Semi-weekly Express, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 12 January 1897 — Page 6

Page PDF (11.72 MB)

Back to issue view

:flit

™!s

ti.

HABIT NOT NATURAL

LESS THAN TEN PER CENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION SIT DOWN.

*tJiM

fe'-,

Vross-Legrgred and Squatting Posltlon» for Beating in Much Wider Favor— Women's Positions.

If the operation be natural, all human creatures must eiit down—and there Is an end of the theory, for they do not. Reviewing, in facrt, the population of the globe, it seems 'likely that the men and women who sit are less than 10 per cent. To begin with, says the New Review, the millions of China and India must be exsluded only the hundreds there turn the cushions to their destined use, so that more than one-half of

mankind is excepted at a stroke!* But that is not nearly all. Japan follows, with Lhe jiS, lands and i£les of the Car East. Asia in general, the most part of Africa, the Indian territories of America, from the Arc.lc circle ,fi» to Cape Horn. When we look closely it appears that OBly Europeans, their descendants and those whom they had instructed, 'sit.

The custom is not universal even in Eu'V--* rope. At the time of the war neither chair nor stool, rarely a divan, could be found in a Bulgar house outside the towns the table only a foot high, and the family squa'.tel around it on the floor. The Bulgars are not people to adopt a new fashion readily.

Hit

Throughout the Balkan principalities, indeed, seats are an unnecessary article of furniture for the bulk of the population even the divan is r*are in a farm house of Albania and Montenegro. It is assumed that Turkish, influence or example banished chairs and stools. That is improbable in any case, but when we observe that outside of •, Europe nearly all mankind squats, it becomes far more likely that these people follow the practice of their remotest ancestors. The Turk has simply arrested development at this as at other points.

Men who do not sit have two attitudes for resting. Women use one of their own. Squatting "on the heels" is favored in In--g dia and China. In this position the wieght V-of the body falls upon the toes, and to keep the balance comfortable the arms must lie over the knees, the hands dangling. A Eu3..' ropean trussed in this manner promptly feels pain in his calves, but he can understand that hayt makes it a restful postuor.'i.

In fact, our colliers use it. There is a legend current in North Staffordsshire referring to the embodiment of militia or volunffjyf

mmi

teers or authoriltes differ—early in the century. After divers eccentric maneuvers the officer cried: "Stand at ease!" When his order had been explained every man squatted on his heels like an Indian coolie. There is, however, a mode of resting practiced by some jungle tribes which is utterly incomprehensible. Being fatigued,these people stand on one leg and curl the foot of lhe other around the calf. The same i.xtraordinary custom is seen in Africa. We ask In bewilderment, why on'earth they do not lie, or, at least, squat? *It may be hazardsd as a mere conjecture, without any pretense of justification, that they or their forefathers dwelt in swamps especially malarious. But the custom shows what unnatural usages men will devise before it iKscurs to them to sit down "like Christians.'

Cross Legged People.

The cross-legged attitude is general from C, Biam eastward through the Malay countries. In the jungle you will see a man if crouch, the knees raised, the arms folded over them and the chin resting on the Arm.

Some tribes, as the Dyaks, carry a mat dangling behind as a part of their-ordinary ft /costume to shield them from the damp soil.

But, seldom, indeed, will a man sit upon log or root, though there be plenty around. The idea does not enter his mind. More rarely still, if that be possible, will you observe him standing. Women always crouch upon the floor, of course, with the knees jv£" I bent sideways, thus resting upon the outer part of one thigh a mighty uncomfortable .posture, it seems to us!

It may be assumed, therefore, that sitting down is an acquired habit. If any savages practice it—as a convenience simply— §f|?I have neither seen nor heard of them. But we are all convinced nowadays that the 1,^ ideas and usages of the natural man were everywhere much alike in that stage of development. If so it follows that the inhabit itants of Europe squatted, or stood on one leg—or, at least, did not sit. Evidence can:not be expected. I have seen a careful and learned "restoration" of a lacustrine house,

Which represents the inhabitants seated upon logs of wood but I have searched in vain for the authority. The savant probably took it for granted, giving no thought to the .matter.

Sir Samuel Baker was privileged to behold the first adumbration of a chair i^ Ismailia—it is to be observed that many negro races have stools, that is, the chiefs, but not in those parts. "I was much struck with the simple arrangement used by the old people to support their backs, in lieu of an armchair," said Sir Samuel. "They knotted a cord in such a manner as to form en endless loop, sat on the .srroiiTtfl with

•boulders and their knees, binding them•i selves up tignt, and lutchol it. 'I lie jiahdists have wiped out that tribe, or, having got so far, they might have distinguished themselves beyond all others of their race since the world began by inventing a chair.

Chinsese records give an actual date for the Introduction of sitting down. Captain Fleming cites a passage from the annels of the Leaiig dynasty ("Travels in ManAchurla," 154): "At this time arose a new •,custom people sat with their legs hanging down." Captain Fleming does not cite the year, but the Leans dynasty reigned in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries A. D.. and f-that is about the date we should expect uni, der all the circumstances. In China six or •even hundred years are no great while wherein to establish a fashion. The official class and the well-to-do have adopted this one, but for the populace it is still an unattractive novelty. For us the posture is just ..as easy as lying, but I can testify that a rich

Malay Nlshodah, a seafaring merchant, accustomed to white man's ways, did not find It comfortable. Dr. Wills, who practiced for many years in Teheran, observes: "It 1. Is a common thing for a visitor, if on famfilar terms, to ask to be allowed to sit on 3hfs heels, as the unaccustomed chair tires 'Hhlm." This is strong evidence. Persians Jon "familiar terms" with the British emsbassy would be men of stan 'ing, WPII acquainted with European furniture. Chairs & would be no novelty to them, since the Shah ,"'ind bis courtiers have abolished the divan

In public ceremonials. But they are not yet s6 reconciled to sitting down. Plainly, sitting It town is not a "natural" habit.

Greeks Had Chuirs.

te Considering the circumstances—the andent and geneeral use of seats in Europe, their absence elsewhere—we may suppose "3 that they were invented by one people which bad influence enough to spread the fashion widely. The Greeks fulfill that requirement, and you find them possessed of chairs »r thrones at a very early date. But there

Is another people, the Egyptians, from irhom the Greeks learned all they knew it the beginning, and chairs were common imong them in an infinite number of centuries before Homer. Not only pictures, tut the articles themselves remain. A tomb painting figured by M. Maspero, shows an ttpholsterers' shop in Thebes—one of the scenes representing ordinary trades and J*andicrafts a workman i9 polishing a ebfUr leg with an inctrument or substance

—pumice stone, perhaps another is drill ing the completed frame doubtless for cords to support the seata That the Greeks or any other European race should hail such an invention was to be expected. Some may think this was an assumption. It Europeans would hail the novelty, why not the Orientals?

It should be replied, with becoming dlfldence, because the Europeans had no carpets. So far as I have read, no people in Europe evei* thought of using carpets proprio motu, and no people of the East, saving and excepting mere barbarians, failed to use them. This is. a eerioous consideration, if we reflect. So long as human beings were content to squat, the condition of the ground did not much signify. A few ounces more or less of dirt upon their robes of bark or skin were imperotible. But when they had clothes to soil they could neither squat in the mud, nor even sit cross-legged, unless the earth were quite dry. The Oriental v/ag saved by his carpet the European, unacquainted with that article, found salvation in a high seat.

But this, of course, was not the inventor's motive, if they were Egyptians—and I venture to think that much assured. The identity of forms Is enough to make it probable at least. Many are the pictures of Greek chairs which have come down to us, and they show as much graceful variety as the subject admits but the motive or principle is the same as that in the Egyptian. This, however, is a trfling detail. The practice of sitting was adopted not for convenience but for dignity. The chair was a throne, of the gods or the Pharaoh an I long ages passed, no doubt, ere it became simply a piece of furniture. That the king should be raised on high is a natural idea, and universal but it does not follow that he should sit. Those who have beheld the Dewan A'am, the Hall of Public Durbar, at Delhi, do not forget the throne there—a slab of inlaid marble under a canopy. Below it is another bare slab. Cushions were laid on these, and the great mogul squatted cross-legged above, his vizier below, like the old world parson and clerk. The peacock throne itself, which stood in the Dewan Khas, where the nobility had audience, was designed for the same attitude the king could not sit upon it. Egyptian originality showed itself in making Pharaoh sit. Many chairs have been discovered in Etruscan tombs and pictures innumerable. They are always assigned to the'king or chief. The Roman curule chair was a folding etool, without back or arms, the top of it lifting off, while the legs of it doubled up. The name is interpreted to show that in the beginning it was a seat placed on a chariot, as chairs are sometimes on a maarket cart, for our women. When such a very primitive piece of furniture was regarded with the highest veneration, we may suspect that it was the first of its kind with which the Roman barbarians got acquainted. They had no knowledge of Egypt, not even of Greece. The Selia curulis was avowedly adopted from the Tuscans. It may have been the camp stool of some petty chief, taken on the field an object of wondering admiration to victors hitherto content to squat.

Major McKlnley »t Church. Cleveland, Jan. 10.—President-elect McKinley remained ait 'the home ol Colonel Herrick today. This morning, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Herrick, he attended services at the old stone church. There was a large congregation present. The pastor prayed for Divine blessing on the president-elect and those who were to compose his administration.

As Mr. McKinley was about to leave the church an amusing incident occurred. After he had taken his seat in the carriage three small boys ranged themselves in line before the carriage door. The president-elect bowed an smiled and was about to say a pleasant word to 'the youngsters when one of them cried: "Three cheers for McKinley." The cheers were given with a hearty good will, while the assembled bystanders clapped their hands and the president-elect's face was wreathed in smiles. Mr. and Mrs. Mc^Kinley will returA to Canton tomorrow forenoon.

How the Rnmor Started.

London, Jan. 11.—A dispatch from Constantinople to the Standard says that rumors of a massacre of Christians at Trebizond, which originated by the statement that an Italian gunboat had been ordered hither, are untrue. It appears that an Italian subject named Marani was secretly shipped at Trebizond for exile to Erzeroum. The Italian ambassador demanded the immediate return of Marani to Constinantinople for proper trial and threatened to send gunboats, till the porte gave a written promise of compliance.

The incident has caused a sensation in Constantinople on account of the belief that Italy was backed by the powers. A despatch to the Daily News from Rome on the same subject says: Everybody remarks that the sultan has never had such a humiliation as for an ainzbassador to openly refuse to accept his promise, but to insist upon a written confirmation.

Killed By a Policeman. s.

Leadville, Colo., January 10.—The killing of Frank Dougherty, last night, by a policeman caused intense excitement. Owing to threats of lynching armed citizens turnej out and reinforced the police guard at the county jail until morning, and there are apprenhensions tonight that trouble may yet arise.

It is claimed by the police that about a dozen striking miners including Dougherty, having planned to "do up" the special police, the signal to be the first word uttered to any one by a policeman. Dougherty chanced to be the first man spoken to by an officer. After the shooting no further effort was made to wipe out the police. A crowd of several hundred collected at the saloon where the shooting took place, however, and the provost guard had to fix bayonets before the street was cleared.

A Clevnr Younjr N»rroinaiicpr. New York, Jan. 10.—In Hoyt's Theater toriight Leon Herrmann, a nephew of the lite -Profc.sosr Herrmann, who is expected to take his uncle's place in this country, gave an exhibition of legerdemain which was witnessed by a large audience of newspaper and theatrical folk.

The young necromancer, who bears a striking resemblance to hie uncle, is a clever performer. He kept mechanical illusions in the background, depending entirely on bis ability as a sleight of hand performer. H? .has not mastered the English language, but at all times was perfectly at ease.

Bnried in Mount Anbnrn Ometery. Cambridge, Mass., January 101—A small copper box containing jt|ie astyefe of Kate Field, the writer,*was buried in a grave

De-

side the remains of the mother of the deceased. There, was no ceremony, the only person present being a relative,'Mr. GeoTge Ridgle, of Cambridge.

Mies Lillian Whiting brought the remains from Chicagp. The ashes which were carried in a handbag, were given in charge of an undertaker. The bag was filled with choice flowers contributed by friends in Chicago. Several bouquets were also sent to the grave today.

Honor* i'or Bishop Kaane.

Rome, Jan. 10.—It is now certain that Bishop Keane, formerly of Washington, will be nominated as bishop assistant at the pontifical throne. The pope will also nominate him as titular archbishop and canon of the patriarchal basilica and advis«r to pome Roma congregation.

Ehrman Coal Co. has the only genuine Brazil Block. 605 North Seventh.

American Features: "The Mexico of today," a series by Charles F. Lummis, spienaidly illustrated—the result of a

Newspapers are not to copy this aaverusement without the express order of Harper as Brothers.

HARPER'S MAGAZINE.

For one year Postage free to all subscribers in the united States, Canada and Mexico.

Address ...{ HARPER & BROTHERS, tif P. O. Box 959, N. Y. City.

Harper's Weekly

IN 1897

With the end of 1896 Harper's Weekly Mil have lived forty years. In that time it has participated with all the zeal and power at its command in the great political events of tile most interesting and important period in we history of the country, and it has spread before its readers the accomplishments of science, arts, and letters for the Instruction, of the human mind and the amelioration ox human conditions and of manners. i«.

What the Weekly has been In spirit and purpose ,as these have been manifested principally in its editorial pages, it will continue to be.

It is impossible to announce with precision all that the Weekly will contain during the year 1897. It were as easy to announce what is about to happen in the world,, what triupmhs for good government are to be won, what advances of the people are to be made, what is to be the outcome of the continuous struggle between the spirits of war and peace, what is to happen in the far East, what is to be the state of Europe twelve months hence, what new marvels of science are to be revealed, or what are to be the achievements of arts and letters, for the Weekly is to be a pictorial record of all this.

Cartoons will continue to be a feature*' Serial Stories. A New England story by Miss Mary E. Wilkins, will begin in January. A tale of a Greek uprising against the turlcs, by Mr. E. F. Benson, the author of "Dodo," will follow. A sequel to "The Houseboat on the Styx," by Mr. John Kendrick Bangs, illustrated by Mr. Peter Newell. _r

More short stories will appear in the Weekly than it has been possible to publish during 1896.

Departments: Mr. W. D. Howell's "Life and Letters" have been among the most charming features of periodical literature Mr. E. S. Martin, and others will contribute observations on what is going on in "This Busy World "Amateur Sport" will remain the most important department of its kind in the country.

The Weekly will continue to present to its readers the world's news most interesting to Americans, to make important advance? In: both the literary and artistic features, and to Tetain for itself the leading place in the illustrated journalism of the world.

Newspapers are not to copy this advertisement without the express order of Harper & Brothers.

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

For one year $4.00 Postage free to all subscribers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Address HARPER & BROTHERS, P. O. Box 959, N. Y. City.

TEREE HAUTE EXPRESS, TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 12,1897.

Harper's Magazine

IN 1897

Fiction: "The Martian," the new novel by Du Maurler, the eagerly expected successor to "Trilby," begun In October Number, with Illustrations from the author's drawings. A new novel by Frank R. Stockton-develop-ing a Twentieth Century Renaissance—lull or humorous situations and characteristically illustrated. "A Pair of Patient Lovers^ by William Dean Howells. Other striking 'novelettes by American authors. Short stones by Mark Twain, Thomas Nelson

Page,

Kicnara

Harding Davis. Owen Wister, John KenoneK Bangs, Ruth McEnery Stuart, Octave Tnanet, Mary E. Wllkins and other popular writers.

Science: Story of Progress of Science during the Nineteenth Century, a series or papers by Dr. Henry Smith Williams, supplemented by contributions on special subjects by $xpeft scientists. Articles on the relations of curious psychological manifestations to physiology Dy Dr. Andrew Wilson.

recent

visit to

Mexico undertaken for Harper Magazine. Mexico is pre-eminently a silver-producing country, and its monetary operations rest entirely on a silver basis. Owing to tne Keen discussion of certain economic problems in connection with issues of urgent importance in American politics, these papers, will command general attention. "American Historical Papers," by Woodrow Wilson, Jonn^ Ba.cn MacMaster and James Barnes. The true story of Sheridan's Ride, by General G. A. itorsyth. Continuation of Howell Reminiscences of eminent literary

Africa and the East: "White Man Africa, a fully illustrated series of papers by Pouitney Bigelow, the result of personal observations during a recent trip to Africa, covering tne whole field of European exploitation oi tnat country. Illustrated articles by Stepnen Bonsal on the formations going on in Eastern aiberia. recently visited by the author. Hungarian Sketches, written and drawn by *. Hopkinson Smith. The full story of the recent Coronation of the Czar, by Richard Harmng Davis, illustrated by R. Caton Woodville, wno was commissioned by Queen Victoria to paint a picture of the ceremony.

Baza,r

IN 1897

The Bazar, a thoroughly up-to-dato periodical for women, will enter upon its thirtieth volume in 1897.

As a fashion journal it is unsurpassed, and! is an indispensable requisite for every welldressed woman. Katharine De Forest writes a weekly letter on current fashions from Paris. In New York Fashions, and in the fortnightly pattern-sheet supplement, ladies find full details, directions, and diagrams for gowns, wraps, and children's clothing. Sandoz,' Baude/ and Chapuis draw and engrave the newest and finest Parisian designs every week.

The serials for 1897 will be: "The Red Bridge Neighborhood," by Maria Louise Pool and "Father Quinnallion," by'Octave Thanet. Short stories will be constantly presented by* brilliant writers, among whom are Mary E. Wilkins, Harriet Prescott Spofford, Marion Harland, Ruth McEnery Stuart, Viola Roseboro and Margaret Sutton Briscoe.

What women are doing in various parts o£ the union will form a series of special inter-

Other interesting features are The Out-door Woman, devoted to healthful sports and pasttimes Music, a weekly critical summary of music in New York Amateur Theatricals, Embroidery and Needlework, Ceremony and Etiquette, Good Housekeeping, What Girls are Doing, Current Social Events, and Personals gleaned from original sources.

Women and Men. Colonel T. W. Higginson will regularly continue his valuable essays. Answers to Correspondents. This column Is conducted for the benefit a**id convenience of readers, and all questions received are answered in rotation, as promptly and fully as practicable.

Art. The Bazar is a notable picture gallery reproducing the most beautiful works of American and foreign artists, as presented in the annual Paris and New York exhibitions. Wit and Humor. Everybody turns for a hearty laugh to the Bazar's last page.

An All-Round Woman's Paper—What more appropriate gift can be made to wife, daughter or sister than a subscription to Harper's Bazar? Secure it as a welcome visitor in your household for 1897.

Newspapers are not to copy this advertisement without the express order of Harper & Brothers.

HARP

ER'S BAZAR.

For one year .J4.00 Postage free to all subscribers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Address HARPER & BROTHERS. P. O. Box 959, N. Y. City.

lieiiiii Kead! Read!

BASONS why, you should read the Cincinnati Daily

TIMES-STAR:

IT has the latest and most reliable foreign as well as cjomestic news IT has better financial and market reports and molt? special correspondents than any other Cincinnati newspaper IT contains twice as much news as any other paper sold at the same

IT ,is a family paper, and has the largest home circulation of any paper printed'inthe Ohio Valley.

AGENTS WANTED EVERYWHERE.

Write for sample copies and :ernis. j, Special rates to Postmasters.:

,!!E TIMES-STAR, Cincinnati,

HE ERR© HAUTE) WEEKLY EXPRESS

Issued twice a week at only

One Dollar ($1.00) a year.$&

The Weekly Express, dur-

".v

ing* its life time of three-

quarters of a Century, has

obtained a firm foothold

among the .people of the

Wabksh Valley.

i".

At no period in its long

•life has the

it ,v

WEEKLY

PRESS been so thoroughly

equipped as now to give its

readers the best selection of

reading matter and the

greatest quantity of these

good things.

Remember, you only pay

One Dollar ($1.00) a year,

but you are given twice a_

week at least eight (8) pages

filled to the brim with the it)' !'•. r- *, best 1 graphic News,

Local News and Correspond

ence.

Besides ail this you will

receive THE NEW YORK

TRIBUNE without additional

cost.

U'You cannot afford to be

without a paper which, at

the cost of only One Dollar

a "year, gives you almost as

much news as a big daily.

Now is the time to sub

scribe.

Remit by Postal Note or

Express Money Order.

/«~V '.

Address,

GEO. M. ALLEN,

Publisher

THE WEEKLY EXPRESS,

Hit

Terre Haute, Ind.

i' iV!j:KWH rit

HE ERRE HAUTE WEEKLY EXPRESS

i-.'Yf tsir

Address all orders to

The New York Weekly Tribune

FOR

FARMERS AND VILLA6ERS, FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS,

FOR

fill

•fM

FOR

wts

Every possible effort will be put forth, and monej freely spent to make THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE preeminently a NATIONAL FAMILY NEWSPAPER, interesting, instructive entertaining and indispensable to each member of the family.

We Furnish "The Weekly Express"

St. Louis Globe-Democrat

and this is the unanimous verdict of its -v more than half a million readers. It is BEYOND ALL COMPARISON, the big-, gest, best and cheapest national news and family Journal published in America. It is STRICTLY REPUBLICAN in politics, but it is above all A NEWSPAPER, and gives ALL THE NEWS promptly* accurately and impartially. IT IS INDISPENS-

ABLE to the Farmer,Merchant or Professional man who desires to keep thoroughly posted, but has not the time to read a large Daily paper, while its great variety of well-selected reading matter makes it an v. INVALUABLE HOME AND FAMILY,

PAPER.

TWO PAPERS EVERY WEEK. EIGHT PACES EACH TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. ONE DOLLAR FOR ONE YEAR. SAMPLE COPIES FREE.

4.^*, 4,

SONS AND DAUGHTERS/

aVid

^c Tribune" I Year for $1.00.

CASH IN ADVANCE.

W J# I

Write yonr name and addrtH on a postal card, Send It ti Geo. W. Best, Tribune OfHcv, New York City .and a Bam pie copy of THK NEW TURK WEEKLY TRIBUNE wil i'- be mailed to you.

Invincible, Unsurpassable, Without a Peer,"

Writes a regular subscriber, who has read it for many years, of the TWICB-A-WEEK issue of the

GLOBE PRINTING CO., ST. LOUIS, WIO.

«The CHICAGO RECORD is a model newspaper in every sense of the word. Harrisburg\Pa.) Call.

-V

"There is no paper published in America that so nearly approaches the true journalistic ideal as Th$ CHICAGO RECORD.'*— From "Newspaperdom" (New York)

"I have come to the firm conclusion, after "a long test and after a wide comparison with the journals of many cities and countries, that The CHICAGO RECORD comes as near being the ideal daily journal as we are for some time likely to find on these mortal shores—Prof. J. 7. Hatfield ia

The Evanston (III.) Index.

Sold by newsdealers everywhere and subscription* received by all postmastersAddress THE CHICAGO RECORD, 181 Madison-si.

NEW-YORK WEEKLY TRIBIINi SEMI-WEEKLY EXPRESS,

PIS, ..

ALL THE FAMILY.

ALL inc rAmiLii^

With the close of the Presidential campaign THE TRIBUNE recognizes the fact that the American people are now anxious to give their attention to home and business interests. To meet this condition, politics will have far less space and prominence, until another State or National occasion demands a renewal of the fight for the principles for which THE TRIBUNE has labored from its inception to the present day, and won its greatest victories. 7 $

"N. Y. Weekly

CEO. M. ALLEN.

ONE YEJffl

The Express is onl^Sunday paper in Terre Haute, 15 cents a weekr^sl