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Title: The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 39, August 5, 1897 - A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls
Author: Various
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 39, August 5, 1897 - A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls" ***
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THE GREAT ROUND WORLD
AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN IT
Vol. 1 AUGUST 5, 1897 No. 39.
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[Illustration: THE GREAT ROUND
WORLD
AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN IT.]
VOL. 1 AUGUST 5, 1897. NO. 39
It seemed, at the early part of last week, as though the Sultan of
Turkey might be brought to terms, but matters have again become
threatening, and the outcome is as doubtful as ever.
The Sultan is a very wily person, and, finding that delays and triflings
would no longer serve him, he changed his tactics and said that he had
been misrepresented by the reports, and was as anxious for peace as the
rest of the Powers.
He issued a proclamation of the most friendly character, declaring it to
be the plain duty of Turkey to put an end to the uncertainty, and
commanded his ministers to find some means of coming to an agreement.
The following day the Ambassadors sent to Tewfik Pasha, and asked him
whether Turkey was willing to resume the peace councils in accordance
with the wishes of the Powers. They stated very clearly that if matters
were not to be discussed on those lines, they would be obliged to break
off the conference, and tell their various governments that Turkey could
only be made to obey by force of arms.
After consulting with his Government, Tewfik Pasha replied that the
Porte was willing to accept the frontier suggested--with some slight
alterations.
This did not seem unreasonable to the Ambassadors, and they telegraphed
hopefully to their governments that the peace was as good as concluded.
As to the slight changes asked for, the Powers had informed Turkey early
in the conference that they would be willing to meet her wishes in
regard to the frontier line if it was possible to do so.
Everything seemed in train for a speedy peace. In addition to being
willing to give up Thessaly, the Sultan had also intimated that he would
reduce the sum of money asked for as war indemnity. When first the
negotiations were commenced, Turkey demanded $50,000,000. It was said
that she would now accept $20,000,000.
The Ambassadors were prepared to have the Porte (the Turkish Government)
ask that all the mountain passes between Greece and Turkey should be
given to Turkey, and that the army should continue to occupy Thessaly
until the war indemnity was paid. They thought that the final
understanding would be reached at the very next meeting.
They were doomed to disappointment. The following day, when the
conference assembled, Tewfik Pasha kept the Ambassadors waiting a long
time for him, and, when he at last appeared, laid a new frontier plan
before the diplomats.
To their surprise, they found that the frontier demanded was mapped out
in direct opposition to their wishes.
They one and all declined to discuss it, and informed Tewfik that they
would adjourn until he brought a written acceptance of the frontier as
they had designated it, and the meeting broke up with unpleasant feeling
on both sides.
The military experts who had arranged the frontier line had appointed
the day after this stormy interview to meet the Turkish frontier
commission.
They waited and waited, but the Turks did not put in an appearance.
They then went over and reported the fact to the Ambassadors, who had
met together in the council room--in the hope that Tewfik would come
with the written acceptance.
The hours went by and brought no Tewfik.
The Ambassadors went to the Austrian embassy to talk the matter over and
decide what course they should pursue. They had hardly reached the place
before the Pasha appeared. He said that the Sultan, his master, had
detained him and the military commission, discussing the situation, and
added that the Sultan had decided to appoint two of the military
delegates to discuss the peace negotiations in his (Tewfik's) place.
Believing this to be but an excuse for further delay, the Ambassadors
one and all refused to have any dealings with any one but Tewfik Pasha.
The Turkish Minister then withdrew, to acquaint His Majesty with the
decision of the Ambassadors--and so the matter stands for the present.
No one knows what the Sultan's next move will be.
England does not believe that he really intends to give up Thessaly, but
the other Powers think that he will do so as soon as he is absolutely
sure that a refusal will mean war.
* * * * *
The most interesting news in regard to Cuba this week is the renewal of
the report that Spain and Japan have entered into an alliance against
the United States.
A correspondent at Paris, France, telegraphs that the understanding
between the two countries is to the effect that should the United States
take any active measures to secure the freedom of Cuba, or persist in
the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands, Spain and Japan shall declare
war on her at the same moment. The plan is that Spain shall send vessels
to attack our Atlantic seaboard, and Japan shall simultaneously make war
on the Pacific coast.
Inquiries at the Japanese embassy only elicited a denial of the report.
The Japanese insist that it is absurd to think of an alliance between
Japan and Spain, because there is an unfriendly feeling between the two
countries on account of the war in the Philippine Islands. Spain, as you
may remember, accused Japan of assisting the rebels in Manila with the
hope of securing the Philippines for herself.
Inquiries were also made of the Secretary of State, but the department
denied the truth of the rumors as firmly as the Japanese had done.
We should not be too sure that these rumors are false on this account,
for Ambassadors and diplomatists are frequently obliged, for state
reasons, to deny facts which they know to be perfectly true.
There has been considerable excitement in Havana on account of the
arrest of some fifty of the most prominent merchants in the city.
The charge made against them was that they had been shipping goods into
the interior of the island without a license, as required by a recent
rule of Weyler's.
The true cause of their arrest was that a number of packages containing
medicine and ammunition were found on board one of the trains leaving
Havana. Weyler declared that these packages were intended for the Cuban
rebels, and had the merchants arrested.
There is intense indignation in Havana over this outrage. All the men
arrested were wealthy and prominent, some having held important official
positions in the city--one in particular having been Mayor.
It is openly said that the whole affair was planned by the Spaniards to
give them an opportunity of plundering these men of their wealth. It is
reported that the Chief of Police has informed the prisoners that they
will be released, and no further proceedings taken against them, if they
will pay him the sum of one million dollars.
When the news of these arrests became known, crowds gathered around the
jail, protesting against the Government and calling loudly for the
recall of Weyler.
The Government in Madrid has been cabled to upon the subject, but so far
no reply has been received.
A dispatch from Madrid tells us that the people are indignant over Señor
Canovas' promise to send another twenty thousand soldiers to Cuba.
They say that Spain has already suffered enough, and that the
Government ought not to ask for any more money or soldiers.
They complain that they were told that Cuba was pacified a month ago,
and that nothing remained to be done but to subdue some bands of
insurgents that were scattered throughout the island. This was only a
month ago, and now they are asked to prepare a fresh army to go to Cuba,
and are told that the Spanish cause has met with disaster.
The Spanish papers are openly declaring that the time has come to put a
stop to the sacrifice of men and money, and that the mother country must
end her wars and give her people peace.
The latest news of the insurgents is that Gomez is advancing on Havana,
and promises that at the gates of the city he will show General Weyler
whether the island is really pacified or not.
He has issued a proclamation, saying that Spain might as well stop any
attempt to grant reforms to Cuba. He says: "We will accept neither
reforms nor home rule. Spain must know that this war is one for
independence, and that the Cubans would rather die than yield. The day
we lifted our flag of liberty, we wrote on it: 'Independence or death.'"
* * * * *
The committee appointed to inquire into the Transvaal raid has sent in
its report to Parliament--or, to speak correctly, it has sent in two
reports, for the members could not agree.
One report says that, whatever justification there may have been for the
people of Johannesberg to rebel against the rule of the Boers, there was
none whatever for Mr. Cecil Rhodes to organize and dispatch an invading
army into the Transvaal.
This portion of the committee declares that the blame rests entirely on
Cecil Rhodes, notwithstanding the fact that Dr. Jameson did finally
invade the territory without direct orders.
They find that Cecil Rhodes seriously embarrassed the home and colonial
governments, by thus breaking the peaceful understanding between the
nations; and further, that he used his high position to provoke a
rebellion, and deliberately deceived the home Government that he might
be able to carry out his own personal plans. The Government in England
is declared to be entirely innocent of any knowledge of the affair, but
two officers of the colonial Government are found guilty.
To the surprise of everybody, the report contains no suggestion for the
punishment of any of the offenders.
In regard to Cecil Rhodes' refusal to produce the telegrams which they
asked for, the committee says that he ought undoubtedly to be
disciplined for his conduct, but that it would take so much time to do
so that it would perhaps be as well to let the matter alone.
This is one report.
The other is much stronger in its tone. It blames everybody concerned,
and says that there is little doubt that the raid was simply a plot
arranged to make wealthy men wealthier.
This report does not agree that the home Government is entirely
blameless. It says that it is a pity that the matter was not more fully
investigated, so that it could be thoroughly ascertained whether the
Government, and especially Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, was in truth ignorant
of the plot.
Both reports agree that the officers who led the raiders imagined that
they were acting under orders from the British Government, and that they
have been punished more heavily than they deserved. The second report
suggests that their commissions should be restored to them.
After the raid was over these soldiers were arrested and sent to
England, where they were tried for invading a friendly country without
proper authority. They were found guilty and sent to Holloway Jail in
London.
When they were convicted they were one and all deprived of their
commissions in the British army. While they were only imprisoned for a
short time, and were not harshly treated in any sense, the fact of being
dismissed from the army was a very serious thing for them.
A commission in the army means the authority by which the officer holds
his rank of Captain or Colonel--or whatever it may be--and is naturally
valued very highly by the holder.
In England, especially, the highest class of young men go into the army
as officers, and to leave the army without wishing to, to have one's
commission taken away from one, is a great disgrace. An officer who
leaves the army at his own wish has all other careers open to him, but
one who is dismissed from the service is disgraced and cannot easily
find fresh employment, and moreover loses all the income and standing
that being an officer in the army had given him.
This is the position of the officers who led the Transvaal raid; they
have been disgraced and deprived of their profession.
If, indeed, they are innocent, it is only right that their commissions
should be restored to them.
* * * * *
The Tariff Conference has done its work very rapidly.
After less than two weeks of discussion, this committee has prepared its
report and given it to Congress.
It was presented to the House on the 20th of July, and after a debate of
two hours it was adopted by a vote of 185 to 115.
The Conference had done its work so well, and had arranged the changes
in the bill in such a manner, that the House made little objection to
them.
The measure now goes to the Senate, where it has to be readopted; but,
as the changes made by the Conference were so very slight, no doubt is
felt that it will be passed without delay.
Unless something very unforeseen occurs, it will be in the hands of the
President before the week is out, and the Dingley Bill will then become
a law.
There is general rejoicing that the long and tedious discussion is over,
and that Congress will be able to adjourn before many days have passed.
* * * * *
An interesting story comes from Paris about the new X-rays.
According to the account which reaches us, an apparatus has been
prepared by which the Custom House officers can examine the baggage and
ascertain whether there are any dutiable articles concealed in it,
without going through all the trouble of unpacking and searching.
It is said that cigars can be easily counted by this new process, which
promises to be a great success.
The method of using it is very simple.
The instrument is mounted on a large table; one of the Custom House
officers takes the fluoroscope and stands at the end of the table. Two
others seize the baggage, and piece by piece hold it in front of the
rays for examination.
If this method is really as useful as it is declared to be, it will save
an infinite amount of trouble in our Custom House. Unfortunately there
are so many more dutiable articles in this country than in France that
it is possible even the X-rays might not be sharp enough to discover
them all.
* * * * *
The treaty for the annexation of Hawaii has been approved by the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, and returned to the Senate for
ratification.
The committee thoroughly approved of the treaty, and sent it to the
Senate without any alteration or criticism. It therefore stands as we
explained it to you in No. 34.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Davis, would be glad to have the
treaty ratified at once, as he thinks that speedy action would be the
best way to avoid any trouble with Japan. He has, however, been warned
that if he tries to press the treaty this session, the Senate will block
it with the lengthy discussions about which we told you. Senator Davis
therefore thinks that it will be best to let the matter rest for the
present.
The President called a cabinet council to discuss the affairs of Hawaii,
and at the council a policy was laid down to protect our interests in
the Sandwich Islands until the treaty can be ratified.
In accordance with this policy full instructions have been sent to
Rear-Admiral Beardslee, who is in command of the cruiser _Philadelphia_,
which is now in Hawaiian waters.
The Admiral has been commanded to land a force of sailors and marines
and hoist the American flag over the Hawaiian Islands at the first sign
of hostility from Japan.
As we stated before, the American fleet in Hawaiian waters is to be
reinforced by the battle-ship _Oregon_, one of our first-class cruisers.
This will give the Admiral three vessels under his command--the
_Philadelphia_, the _Oregon_, and the _Marion_. There have been several
rumors that the _Marion_ was to be recalled, because she was an
old-fashioned wooden ship, and was badly in need of repairs. She will,
however, remain where she is for the present.
* * * * *
Reliable information has been brought to us of an enormous find of gold
on the borders of British Columbia and Alaska.
The accounts of the find read like a fairy-story.
Those familiar with placer mining declare that the new gold-fields are
the richest and finest ever discovered; they say that the California
find of 1849 cannot be compared with this present one.
The place where this great discovery has been made is on the borders of
Alaska, not many miles east of the British Columbia boundary, and
therefore on English territory. It is called the Klondike district.
The Klondike is a river, a tributary of the Yukon River, into which it
flows above Forty Mile Creek.
The story of the find is interesting.
It was discovered by an old hunter named McCormick.
McCormick had married an Indian squaw, and was therefore, according to
the custom, known by the uncomplimentary name of squaw man, and was not
much liked by other white men.
He lived a very lonely life in his cabin, with his squaw wife and his
half-Indian children, and made his living by hunting and fishing.
In the spring of 1896 he went up the Klondike River to fish. At the
point where this stream meets the Yukon, very large salmon are often
caught. It was for this profitable spot that McCormick set out.
He had poor luck, however. The salmon didn't run as usual, and his
fishing expedition was a failure.
He didn't want to go home empty-handed, and cast about for some fresh
game. In his uncertainty he bethought him that the Indians had often
told him that gold was very abundant in this region, and could be washed
out of the sand in any little pan or vessel that hunters happened to
carry.
Failing to catch salmon, he determined to seek for gold, and, starting
off in the direction the Indians had pointed out, he soon found that
their stories were absolutely true.
Filling his pockets with all the nuggets he could carry, he started back
with the news.
As soon as word was spread abroad, the miners began to rush into the new
district.
After McCormick's fishing-trip several men went prospecting, and,
finding that he had not exaggerated the greatness of his discovery, men
began to hurry to the Klondike region to take up their claims and secure
their share of the great prize.
The work of mining this gold is very lengthy and somewhat curious.
The Yukon region, in which the Klondike lies, is very cold. Alaska is
bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, and the Arctic circle runs
right through the Yukon country. You can imagine therefore that it is
terribly cold, and that the ground is frozen nearly all the year round.
The rich pay-dirt in which the gold is found lies from eighteen to
twenty-five feet below the surface. It would not pay the miners to wait
for the short warm season when the frost is out of the ground to make
their harvest; so they have found a plan to get at the gold all the year
round, no matter how hard or frozen the earth may be.
They build great fires on the top of the gravel, and fix them so that
they shall burn all night. When morning comes about eighteen inches of
the ground beneath the fire is found to be thawed out. This surface is
shovelled away, and another fire built on the gravel where it is frozen
again.
They keep right on in this slow and tedious way, until finally the
pay-dirt is reached.
The yield from these new gold-fields is something wonderful. It is
greater than anything ever recorded in the history of gold mining.
[Illustration: ALASKA: YUKON VALLEY AND GOLD FIELDS.
(The State of Pennsylvania is inserted to show comparative size.)]
One miner, who is a thoroughly experienced man, declares that he is
absolutely amazed at the amount of gold that has already been produced.
He says that the work has only been commenced, and that this present
find which is setting people crazy is nothing to the gold that will be
discovered as soon as the miners really get to work.
He stated that, in addition to the rich pay-dirt we have already spoken
of, there were veins of gold in the rocks underneath, which veins
appeared to grow richer the farther they were probed. In his opinion the
gold deposits of the Yukon region form the mother vein of all the gold
in North America.
Many people are hurrying to the Klondike district from all parts, and
the excitement is intense.
San Francisco has caught the gold fever. It reached the city through
some miners from Klondike, who arrived by steamer, bringing with them
piles of shining gold to prove the truth of their stories.
Not one member of this party went up to Alaska with anything more than
his outfit and a few hundred dollars. All have brought back stores of
riches.
The smallest amount of gold owned by any of these men was valued at five
thousand dollars, while several had as much as fifty thousand dollars'
worth.
The luckiest people in this little band were a Mr. and Mrs. Lippey, who
left New York in April, 1896.
Mrs. Lippey was the first woman to go over the trail to Klondike. She
went because she did not wish her husband to undertake the journey
alone, preferring to share his hardships with him.
They brought back sixty thousand dollars' worth of gold.
Another party has just reached Seattle, Wash., having come direct by
steamer from St. Michaels, Alaska.
In this party there were sixty-eight people, who brought back with them
one and one-half tons of gold. This is worth nearly a million dollars.
[Illustration: Alaskan Child and Dogsled]
The gold is found in dust and nuggets ranging in size from a hazelnut to
fine bird-shot.
It must not be supposed that this gold is lightly earned. Those who have
returned say that the hardships of the life are beyond description. Many
declare that no amount of gold could tempt them back, as beyond the
hard, rough life, the severe cold, and the constant labor, there is an
ever-present dread of starvation. It is difficult for any man to take in
sufficient food to last him through the long winter, and there is
hardly any possibility of obtaining more when the supplies run out.
A company has been formed to send provisions up into the district, and
if this is done the work will be rendered much easier.
The treasury of the United States has already begun to feel the benefit
of the Klondike gold discovery.
The San Francisco mint has received half a million dollars' worth of the
gold, and expects another half-million by the next steamer.
The Mint Bureau has been informed that Alaskan gold has been received at
several of the Pacific ports for shipment to the East, and the ton and a
half from Seattle is also on its way.
* * * * *
There has long been a movement on foot to limit the wearing of feathers
on hats.
So many charming birds are slaughtered to adorn the headgear of our
women folks, that it has been feared some of the songsters might become
extinct.
A law has, however, just been passed for their protection in
Massachusetts, which forbids the use of certain birds for millinery
purposes.
The petition begging that a bill of this character might be framed by
the State Senators was drawn up by United States Senator George F. Hoar.
The petition was supposed to come from the birds themselves, and to be
signed by thirty-five song-birds. It was written in such a delightful
manner that it roused the interest of the Massachusetts Legislature, and
the desired bill was prepared and passed in an astonishingly short space
of time.
The document is so pretty and graceful in its tone and language that
you would certainly like to read it for yourselves.
Here it is:
"_To the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:_
"We, the song-birds of Massachusetts and their playfellows, make this
our humble petition. We know more about you than you think we do. We
know how good you are. We have hopped about the roofs and looked in at
your windows of the houses you have built for poor and sick and hungry
people and little lame and deaf and blind children. We have built our
nests in the trees and sung many a song as we flew about the gardens and
parks you have made so beautiful for your children, especially your poor
children, to play in. Every year we fly a great way over the country,
keeping all the time where the sun is bright and warm. And we know that
whenever you do anything the people all over this great land between the
seas and the great lakes find it out, and pretty soon will try to do the
same. We know. We know.
"We are Americans just the same as you are. Some of us, like some of
you, came across the great sea. But most of the birds like us have lived
here a long while; and the birds like us welcomed your fathers when they
came here many, many years ago. Our fathers and mothers have always done
their best to please your fathers and mothers.
"Now, we have a sad story to tell you. Thoughtless or bad people are
trying to destroy us. They kill us because our feathers are beautiful.
Even pretty and sweet girls, who, we should think, would be our best
friends, kill our brothers and children so that they may wear our
plumage on their hats. Sometimes people kill us for mere wantonness.
Cruel boys destroy our nests and steal our eggs and our young ones.
People with guns and snares lie in wait to kill us; as if the place for
a bird were not in the sky, alive, but in a shop window or in a glass
case. If this goes on much longer all our song-birds will be gone.
Already we are told in some other countries that used to be full of
birds they are now almost gone. Even the nightingales are being killed
in Italy.
"Now we humbly pray that you will stop all this and will save us from
this sad fate. You have always made a law that no one shall kill a
harmless song-bird or destroy our nests or our eggs. Will you please
make another one that no one shall wear our feathers, so that no one
will kill us to get them? We want them all ourselves. Your pretty girls
are pretty enough without them. We are told that it is as easy for you
to do it as for a blackbird to whistle.
[Illustration:
No. 1. Hummingbird.
2. Whippoorwill.
3. Bobolink.
4. Scarlet Tanager.
5. Baltimore Oriole.
6. Song-Sparrow.]
"If you will, we know how to pay you a hundred times over. We will teach
your children to keep themselves clean and neat. We will show them how
to live together in peace and love and to agree as we do in our nests.
We will build pretty houses which you will like to see. We will play
about your garden and flower-beds--ourselves like flowers on
wings--without any cost to you. We will destroy the wicked insects and
worms that spoil your cherries and currants and plums and apples and
roses. We will give you our best songs, and make the spring more
beautiful and the summer sweeter to you. Every June morning when you
go out into the field, oriole and bluebird and blackbird and bobolink
will fly after you and make the day more delightful to you. And when you
go home tired after sundown, vesper-sparrow will tell you how grateful
we are. When you sit down on your porch after dark, fifebird and
hermit-thrush and wood-thrush will sing to you, and even whippoorwill
will cheer you up a little. We know where we are safe. In a little while
all the birds will come to live in Massachusetts again, and everybody
who loves music will like to make a summer home with you."
The signers are:
Brown thrasher, Kingbird,
Robert o' Lincoln, Swallow,
Hermit-thrush, Cedarbird,
Vesper-sparrow, Cowbird,
Robin redbreast, Martin,
Song-sparrow, Veery,
Scarlet tanager, Vireo,
Summer redbird, Oriole,
Blue heron, Blackbird,
Hummingbird, Fifebird,
Yellowbird, Wren,
Whippoorwill, Linnet,
Water-wagtail, Peewee,
Woodpecker, Phoebe,
Pigeon-woodpecker, Yokebird,
Indigo-bird, Lark,
Yellowthroat, Sandpiper,
Wilson's thrush, Chewink.
Chickadee,
The bill which was drawn up in response to this petition provides that
any one who shall wear birds or feathers for the purpose of dress or
ornament shall be fined $10, and that the same fine shall be exacted
from all persons who take or kill certain specially mentioned
song-birds.
The police are rather worried over the new law, because they are not
sure whether they have the right to arrest ladies who are wearing
feathers in their hats.
The Chief of Police has sent out a circular (containing a copy of the
act that has just been passed) to all milliners and dealers in birds'
feathers.
He intends to punish these merchants if they infringe the law, and then,
when the law has had time to be generally known and understood, he
intends to arrest all women who still persist in wearing feathers in
their hats.
New York passed a similar law last year, but the Governor refused to
sign it, because the Forest Commissioners did not approve of it.
* * * * *
We told you last week that President McKinley was anxious to withhold
the letters that had passed between this country and England in
reference to the seal question.
Unfortunately his wishes have been thwarted by the publication of Mr.
Sherman's letter to Ambassador Hay.
It is a great pity that this letter found its way into print, for it is
most unfriendly in its tone.
It accuses Great Britain of bad faith in her method of carrying out the
terms of the Paris treaty. It declares that at the end of the first year
the United States discovered that the provisions of the Paris treaty
were not sufficient for the protection of the seals, and that this
Government immediately asked England to call a conference and reconsider
the matter.
Great Britain put off replying to this request for three years, and now,
after all this delay, says that there is nothing to show that seal life
is in danger.
Mr. Sherman, in his letter, complains that the English Prime Minister
bases his refusal on the report of an English scientist named Prof.
D'Arcy Thompson. This report Secretary Sherman declares to be so greatly
at variance with the reports of Dr. David Starr Jordan and the many
observations made by other distinguished naturalists, that he insists
that it is not a reliable document, but merely written to suit the
political situation.
The publication of this correspondence has called forth much angry
comment from England.
The result of the affair has been exactly what the President
predicted--the rousing of unnecessary bad feeling between the two
countries.
* * * * *
We have had a slight disagreement with the Moorish Government.
The country of Morocco is situated on the northwest of Africa, and is
bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the west by the
Atlantic Ocean.
The Straits of Gibraltar lie between Morocco and Spain, and the Pillars
of Hercules, about which you have probably heard, are the promontories
of Europe and Africa which jut out into the Mediterranean Sea at the
Straits, and are but eight miles apart.
The European point is called the Rock of Gibraltar; the African, Abyla,
or Apes' Hill, from the number of apes that have made their home on it.
Morocco is ruled by a Sultan, whose authority is supreme.
The Moors, as the inhabitants of this country are called, are a very
ancient and warlike people, who were at one time a very powerful race.
In the twelfth century they conquered Andalusia, Valencia, and a part of
Aragon in Spain, together with a portion of Portugal. In Spain they
established the Kingdom of Granada, about which so many enchanting poems
and romances have been written.
In the city of Granada they built the famous Alhambra. This magnificent
palace and citadel was built by the Moorish kings of Granada in the
thirteenth century. The Royal Villa, the Generaliffe, which is also in
the city of Granada, was built about the same time.
The Alhambra and the Generaliffe are considered two of the most
beautiful buildings in the world. The architecture and the decorations
are perfect in detail and execution. You must read some time Washington
Irving's "Alhambra." It is filled with interesting legends of these
Moorish palaces.
The Moors were driven out of Spain in the fifteenth century.
They are still a very warlike people, and have had frequent campaigns
against France and Spain.
Their country is supposed to be very rich in minerals, but as yet it has
not been developed.
A great part of the trade of Morocco is controlled by foreigners, and in
consequence special laws have had to be made to protect the traders.
According to the treaty between the United States and the Sultan of
Morocco, American traders are allowed to employ two natives as agents
for the sale of their goods. These natives are given the same protection
as Americans.
The trouble with Morocco arose from the fact that one of the native
agents, while returning from his rounds, was assaulted and robbed of
$1,200, the outrage occurring in broad daylight in front of the
consulate.
The merchant for whom the agent was working reported the matter to the
Moorish Government, and demanded that the thieves should be arrested and
punished.
Notwithstanding that these robbers were well-known characters, the
Moorish authorities made no attempt to bring them to justice, and paid
no attention to the protests of the Consul.
The agent and the merchant immediately filed a claim for damages against
the Moorish Government, and the Consul cabled to this country, asking
that an American gunboat be sent to Tangier, to show the Moors that the
United States proposes to protect her citizens.
The flag-ship _San Francisco_ and the cruiser _Raleigh_ immediately set
out for Tangier, one of the principal seaports of Morocco.
The appearance of these vessels had a very healthy effect on the
authorities. One of the robbers was immediately arrested, and the Moors
agreed to search for the other and bring him to justice.
* * * * *
A story comes from Oklahoma that gophers have completely destroyed a
canal which has recently been built at an expense of $40,000.
These gophers are little animals, striped and spotted, and about the
size of a large rat.
The Oklahoma Canal was built to bring the waters of the river through
the town, with the idea of erecting mills all along the banks and making
Oklahoma a more prosperous city.
It was laid out by expert engineers, and took a large amount of time and
money to build; it was five miles long.
When the canal was completed and opened, it proved a great success;
there was sufficient force of water to turn any number of mills, and a
great era of money-making appeared to be ahead of Oklahoma.
Unfortunately the soil through which the canal had been dug was porous
and sandy.
Before the work had been long completed, gophers appeared on the banks
and began to burrow their holes.
The water washed into the burrows, and soon a crevasse appeared, and the
canal swept through the sandy banks.
Repairs were attempted, and for a long time the people were so anxious
to preserve their canal that they continued these repairs at great
expense. Finally the Canal Company became discouraged; they could no
longer afford to fight the gophers, and so they abandoned the waterway
and left the little pests the victors.
In a very short time the canal was gone.
The banks, riddled by the gophers, gave way, and the waters soon flowed
back into their original course. Where the canal once ran, farmers are
now ploughing and planting their crops, and Oklahoma has lost its fine
canal.
G.H. ROSENFELD.
* * * * *
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Are you following from day to day the war in the East?
Klemm's Relief Practice Maps
especially adapted to examination work, as they are perfectly free
from all political details. Any examination work may be done on them.
For following the Eastern Question use Klemm's Roman Empire,
and record each day's events. Small flags attached to pins,
and moved on a map as the armies move, keep the details
before you in a most helpful way, especially when you use
the Relief Maps.
SAMPLE SET, RELIEF MAPS (15), $1.00
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A sample dozen will be mailed to any address for 20 cents (or ten two-cent
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WE WILL SEND A
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[Illustration: Rifle]
OR
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Side-snap action, rebounding lock, walnut pistol-grip stock, patent
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* * * * *
="The Great Round World" PRIZE CONTEST=
THE GREAT ROUND WORLD is now over six months old, and it feels some
anxiety to know just how much interest its readers have taken in the
news and how much information they have gained from its pages. To
ascertain this, it has been decided to offer ten prizes for the best
answers to the following:
=Name ten of the most important events that have been mentioned in
"The Great Round World" in the first 30 numbers, that is, up to
number of June 3d.=
_In mentioning these events give briefly reasons for considering
them important._
This competition will be open to subscribers only, and any one desiring
to enter the competition must send to this office their name and the
date of their subscription; a number will then be given them.
All new subscribers will be furnished with a card entitling them to
enter the competition.
In making the selection of important events, remember that wars and
political events are not necessarily the most important. If, for
instance, the air-ship had turned out to be a genuine and successful
thing, it would have been most important as affecting the history of the
world. Or if by chance the telephone or telegraph had been invented in
this period, these inventions would have been _important_ events.
Prizes will be awarded to those who make the best selection and who
mention the events in the best order of their importance. Answers may be
sent in any time before September 1st.
The Great Round World does not want you to hurry over this contest, but
to take plenty of time and do the work carefully. It will be a pleasant
occupation for the summer months.
We would advise you to take the magazines starting at No. 1, look them
over carefully, keep a note-book at your side, and jot down in it the
events that seem to you important; when you have finished them all, No.
1 to 30, look over your notes and select the ten events that seem to you
to be the most important, stating after each event your reason for
thinking it important.
For instance: suppose you decide that the death of Dr. Ruiz was one of
these important events, you might say, "The killing of Dr. Ruiz in the
prison of Guanabacoa--because it brought the cruelties practised on
American citizens to the attention of our Government," etc., etc.
In sending your answers put your number and the date only on them, for
the judges are not to know names and addresses of the contestants, that
there may be no favoritism shown.
It is important to put date on, for if two or more are found of similar
standing, the one first received will be given preference.
Address all letters to REVIEW PRIZE CONTEST DEPARTMENT,
GREAT ROUND WORLD, 3 and 5 West 18th Street, New York City.
_Write answer on one side of the paper only_
=Prizes will be selections from the premium catalogue=
No. 1. Premiums as given for 15 Subscriptions
No. 2. " " " " 12 "
No. 3. " " " " 10 "
No. 4. " " " " 9 "
No. 5. " " " " 8 "
No. 6. " " " " 7 "
No. 7. " " " " 5 "
No. 8. " " " " 5 "
No. 9. " " " " 5 "
No. 10. " " " " 5 "
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 39, August 5, 1897 - A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls" ***
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