Buchanan's Journal of Man, November 1887 Part 3

In this country, John B. Alden of New York has taken the lead in publis.h.i.+ng valuable literature at the lowest possible prices.

PEACEFUL INDICATIONS.

Europe is now profoundly at peace as predicted by psychometry, and the dreary history of royal government a.s.sumes a more pleasing aspect to-day. Victoria is an improvement on her predecessors, for she has but drifted along with parliamentary government, and doing neither good nor harm, has behaved with decorum, and preserved the devoted loyalty of her subjects.

The old Emperor William, too, has a loyal nation, and has led a life which does not attract censure. He is fond of military parades, but seeks to avoid war.

As Austria and its rulers do not receive much attention from American journals, I thought it well to look into the royal sphere by Psychometry, and having a photograph of the emperor, I placed it under the hands of Mrs. Buchanan, who p.r.o.nounces without seeing the object investigated. The following is her language:

"This is a male. There is a good deal of character and intellect, and he carries with him a good deal of power. I think he has been sometimes engaged in some great public movement. He is philanthropic. He has power to sway and carries force with the people both from his position and his ability.

"I think he is a foreigner with a very high rank. He seems a magnate of great distinction. He has about as high an office as can be given, like an emperor or czar.

"There is a good deal of forgiveness in his nature; he forgives wrongs; he has no cruelty. He is not as selfish as men of his rank generally are. He is more with the people, less aristocratic and proud. It is difficult to tell his nationality--Servia and Austria come into my mind. There is a great empire about him. There seems to be some dissatisfaction in the country, some apprehension of invasion and disturbance.

There's a good deal of trepidation. They do not want to go to war, though there is no cowardice there. They are uneasy and suspicious of other nations. He is not ambitious for war. I do not feel that there will be any war. The difficulty is about some question of territory.

"It is an agricultural country, with a loyal peasantry. They are not well educated, but naturally intelligent. It is a pleasant, temperate climate.

"He does not desire to show off kingly power. There's a good deal of modesty. He is not aggressive. He is quite advanced in science, but is not a spiritualist. He is orthodox in religion, but liberal to science."

If she had known the subject of these remarks, and studied European politics and travelers' descriptions, she could not have been more correct.

The Emperor of Austria has introduced a great improvement in royal deportment. The _London Times_ says of him:

"One or two days a week his Majesty receives all comers who have applied to be received, and he receives them alone. Every applicant takes his turn. A master of ceremonies opens a door, the visitor walks in and finds himself face to face with the Emperor, who is unattended. The door closes and the pet.i.tioner may say to the Emperor what he likes.

"There is no chamberlain or secretary to intimidate him. The Emperor stands in a plainly furnished study, in undress uniform, without a star or grand cordon, and greets everybody with an engaging smile and a good-natured gesture of the hand which seems to say: 'There is no ceremony here. Tell me your business, and if I can help you I will.'

"There is nothing petty or evasive in him. He is a monarch who replies by 'Yes' or 'No,' but always with so much courtesy that the humblest of his subjects receives from him at departing the same bow as he vouchsafes to amba.s.sadors. A most lovable trait in him is that whenever he sees anybody nervous at his presence he makes the audience last until, by his kind endeavors, the nervousness has been completely dispelled."

There is nothing like this elsewhere in royal courts, nor anything like their religious observances, which will probably astonish my readers. The following statement appears to be authentic, and was given in the _Sun_:

On Holy Thursday the Emperor and Empress of Austria, in the presence of their whole court, of the Privy Council, the Diplomatic Corps, and the superior officers of the Vienna garrison, washed the feet of twenty-four poor old men and women, having previously served these venerable paupers with a plentiful meal, placing the several dishes before them with their own hands. After the old people had partaken of the good things provided for them by the imperial bounty, the tables were cleared by imperial archdukes and ladies of honor. Subsequently a purse containing thirty pieces of silver was presented by the Emperor to each of the old men, and by the Empress to each of the venerable dames, one of whom had all but attained her hundredth year, while the youngest of the twelve was a hearty octogenarian.

This religious rite is rarely seen in this country. It was celebrated on the twenty-first of August by the Primitive Baptists of Hillsville, Va., a mountainous region of South West Va. There were about 800 present, some coming from hundreds of miles. "The preliminary exercises were singing and exhortation or discussion, the speaker first announcing some point of doctrine or religious thought. The hymns were lined by reading one line only at a time. The arrangements for administering the ordinances were circles of seats, those allotted to the sisters being in a double row and facing the brothers, who were seated in a single row. Within the circle was another seat for the ordained and officiating elders. There was a table with bread and wine, and under it were buckets of water, basins, and towels. The bread and wine were first pa.s.sed around by the officers of the church, after which came the feet-was.h.i.+ng. The elder who began the ceremony drew off his coat and vest, and girded a towel around his waist. He then began on the right, was.h.i.+ng and wiping the feet of the brother at the head of the line, who in turn arose and remaining barefooted, performed the office to the one next him, and so on until the feet of all had been washed. The elder who was the first to perform the rite was the last to receive it. The sisters performed the rite in the same manner as did the brothers. At the conclusion the elders, while singing, pa.s.sed around and shook the hands of all the brothers and sisters."

King Humbert, of Italy, and his wife, are making themselves quite popular by their una.s.suming manners and sympathy with the people.

King Humbert objects to taking his pleasures at shows and exhibitions as a solitary; he likes his people to be present and share them with him. At the opening of the exhibition at Venice the king gave expression to his disappointment at the loneliness and emptiness of the halls. An official told him that the public had been kept out from loyal consideration for the comfort of himself and the queen. "I am sorry for this," said his majesty, "though you have done it in good part; it is my belief that the king belongs to the people as well as the people to the king." Before leaving the exhibition he recurred to the subject, again expressing his deep regret. "I hope that none of you believe," said he, "that I am the sort of man who is shy of being seen among the people. I have no grounds whatever for such a feeling."

King Humbert, according to an _American Register_ correspondent, is known for his temperance in all things except that of smoking. It has often been noticed what an exceedingly small eater the King had shown himself on all occasions, and as to drink, his guests may have it in plenty, but his favorite "tipple" is water. His one great weakness was (for it is a thing of the past) a good cigar. He was a formidable smoker, but he abused his taste in that line to such an extent that he has taken a new departure and has "sworn off" from the fragrant weed.

His nerves had begun to suffer, he had asthmatic turns, could sleep but little, and then had to be propped up by plenty of pillows. Some weeks ago his physician told him what was the matter, and King Humbert said: "From this day forth I will not smoke another cigar, or anything in the shape of tobacco." His majesty has kept his word, and the result has been a most noticeable improvement in his health. King Humbert is a man of iron will, and no one doubts that he will keep his self-made pledge.

His wife, Queen Margaret, is soon to figure as an author--with stories founded on the legends of the Middle Ages. She speaks several languages and reads English literature, keeping herself posted on English views and politics. She is described as being devout but liberal, lovely and graceful, quite attractive, and much idolized by the Roman people.

The Queen of Roumania is a poetess of romantic sentiments, and lately underwent examination for a diploma, giving her a right to do certain teaching in the schools. In fact, all the continental queens are much brighter than Victoria.

THE REIGN OF PEACE.

We find another very pleasant indication of the coming peace that was psychometrically prophesied for all the world, before 1889, in the Central American States. Advices from Panama of April 25th, said:

"Of great present and future interest to the republics of Central America are the treaties recently accepted by the Diet, which a.s.sembled in Guatemala. The aim was 'to establish an intimate relations.h.i.+p between the five republics, and, by making the continuance of peace certain, to provide for their final fusion into one country.' The treaty contains 32 articles, which provide that perpetual peace shall exist between the republics, that all differences shall be arranged, and that in the event of this proving impossible, such differences shall be submitted to arbitration. The idea which appears to have been prominent among the members of the convention was the establishment of settled rules, which, governing all the republics, shall simplify the government of each. The fortunes of each one of these industrial and agricultural States is so intimately allied to those of the others, that it really appears that they are destined to form one common nation.

"To prevent further shedding of blood the Central American Congress made provision, in case of discord, that the States at variance should agree upon an arbitrator. For this reason a nomination is made in advance, and regulations were drawn up in order to prevent, under any circ.u.mstances, the outbreak of war.

Should, however, armed disputes arise between two or more of the republics, the others bind themselves to observe the strictest neutrality.

"All the republics bind themselves in the most solemn manner to respect the independence of each State, and to prohibit the preparation in any one of armed expeditions against any of the others, and that all citizens of the different States shall enjoy similar privileges and rights throughout all of them."

Finally--John Bright and 173 members of the British House of Commons have signed the American Peace Memorial, nine of whom will come with the deputation to America.

THE SINALOA COLONY.--Co-operation in some form is the only hope of philanthropists for a harmonious settlement of the labor question.

Hence we must feel an interest in the Sinaloa Colony. I have always maintained that there are very few of the present generation (who are the outcome of war and compet.i.tion) fit for co-operative life. Mr.

Owen in his letter of last August says:

"The work we have laid out in Sinaloa requires, at first, men of frontier experience--those who can fish, hunt, cook, work the land and hold to a purpose in the face of privations and even death.

"We repeat again that if the women wish us to succeed they must not go to Sinaloa until we have gotten water, garden, and houses for them, and _never_ without _first_ obtaining permission from our New York office.

"The Credit Foncier company was conceived in kindness and love for mankind, and its mission was and is peace on earth and good will to every human being. It is to be regretted that the Company was not financially able from the beginning to guard its friends from discomforts and disease. Such was its endeavor, but the circ.u.mstances surrounding our movement have made this impossible. Of all times during the 19th century, perhaps, we struck Sinaloa when it was the least prepared for us. Our friends, however, would not be advised. Their idea of co-operation was that every one was to act as he or she pleased, at the time and place he or she selected; and that the Company was to be responsible for his and her employment, food, shelter, health and comfort at all times and in every place. So thoroughly did they believe this that they did not even think it was necessary to give the Company a hint that they were going to Sinaloa, how, when, or for what purpose.

"Well! what was the result of each acting for him and herself?

Some 400 and more persons were dumped off at Topolobampo into the brush and cacti, and over fifty per cent of these were women, children, and aged persons, who became at once a heavy, constant, and ever increasing care to those who were physically capable of meeting the requirements of the movement. This actually put upon every able-bodied pioneer a child, woman, or aged person to attend to, to see sheltered, to have fed, etc., etc., besides his duties, and it added five times to the expenses in the field which the Company proposed at first to meet. But this was not the worst. The attention which it was necessary to give to these non-combatants took the men from the work that the Company expected to be done. This discouraged those who were able and willing to work and piled anxieties upon our best friends until they tottered under loads other than belonged to the cause. Disease, death, and discouragement followed. Those who remained in the States were frightened, and the Company was left almost moneyless and powerless to a.s.sist, even when it was most earnest in its work and in its wish to do so.

"Had an army preparing for a campaign been recruited in such a way, its friends would have demoralized and defeated it before an enemy had been met. The United States Army, during the late rebellion, was recruited in the following way: every man had to be stripped naked, measured, weighed, examined, and reported by a medical officer to be physically and mentally capable of enduring camp life, before he was enlisted, and even after this test and care, the records will show that thirty per cent each year, without going into battle, became sick, died, deserted, or went home, _i.e._, only 70 per cent of all those recruited for the war stood the trials, even to get the first smell of the burnt powder.

"Now that we have gotten our pioneers reduced to about 200, to a few more than we had in December at Topolobampo, and to which number we then urged that no more be added, we can organize and begin anew to follow out the details laid down in _Integral Co-operation_, strengthened by having veterans in the field and by an experience with our people which will be of value to them and to the Company.

"We are informed that some of those who returned in July, like those who came back in April, expect to go again to Sinaloa as soon as the Company is in shape to push its work. We wish to say to these friends that all who have proven themselves to be thoroughly with the movement will be welcomed in our midst, but that we positively order--and in this we have the support of every director and every good colonist--that every person who goes to our settlements hereafter shall apply for and obtain permission from the New York office. _Our purpose is now to lead the movement and not to have the movement lead us._ Any colonist who goes to our settlements in violation of these instructions will not be received as a friend, will not be employed, sheltered or provided for, and will forfeit stock and credits in the Company."

When the pioneers in philanthropic schemes learn that their success depends entirely upon the persons enlisted, and when they select those persons by a psychometric knowledge of character or a thorough knowledge of their past lives, sternly rejecting all who are weak, unbalanced, pa.s.sionate or selfish, success may be expected. The adversities at Topolobampo are the best preparation for success, by sending off all who were not fitted for such work.

There is evidently some good material at Topolobampo. Ida Hogeland wrote, July 30, 1887:

"Let not your heart be troubled. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, up to this last day of July that has interfered with our bodily comfort, though we live in tents yet. The showers are so gentle and refres.h.i.+ng that they serve as a perpetual delight."

W. W. Green says:

"But whether stockholders do their part or not, we are here to do our part in solving the great question of Integral Co-operation, and if we fail it is their fault. But we do not intend to fail. We have men here of the right grit, and enough of them to hold the fort. So you need not be alarmed on that account. A. K. Owen has not lied to us about the resources of the country."

Mr. Owen promises to bring in a hundred good colonists in November, and says the Mexican government manifests a friendly feeling.

RECTIFICATION OF CEREBRAL SCIENCE