorant taste and especially dear to the religious heart of Spanish-America. As everybody knows, the ashes of Christopher Columbus reoosed in this church through two long centuries, and above his tomb hung the rusty chains with which his ungrateful master bound him. The departing Spaniards should not have teen permlUcd to carry these sacred relics away from Ciba. but they did so unhindered by their American conquerors, and the fresh plaster around the recently-displaced stone that closed the vault tells of emptiness within. EASTER MAGNIFICENCE. On Easter morning the finest treasures of tho sacristy are brought forth to drape the altars and glitter In the floods of waxen light. Jewels sparkle amid the gold embroideries of the whlto vestments of ecclesiastics within the altar rail, and a crowd

of officers in full uniform Iend3 color to the scene. The other soldiers stand In a body near the middle of the church. Around them kneels a motley gathering ladles of high degree with their children, poor reconcentrado women, negro servants, gayly bedecked courtesans, handsome bronze women from the Canary islands in gorgeous petticoats and chemises, a stately countess ir. Lyons satin and a Barcelona mantilla, worth its weight in gold, beside a beggar in filthy rags: a somewhat worldly looking canon in lacquered shoes and soutane of the most exquisite quality, crowded against a bare-footed Carmelite ?n his coarse brown habit, or a Franciscan Father in blue, with rop girdle. Very continental sounds the Latin, both In tho sanctuary and organ loft. Very elaborate is the crossing. Instead of the simple "In Nomine Patrls." etc., touching forehead, breast and shouldershere forehead, mouth and heart are severally blessed and then the thumb and forefinger make a cross, which is kissed. At the elevation of the host, there is a tap upon the drum. Swords flash out and the soldiers bend stiffly. Then a long, still pause another tap upon the drum the soldiers straighten themselves and the swords arf sheathed with a clatter. Coming out of church one has run the gauntlet of a crowd of mendlcai ts at the door men. women and children of culminating degrees of poverty ami dreadful varieties of bodily misery. Nobody of Cuban blood ever treats these poor creatures harshly. Many of the ladies never go abroad without wearing velvet bags em their arms filled with small coins and paper scrip for the. beggars' benefit. On Easter morning the giving is unusually generous for who should be sad or hungry on the glorious day of good tidings to all mankind! A refusal Is always couched In a gentle "Va con Dlos" iGo with God), which sounds like a benediction and elicits nothing worse than "Clod bless you. sir, or madame; another day." It may not be enlightened charity in every case, but it Is very sweet and winning. Liter on Easter Sunday I went into a little chapel that Is the heart of a convent and saw a lovelier interior than the most stately cathedral could boast. It was of severest architectural plainness, its walls only whitened, with no pictures or niches or side chapels and not a pane of stained glass in the windows. Indeed the windows were merely great gaps in the walls, set from top to bottom with iron bars faced with clumsy wooden shutters. The sisters, who longed to make the place beautiful for the greatest fiesta of the year, had found a way as inexpensive as effective. Enormous branches of the royal palm had been cut and these were ranged along the walls and in two inner ranks, to convert the rave into a triple arcade of the splendid plumes. Next the sisters had profusely starred all the deep lustrous greenness of the arcades with fragrant clusters of rose pink oleanders, tied among the slender ribbons of the palm leaves. An exquisite altar, that looked like a many-jetted fountain of flowers and lights, even the bobeches of the candlesticks lelng made of leaves and blossomsclosed the lovely vista. Nuns in their sombre garments were kneeling in their stalls along the sides.- and as I looked thelr pupils filed In to vesper a double line of young Cuban gilrs in white gowns and white veils, marching slowly down the central aisles to bend before the sanctuary railing: then, each couple separating, they came down the side aisle to their seats, making four processions of youthful loveliness. FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD. My Suppliant. lie came to my door In the morninir. AnI he told of a Fleenle?s night. Of his grief and pain, and his fare looked sad And worn In the golden light; But the work of the day was pressing. There was much to do and to see. And I bagged him to go with his load of woeHow could I know- It was He? He came to my door In the noontide, Still troubled and Forrow pore; I was resting a bit from the heat of the day. Though my toil but half was o'er: And my mind was busy with planning For the days and the months to be. And I scarce gave ear while he lingered near How could I know it was He? He came to my door In the evening. And craved at the table a place. And a quiet ccrner to lay his head i And rest for a little fpace. The cares of the day had len many, I was tired as tired could be. And I hepped him to po, and not weary me so How could I know it was He? Emma A. Lent, in the Advocate. IX A CHINESE LAW COURT. It Very Often Presents a Scene of Wild Confusion. North China Herald. For a peaceful people the Chinese appir to be a most litigious race. The moment that a quarrel begins to become serious one or the other of the parties is likelv to shout excitedly: "I will go to the city!" that is to present his formal accusation at the yamen. The other side threatens the same, and while in a large percentage of cases outsiders contrive to suppress the immediate execution of the menace, everyone recognizes that the trouble is only temporarily patched up and may break out In an aggravated form at any time. If the accusationspresented in Chinese courts were confined to anything like the. facts in the case there would be no case at all for nine-tenths of them. Therefore. It Is considered indispensable to blend with the real grievance from 70 to 53 per cent, of Action. The plaintiff dots this as routin practice. So does the defendant. When the magistrate happens to feel in a good humor he calls up the case, or quite as likely he does so when he Is in a very bad humor, which bodes ill for one side, and not infrequently for both. The first part of a Chinese trial is likely to be something like the proceedings In one of our own courts, a great deal of formality, and an apparent respect for the majesty of the law, and especially for its representative, the district magistrate, who is the Chinese unit of government. Hut It is not long before all resemblance to occidental procedure fades into thin air. There are no lawyers to protect the clients. If there really is any law bearing one the case in hand, no one but experts such as the yamen secretaries knows what it is. The magistrate is himself civil and criminal Judge, jurv. and practically the Appellate Court. There is no manner of restraint upon him in his mode of asking questions, in the subject of his inquiries or in his treatment of the principals or witnesses. The greater part of the matter brought into a Chinese lawsuit would be entirely ruled out of any Urltih court as totally Irrelevant to the main issue. Hut in a Chinese case there often is no mafn Issue, or issue of any kind, except the impatient shout of the official: "Get out with you!" (hsia-chu la), whereupon all the parties retire, and not improbably not one of them has the smallest idea where the case has now got to. Neither, perhaps, has the magistral, but for the time he has had enough of it. and wants to smoke a pipe or two of opium, and will hear them again when ho has a more convenient season. Uut before the case has been dismissed the respective parties have by no means been idle. Each of them has told falsehoods enough to shock a company prospectusmaker, and as each party delivers himself of these fabrications the other finds it impossible to restrain himself, and hoarsely brawls: "That is a lie!" To this it is necessary to reply, which is done with a volubility greatly in contrast to the quiet of the preliminary stages, when each replied in a few monosyllables only. From ejaculatory interruptions giving the other party the lie. it is but a stag to angry colloquies of some length, in which each party strangles to be heard, each reviles th other vociferously, and neither party is interrupted or reproved by the magistrate, who is now engaged in the process of making up Lis mind on the basis of what he sees and hears as to which sid has the most of li. or reason. In the worst stages of a case it often happens that the magistrate himself does tho reviling, and. Chinese human nature being what It is. it also sometimes occurs that the worsted party in the suit reviles the magistrate, although this is rash, for he miy beat ihm severely for so doing, and then decide the case against them. One of the Hemurkable Canes. Chicago Fust. Me began nfter the usual form, to wit: I have a little boy at home who " They interrupted him after much the usual form, to wit: "Pardon me. old man: I must t going along." "Sorry 1 can't wait, but I'm due at the office." etc. "Just a minute." he urced. buttonholing the two nearest. "It won't take me a minute." They pighed and resigned themselves: "All I want to hay." he went on, "N that I have a little boy at home who never said a bright th!ng in his life." They grasped bis hands with a thankfulness that could find no expression in words. And then ho added: "Ilea too small. He can't talk yet."

FOR FEMININE READERS

THE SL'PERFLVOrS THINGS THAT ADD TO THE III HDEX OF LIFE. A Question no to the Duty of the II erenved Women Who Know Little of Public Affairs-Odd and Uuds. What does It cost you to live? asks Elia W. Teattie. in Self-Culture. More than it ought, no cloubt, and more than you wish It did, though It is probable that most of you congratulate yourselves on being singularly good managers. But w hich one of you could care for yourself, your sister, and two children, on $. a month? There is a woman living in a certain little village who does this very thing. Nor does she live in squalor, nor 19 she held in pitying contempt. Not at all. Tho people of her village say: "Ann Saunders is quite a manager. Yes, 'em, so she Is. Very nice ladles, Ann Saunders and her sister. Yes, they come of good family. We all set store by Miss Ann Saunders." She lives beyond the other houses In the village in a log cabin which someone else had deserted. It is a fairly comfortable cabin, large enough to accommodate two beds, two tables, and a number of chairs, without being crowded. The chairs are split-bottomed and quite comfortable. The cabin Is heated by a large fireplace at which the cooking is done. Thc-se ladies for so their antecedents and their own manners and lives entitle them to be called understand the use of the spit, and can dress a chicken before the fire in a most delicous manner. They also understand the art of roasting potatoes to perfection. They can make that most desirable sort of corn cakes which is cooked in the ashes, and they know how to make a commendablo cup of coffee. They say they have known what it is to be hungry. They have a wood pile at the rear of their house, a shoulder of bacon hanging from the rafters, and their chickens cluck about the grass. Fortunately they live where, the climate is mild. The widowed sister Is the one who earns the money for the family, doing it by taking in sewing. The other sister is "afflicted," as all the neighbors say, which In this case means that she has club feet. They drea In calico, costing G cents a yard, but which comes in pretty patterns. They are always tidy and neat, and regard themselves as Important members of the community. Indeed, they are so regarded by others, and when the "ladies of the Presbyterian Church" have any especial reason for sociability, Ann Saunders and her sister are considered. Tho ladies call upon them, and these calls are returned. It takes about a minute to make a fine cup of tea before a "fat pine" lire, and as Ann Saunders serves it she is more than likely to tell a good story. There Is no thought of discontent in the cabin. There appears to be no especial consciousness of poverty. Both of the women are much absorbed in the two little boys. They are also interested In the families for which they do sewing: and they have ideas about "expansion" and other national questions. They are very peaceful, owe no man anything, live within their income, and are not bothered with superfluous things. It is the superfluous things that really make life difficult. They are tho things we run in debt for, usually, and the things we overwork to get and worry about after they are ours. It is the care of these things that makes us nervous and worn. A lady with a beautiful home said last Christmas: "Please do not give me anything tht will make existence any more complicated than it is at present. I really am at a loss trying to remember what all the conveniences with which I am supplied are for, and a good part of my income goes In paying people to take care of the things I do not need." Yet, in spite of her request, her dressing-table was still further littered with silver knickknacks, her shelves were overcrowded with bric-a-brac, and her sideboard burdened with articles for which she could have only a remote use. She is not a wealthy woman, ncr are her friends wealthy. She represents the average well to do woman of taste, living on a moderate income. Yet she sees her servats polishing and burnishing and rearranging the articles, which so far from adding to her happiness, really cumber her. There has been a marked increase in the luxuries of life In America the last few years, and the people, pleased with their elegant toys, have not yet acquired the moral courage to forego them. To acquire and yet acquire is their instinct, and thus they cheat themselves of leisure and peace and simplicity. Not that one would for a moment suggest that a bare home is more desirable than a decorated one. Rut a home in which each article 1 cither useful or beautiful, or both, would of a surety be a desirable thing. The Ethics of Mourning:. New York Evening Tost. When our beloved go a little way, across the sea, perhaps; when they are absent for a time, a year or two it may be, how do we speak of them; how do we feel towards what they loved and purposed? Do we drop their names from the general family speech; do we shut the light from the room they occupied: do we count it an evidence of love towards them to live a life against which they would vehemently protest, and abruptly put an end to what they fostered and enjoyed? Why should the mightier loss, the absence of which, for lack of fitter word, we call eternal, cause us to do these things? If the life which has ended has been that of a bright child to whom a sunbeam was a playfellow and a dark day a misfortune, is it not rational and fitting that the light it loved, the cheerful things it enjoyed most, should be conserved in memory of its radiant life? I knew a mother who had held ciose to her devoted heart a little child blind from his birth; when the beautiful sightless eyes closed in death she dressed herself in white and kept tears from off her cheeks. In the great peradventure which her soul held to be truth, it might be that her boy could see his mother: if, happily, this should be so. his spiritual eyes must see her looking lovely and lovable. His mother must look sweet to him. Faithful and faithless can surely see the beautiful reality of perfect love in this: let us live for our dead such lives as would gladden them on either side the veil, and be. even as regards the little things of everyday existence (such as the clothes we wear, the smile with which we cheer our neighbor or our friend), as nearly as we may what would have pleased them best. When the head and pillar of the house Is removed from his place and the wife's name is changed to that saddest title borne by woman, widow, tho truest honor to his life is surely to let his law rule In the household he built up. If his has been a cordial, hospitable reign, glad to welcome stranger and friend, and his voice been of good cheer let him still dwell under his own roof in the presence of these qualities. If his genial spirit, hLs cheering views of life's problems ha'3 lifted men out of "the slough of despond" and his laugh been like a prophylactic against foretoding fear do not shut out his influence from his home, but let it be a monument to his lovable nature. So he desired it to bo, so let it be. Downcast eyes and silence at his board and closed doors and neglect of festival observance were abhorrent to him; let her with whom he shared his rule see that his spirit and his will are present as long as she can order the methods by which his home is governed. L.t it be her joyful pleasure to nurse and keep alive every trace of his personality and be herself his memorial among men and to his children. Can grief be healed by subverting all the course of a good man's life, and darkening his home, and disregarding all the order of his noble endeavor? There is a conquest over death, over its grim and destroying majesty by the force of love so strong that it loses itself in the perwr.s beloved and does not need to see and hear and touch in ordr to live for them; that orders Its daily walk In noble calmness and outgiving good will to man; that dwells in the sunshine and radiates warmth because of its supreme devotion to the unseen life, and is in unison, so far as shadow can accompany light, with the measureless happiness it believes the departed to enjoy. What n Man ay. New York Commercial 'Advertiser. An observant man says that the women who shop all have the same expression. It is a weird look, worried and far away, but flerce. It embraces details, prices, colors, cuts, shapes, flowers and feaihers in one glance. It is a look that appraises and decides. The fabric, garment or hat that can face that look without wilting: deserves admiration and resp ct. The bonnet that can return that look without lowering its roses or showing the white feather Is worth any

price, whether it comes from Sixth avenue or the Hue de la Paix. Even the meek, mild

and weak woman whose voice is like a sum mer zephyr looks tlery and forbidding when sne is prowling around a shop, selecting. calculating and doing mental arithmetic. There Is an Intense detachment about her. an intense concentration, that renders her for the moment almost great, no matter how little and Inoffensive she may be on ordinary occasions. She may be the lamb at home, but she Is the lion of the shop. The passion of shoDnlnc clothes her with dignity and wraps her in celestial fire. She runs against you full tilt, but frequently does not see you. She treads on your toes. Jabs you in the ribs with her elbow, pushes you out of your place at a counter and swings the doors In your face. She doesn't mean it. She is oblivious of you. She neither sees nor hears nor thinks of you. You are only a man; you are for afternoon or evening wear. Colonel Cody on the Sex Problem. New York Eevening Sun. The following speaks for itself. It is clipped from Buffalo Bill's new programme, and it is interesting as showing the enterprise of Sorosis. Special attention Is called to the purity of Mr. Cody's English: "Do you believe that women should have the same liberty and privileges that men have?" was the leading question put by a prominent member of Sorosis to Colonel Cody. Here Is his reply: "Most assuredly I do. I've already said they should be allowed to vote. Why. of course. If a woman is out earning her living sne Keeps up with what is going on In the world, and she knows the best man to vote for. Men have their clubs, and I say let the women have theirs, too. Women are so much better than we are tbat they don't take to our kind of clubs, but if they want to meet and discuss financial questions, politics, or any other subject, let 'em do it. and don't laueh at them for dolnc it. Thev discuss things just as sensibly as the men do, I'm sure, and I reckon know just as much about the topics of the day. One thing gets me. You take a single woman earning her living In tho city and the average man looks at her suspiciously if he hears that she lives alone. That makes me tired. A woman who Is capable of financiering for herself is capable of taking care of her morals, and, if she wants to take an apartment and live alone, where she can do her work more quietly, or have things her own way when she comes from business, she has jijyt as mueh right to do so as a bachelor. If a. woman is a good woman she will remain good alone; If she Is bad, being surrounded and overlooked, and watched and guarded, and chaperoned by 100 old women In a boarding house won't make her good. This applies to society women as well as to working women. There are bad women in every walk of life, but most women are good. What we want to do is to give our women even more liberty thanthey have. Let them do any kind of work they see lit, and If they do It as well as men give them the same pay. Grant them the same privileges in their home life and club life that men have, and we will see them grow and expand into far more beautiful and womanly creatures than they arc already." Where Women Harper's Bazar. Are Weals. Extraordinary as it may be. It is nevertheless true that with all tho reports which reach us every day the last part of a morning paper to which the average woman turns the part, indeed, almost invariably skipped is the letter from Washington in which the news of Congress Is given. Some great event, some scandal or some startling denouement may arouse her into making a quick and cursory study of some conspicuous question one deep enough to enable her to ask a question or. two when her men friends are talking, but no more. The affair once settled or no longer treated with headlines, and she straightway forgets it, and all its corelatlon to national affairs. With the sudden development of our country into a great world power, and while we are still struggling to frame our new-born Ideals into systems, the duty of the everyday woman to equip herself for a better understanding of what our national responsioilities are has become of paramount importance. The magazines are full of discussions of colonial policies, histories of the failures or successes of those of other nations, protests for and against our right to adopt any or to become ourselves a colonizing power. All of these are of great interest, and at this time of more than special interest, when they happen to be dealt with by well-equipped writers men who have the power to make us suddenly see how simple a national podcy may be .and how the ideals of a nation may differ but little, from those- of an individual: how, indeed, they might stand for the ideals of one of its most highly developed citizens. It is too late to follow, except as the history of yesterday, that which was attempted and that which was accomplished by the Fifty-fifth Congress, now no more. Hut certainly it would be weil for us all to determine to follow, step by .step, the working of that one which begins its session next autumn. To Keep.YonnR. New York Commercial Adevertiser. The French woman knows a great deal about tho gentle art of keeping young and comely, as well as the art of preserving i er health. She believes In herb teas usually the only sort of tea she drinks and spring doses and diets. When she is thin and run down she takes gruel and possets. Just at this season she eats a great deal of spinach because it contains iron, and she devours dishes of green salads such as watercress, dandelion, monk's beard, chlccory and sorrel that would make the average American salad bowl crack with amazement. If she is thin and pale the French woman drinks gruel. This is how she makes it: Take a pound of oatmeal and a pound of barley flour; boil with about three quarts of water and four or five apples cut in slices; let it boil until reduced to about half the original quantity, and add sugar to taste. To follow the French regimen, drink a glass of gruel on awakening, as early as possible, so as not to spoil one's appetite for breakfast: another glass at about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and a third upon going to bed. Result an "embonpoint raisonnable. ' Odds and Ends. It is said that if the edges of carpets aro saturated with alum-water, it will effectually destroy moths. If the floor is unpainted it is always well to take the precaution of washing up with a solution of alum before laying the carpet. The same liquid is also an excellent remedy for black ants. It is worth remembering that when brasses have been rubbed to a high state of polish they may be rushed over with a little brass lacquer or shellac that can be had at any varnish store. In this way their fine condition will be preserved indefinitely and much toilsome work obviated. To purify a room set a pitcher of water in th3 apartment, and in a few hours it will have absorbed all the respired gases in the room. The capacity for purifying Is nearly doubled if the water Is reduced to the temperature of ice; hence, very cold water that has stood in a room for some little time is unfit to drink. Many of the newest yokes', guimpes and blouse fronts to wear under basque bodices are made with minute tucks across the yoke or guimpe. a style very becoming to slender forms, but by no means favorabie to those needing nothing to accenuate width. Horizontal trimmings are the most popular, but they are best suited to tall, slender women. It is the opinion of Miss Tarloa that. all the main appliances cf the kitchen should be within a space of ten feet square. This is stated after careful Investigation of some of the causes which make housework in French homes less burdensome than anywhere else. It Is often true that the large, airy, spacious kitchens, which are dear alike to the heart of the maid and mistress, are really most undesirable. If the cook should wear a pedometer for a week the distance she walks in the performance of her round of duties would surprise and alarm her. Very dalntv and pretty effects are devised by the modiste in finishing the tops of sleeves or gowns already in preparation for the summer season, the shape below the shoulder bein. without exception, plain, trim and exceedingly close. Gowns of net, A FERFECT FOOD WALTER P 1

Has stood the test of more than xaa years use among all classes, and for purity and hon ;tt worth is unequalled. JMiraf a 1 SurgicalJournal. Costs less than ONE CENT a Cup. Trade-Mark on Every Package. WALTER BAKER & CO. LTD., Established I 780. DORCHESTER, MASS

TRASC'MAMK.

the star store jspecial

Astoundin

To-morrow we offer our entire stock of Taffeta Silks, in the very newest styles and colors, consisting of the new Corded Plaids, Checks and Ombre Stripes ; also a line of 27-inch printed Foulards in navy blue figures, and hundreds of other designs 5,000 yards of regular lc, SOc, 7"c and 50c Silks on sale Monday, at, a yard

Double Width Changeable Brocaded Worsteds All colors ; our regular loc grade, a yard lie 44-inch Imported All-Wool PlaidsTor tailor-made suits and skirts, and ."S-inch all-wool Camel's-hair Tlaids, Toe and 1 grades, a yd. 50-inch All-Wool .Mixed Granite Cloths 49c All colors ; a desirable fabric for tailor-made suits, per ard $1 and 75c Second Week of Heavy China MattingsNew colors, new blocks, new checks, new prices : "0c grade, a yard 15c 18c grade, a yard 12c 15c grade, a yard 10c Finest Japanese Mattings With cotton and hemp warp, newest foreign inlaid figures, at these savings : 20c quality, a yard 20c .J8c quality, a yard 25c 50c quality, a yard 35c Can't Go Barefooted simply because the birds are not singing and the thermometer is not registering 90 la the shade. OUR PRICES ON are "warm enough tc salt spring wcath er. Come and see our line of fine black and tan, chocolate, vicl kid lace shoes; new as your last breath and sparkling with novelty in style, and Only $1.98 a pair They are special leaders and not often sold nor offered at this price. Don't wait I Another special is our lice of men's black and tan lace and button shoes at $2.98, $3.48, 53.98 and $4.48 a pair. They are the kind you like to see and to wear. r x I II o 13 in a hundred styles ; all the best materials, glove-fitting; band welt and hand turned just off the last of the latest fashions and with all this, to make quick selling, they arc Only $2.98 a pair Our extensive facilities and vast purchases enable us to offer these LEADING BARGAINS. Ladies will be delighted with the 4nobby" shapes of these shoes. Don't wait ! THE BOYS still have a chance to get A .1 AC K-KN I FK FR KE !! with each purchase of our special ?1.25 and $l.0 shoes. Don t wait! GKO. T. MAROTT 22, 24, 26 and 28 E. Wash. St Second Lament Shoe Store in the World. lace, chiffon, etc.. have narrow tucks, alternating with bands of insertion, or they arc hhirred round and round the arm spirally, or trimmed with folils nnd oddly placed designs in lace appliqii- In every case, however, the sleeve is a small one, simple in effect, and one with which most women are now greatly pleased. The juice of the lemon diluted with four times its Lulk of either warm or told water, and drunk, without sweetening, half an hour before rating will afford great relief in some forms of dyspepsia, hecause of the increased flow of saliva which the citric acid contained in the lemon produces. Prepared In the same way, and drunk early in the morning and just before Koir.K to bed at night, it is an excellent and harmless stimulant for a torpid liver. A still better but more d'sr.reeable way of preparing" it for the sime purpose is to make a cold decoction of boneset. strain, and to each pint add the juice of thrf lemons, and drink a few swallows after eating and upon i t tiring at night. as Wholesome as it is Delicious." BAKER & CO.'S

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Sale of Sewing Machines $13.98 the star store

Dress Goods

49c

S 36-inch Double Wdtb Black Brocaded Jacquard Dress Goods 2V2C Monday's price, a yard 40-inch All-Wool, Silk-finish, Black German Henriettas Kxtra fine quality and weight ; AQ n regular 75c goods, a yard 1V 50 Pieces of Black Crepon In the very latest weaves, go on sale Monday at, per yd., $1.68, 7C 98 and 01 the Matting Sale MONDAY RUG SALE Jute Rugs all colors, 27x00, 7oc value. 59c Smyrna Rugs in floral and figured designs, 30x06, sale price $1.19 Finest Chenille Stand Covers floral designs and war heroes, $1. 25 grade.. 59c 30-Inch Silkoline, new figures, yard 5c Opaque Window Shades all colors, manufacturers seconds, with fixtures complete, for 19c Fine Nottingham LaceCurtalns-. yds. long, 00 in. wide, overlocked edges, pr.$l.bO Now That the , StreetCar Question Is Settled You will find time to attend . to your wearing" apparel. Those who have been rendingtheir raiment over the result should be especially interested in our showing of Spring Overcoatings Spring Suitings Come and see a bigger varietyof fabrics than any six houses in Indiana can show. Sample garments on exhibit. Kahn . . . Tailoring Co. Have You a Hobby? Most Everyone Has. Ours Is QUALITY, EXCL.USIVKNESS and I'P-TO-DATK STYLES In MEN'S FURNISHINGS. We do not carry the cheapest but tho best for the least money. qualities. Here are four leaders in which we excel: Our $1.00 Shirts "White or fancy, stiff or soft bosoms. . Our 25c Socks Plain colors or stripes. Our Linen Collars lDc; two for c. f - Our SOc Neckwear The largest and most select line In the city. In fact, our line of furnishings Is complete in every detail, from the popular priced goods to the highest grade novelties. Paul H. Krausis 44 East Washington St. Shirts made to order. Shirting sold by the yard. zThe Street Car Franchise May Not Suit You 13 t: Indianapolis Tent and Awning Co. U'O S. Alnhuma St., I'll one 1122. VC FOOL T1IK SI V W. D. Dickey & Co. U. S., City, County . . . and School onds BOUGHT AND SOLD. Liftt Furulftlietl on AiiIlrutioo. MO Strvriuon llutldlnff.

to kvt-fXiifll

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Reductions

Big Monday Bargains Choice of all our lijht, dark and fancy 9 1. five-cent Domet Flannels a yard... L - w Choice of all our best light, dark and fancy r I0c Domets Monday, per yard O' ; 2,500 yards of the very best quality 2 1 f ancy Dress Prints a yard O - Normandie Dress Ginghams neat stripe 3 .1 effects 10c grade, a yard O - 36-tnch Percale and Madras Cloth new r, patterns, light and dark colors, per yd D ' Extra fine quality of Bleached Muslins in pieces from 8 to 2-5 vards nice soft finish to be sold by the piece A X A only, at a yard X-v Good trade 9-4 Brown Sheetinr sale inJ price, per yard.., MUM 1 40-inch fine quality India Linens the 1 0 1 W 19c crade-a yard I U Z M A Rare Bargain in fine quality White 19d Organdie for graduating dresses, per yard Three Saw Wet of ,InoU StrftU Leading Favorites. A IV 1(0)1(0 liMll Hcvcjie rice Leaders, because in thoroughness of construction, ease of running and fine wearing quality they have always been superior to many bicycles for which much higher prices have been obtained. 114 E. Washington St. HAMBURG-AMERICAN T.V1N SCKEW KXmESS LLVE. X KW YORK PA HIS LON DO X II AMD LTlCI . Y. I)it,marrk May A Aup. Victoria Jane I V. llinmarck Juno 1 I". i;i.marck June -i twin sennw passexoer skhvice. N KW YOitK-HAMJiL'Hti DIIUUT. NITVV YORK LONDON PA HIS II AMIJUItG. Phopnicia Apnl 15 (J. VaI6ree.... April 25 Ili:;iMCi .IMtlI. SOtli Till: Mrnm. er tif tlila Service ivlll Touch tit I"lmoutli and Clicrbonrgr on the wtxy to Hamburg. Ilarr.burR-Amrlcan Line. 27 TJroaJway, N. Y. FREKZ12L RROS.. A. MUTZGLR. Act.. Indpls. n Aii.no n twh cnn. P. M.time in in BLACK fiirurrs. Tralna marki-d thus: Daily. h-Sleeprr. P Parlor Car, C Chair Car. D Dining Car, t Licept fc unia.r. rT C.C. C.&ft.L.Ky IMe J Ilout City T'k't Office, No. 1 IlWnali.su 21 tpri. Arrive. CLEVELAND LINE. 1 Muncie accommodation. 6 JW 3.10 Pnlon Citv acco dation4.AO Clfva, N.Y.A Uo.tx.A..4.r3 m..o CieveiaiHi. New York A Ucfeton mail. .10 Srt IJ O'J Cleve, N Yt Bo -Knickerbocker". 0.X3 ll li K.N TON JIAUUUK UN J.. Benton TTarhor express C.X5 Benton Harbor express 11.13 Wab&oh accommodation 4.SO ST. LOLLS LINE. Ht Louis accommodation 7JW Ht. Lorn Mouthwettern, Inn, d a Ml. 45 Terre Haute & Mattoon accom 4 .HO fct. Louis expre. 11.20 CIIIC'ACJO LINE Lafayette accommodation 7.10 Lafayette accommodation & 15 Chicago fat mail, d p Ml 45 Chicago, White City special, dp 4. 1 ft Chicago night ex pre. M2.U4 CINCINNATI LINE. Cincinnati exprenn, s 1.45 Cincinnati express, a M.15 Cincinnati accommodation 7.00 Cincinnati accommodation 10.50 Cincinnati exprena. p 2.45 Oreentburg accommodation ft.IiO Cincinnati. Vaihin?ton f 1 ex. a d...H.JO N. Vernon and Louisville ex, d s.....S.4 N. Vernon and Loaifville ex 2.45 PEORIA LINE. Teoria. Bloomlnrton mandx 7.25 Peoria and Blooming ton f ex Ml 45 Chainpaifrn accommodation 4.35 Peorift and Bloomincton ex. a 11.15 3.1 0 K -1.1 SPRINOKIELD AND COLUMIiUK LINE Columbus and MpnngHeld ex R.10 II I Columbus and eprimrfteld ex 3 SO 10.4; CIV- HAM. & IAYTON RY. City Ticket Office. 25 W. Wash. St Cincinnati express S.M ll Cincinnati fat mail. ...yo.S 6 Cm. and Detroit ex. D...M0 45 tlO.3 10.3 n X ta.ai t:.a Cincinnati and Dayton express, p...2.45 Cincinnati and Da v ton limited, p d. .4.4. Cincinnati, Toledo. Detroit 7.07 CHIh im. i I.Ot IN. n v. Tirket orTice. 2 Wct-t Vah. Ht Chi'ro ma-bt ex.s .i:.U x.x C hicao iasi mail, a, ?. 7..Vi Chicago express (via Rnachdale) tii.V) t3.4i Chicago vestibule, p d ...t3.35 4.3 LAKE ERli: & WESTERN' R. K. Mail and express t" Oy t.35 Toledo and Michigan City ex tl.XO to o Peru and Toledo ex l.'.io io Peru accom and ex tJ.OO M0 Xi INDIANA, DECATUR & WESTERN R'Y. Decatur and HL Louis mail and ex K.lS 14 40 Chicago ti:res. p d ll.M t- 4 Tuscola accommodation 4ft fi04i Decatur fc bi. Louis fat ex. a c Ml 1.05 ! W Ticket ofUces at station and at corner Illinois and Washington Strttta. ,...12.05 U. ennsulvaniaynes. Tram Uua by Oa&trai Tub Logan port and Chicago Columbus. Ind. and Louisville 3.XO 11.30 Philadelphia and New ork S.J5 looo O.IO 315 0.30 7il t.V4i ta.4o 4.3t : n 1 o oo 3 45 12.M5 1X.25 1.5 1 3 tl0.3 11.24 7.n 7 n 7 iO Too 7.03 4 4 5 .t5 lrt.u) 1JV) Columbus. Ind. A Madison un.only) 700 Richmond and Columbus. O t7.l P. qua and Columbus. O t".15 Columbus and Richmond r7.15 Columbus. Ind. and Louisville.. Vernon and Madion 1.ll Martinsville and Vincennes a IS Darton and Xenia MSS Pittsburg nnd Ka.t s.24 Lvgansport and Chicago M1.&-1 Hnighutown and Kichmotid... tl. Philadelphia and New York..... Baltimore and Vahingtou Dayton and i?pnng:lcld Hpringfteld Columbus, Ind. and Madison... Columbus. Ind and Louisville. Martinsville and Vincenuc.... Pittsburjr and East Philadelphia and New York.... Dayton and Xenia Columbus, Ind. and Louisville. 'i.30 .... ...a 30 ...v.:io .. .13.30 ...4 OO ...ti.SO ...3 OO ...7.10 ...7.10 ...tl.lO VAMIALIA LINE. Terre Haute. St. Louis and West 7.1S Terre Haute and mu Louis accom 7.ZA ierre Haute, i. Louis and West.. .12.35 Terre Hauta and Caey ace ....14.00 Terre Haute and M. Louis fatlinail.?.05 bt. Louis and all Points West Mil .3 5

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A.40 tf lO 10 xo 4.03

5 11 VS.: 11. 11 ' 11 J 11' . 1" a

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