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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 17, 1904)
lgllfMHi"IW'iWDMI r The Commoner. JUNE 17, 1904. 3 How Ho Paid Rnt. "Uncle Harry" is one o the fast disappearing types of. the ante-bellum negro. He remains loyal to his former master, tending his office and, in ad dition, takes care of several other rooms in the large office building where ho and "Marse Johnnie pratis law," according to Harry. For this ho is paid a dollar weekly by each, borne time since he came to his mas ter handing him seveial dollars, and requested mm to Keep it 10 10 imy do rent." About two weeks after ho asked for his money, and was re minded that he asked it bo held to pay his rent, then nearly due. "Dc rent!" ho exclaimed, in surprise. "Oh, I done fixqd dat!" Knowing his protege's financial standing as well as ho did, his master asked him how he had "fixed it." "Oh, I moved las week." Phila delphia Press. Queer Lakes. One of the most singular lakes in the world is the celebrated Pitch lake of tho island of Trinidad. This lake spreads over an area of 99 acres, and its surface is composed of one great floating mass of asphaltum seamed with veins of clear water. .From it and a similar lake in Venezuela tho .world's supply of asphalt is drawn. Tho Pitch lake is a hideous place as far as smells are concerned, for the air all about it is heavy with noxious vapors, and from tho center of the lake gushes a fountain of liquid as phaltum in which there float and break bubbles containing the most horrible gases. The workmen go out on the surface of this lake and cut great slabs of asphaltum, which aro carted away. But the next morning tho hole they left is filled up again with pitch that has risen during the night, so that the supply seems to be inexhaustible. This curious lake was discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh when he land ed in Trinidad in 1595, on his way to the mouth of the Orinoco in search of El Dorado. Another strange lake is situated on a peninsula which ;juts out into the Caspian sea. The whole surface of this lake is covered .with a crust of salt so thick and strong that a man can ride across it on horseback with safety. In central Asia, near the Caspian sea, is a lake of a beautiful rose color, while the banks are covered with salt crystals as white as snow. From tho waters of this lake there arises flower-like odor. The color and the odor are supposed to be -caused by vege table matter in thd depths. There used to bo"a curious lake on the top of tho Volcano do Agua, in Guatemala, 14,000 feet above the level of the sea. It was not fed by springs nor by rivers, but was caused by ac cumulations of snow and rain in fact, was an immense reservoir. It lasted for centuries. Then, one day, the sides of the lake gave way, and down the waters rolled, Rosibud Excursion Rates. Chicago & Northwestern Railroad agents will sell special excursion tick ets daily from July 1 to July 23 at one and ono-third fare for round trip to bonesteel, Fairfax and Yankton, account opening for settlement of un a'lolted lands in Rosebud Indian Agency, South Dakota. Passengcis may return oh any date up to August 31, 1904. Rate, Lincoln to Boncsteel and return, on sale daily July 1 to 23. $9.30; Lincoln to Fairfax, S. D., and return. $9.10. Return limit Aug ust 31. A two-cent stamp will bring you full information regarding tho registration. R. W. McGinnis, Gen eral Agent, Lincoln; Neb. City- office, 1024 O st. . , . t ; 1 , , , . dealing death and destruction, and digging a great barranca, or ravine, in the mountain side, which is still visible. Dubuque (la.) Telegram. Curious Condensations. A Russian medical journal says Ja panese physicians are almost invaria bly well educated and conscientious. On June v the Order of Railroad Telegraphers will celebrate its eigh teenth anniversary, having been or ganized at Cedar Rapids, la., in 1S86. Tho government of Queensland of fers a jri'ze of $25,000 for a method of exterminating the opuntia, a species of cactus imported from America. The Prussian state railway system contains 21,104 miles of track and its net earnings last year was $140,000,000, being 10 to 12 per qent on the invest ment. The famous cog railway up Pike's Peak in Colorado may soon be sup planted by an electric road, plans for the building of which are now under consideration. A Parisian barber, to win a wager, entered a cage containing a lion and a man and composedly shaved the man while the lion interestingly viewed the operation. Five carloads of Russians men, wo men and children recently arrived at Montrose, Cal., where they will be employed during tho coming summer in tho raising of sugar beets. The history of international arbi tration shows that by decades, from 1840 to 1900, there were, respectively, 6, 16, 23, 20, 45 and 62 cases. In the last three years there have been 63 cases. The king of Denmark has a very valuable collection of birds' eggs, which includes specimens of nearly every kind in existence. Tho collec tion is considered to be worth about seventy-five thousand dollars. The quarto of Shakespeare's "Hen .rie the Fourth," sold for $5,175 at Sotheby's in London, on Shakespeare's birthday, is now the property of Dodd, Mead & Co. It is far the highest price yet paid for a quarto. It is said that when the tomb of Childeric, a king of the first Frankish dynasty in the fifth century, was op ened in the seventeenth century hun dreds of golden bees were found in it. So when the French empire was estab lished the golden bee was adopted as one of its emblems. Alum is one of the latest mineral substances of value to be added to the list credited to Colorado. A blanket deposit, four feet thick and of great width, has been discovered a few miles east of Florence, and it is pro nounced to be of high commercial quality. Thjs is the first discovery of alum in Colorado. On the flat housetops of Morocco gjrls may often be seen flying kites which they believe will give an aug ury of their future. If the kite re mains unbroken good fortune Is in store for them; if mishap befall it evil days will be their portion. Their faith In the oracle is so great that mishap to tho kite plunges them in dejection. The most beautiful volume in tho Congressional library at Washington is a Bible which was transcribed on parchment by a monk in the sixteenth century. The general lettering is in tho Gorman text, each letter is perfect and there is not a scratch or blot from Hd to lid. Each chapter begins with a large Illuminated letter, in which Is drawn the figure of a saint, some in cident of whom the chapter tells. Visitors to China are particularly struck by the numbers of pairs of boots hung in separate wooden cages in the archway of the main west gate of Hsuan-Hua, tho valedictory gifts of beneficial prefects. It Is an attrac tive custom" in China to Invite a de parting magistrate whose rule has been popular to leave a pair of old boots for suspension in a prominent place as a hint to his succe33or to follow In his footsteps. Mrs. Nancy Rose, who had kept the Stony Point light house for nearly half a century, died at the ago of 80. Sho succeeded her IniBband in 18GG, and up to within a few days of her death sho had kept tho lamps trimmed and burning, and rung the fog boll in tho fogs. The bell tower was moved an oighth of a mile from tho light houso two years ago, and over sinco Mrs. Rose had walked that distance overy three hours In bad wcathor to wind up tho machinory that rings tho bell. Tho "dogs of war" in these days as sist in field hospital work. In Germany and Italy St. Bernard dogs have been trained for years so as to aid, after an engagement, bearer parties In their search for tho wounded, especially at night. Russia, apparently, has no canine corps, and Major Richardson of Carnoustie, England, who has made a specialty of training ambulance dogs, has received a communication from St. Petersburg asking him how many ho can supply for servico In tho Far East. Pittsburg Dispatch. Not Much Impressed. If New York has a word to say to tho stranger within its gates, says a correspondent of tho New Orleans Times-Democrat, It is this: "Have you succeeded at home? If not, why do you think you will succeed where con ditions aro more complex and diffi cult?" But in Now Yo'k, as In other largo citlo3 those who aro not (0 bo "bluffed" or discouraged and who go resolutely about their business aro reasonably sure of success. Sometimes, perhaps, a little success makes more of a noise in tho world than it should. Ono evening in a restaurant, nayH tho correspondent, wo were waited on by a real southern darky. Ho was so unmistakable that at last I said to him, "George?" . "Yas'm," was the grateful rejoinder. "You're from the south, aren't you?" "Yas'm. All's from do south." "How did you get up here?" "Ah don' know, ma'm, how come, Ah come." "And what do you think of Now York, Georgo?" He hesitated, and then suinming It up in his mind, he said: "New York? 'Peak's lak dish hyeh New York es got a good deal cr rat tling do dishes fer do victuals what's served." Beecher Changed His Mind, General James McLeer, awhile post master of Brooklyn, In 1680, has re fused $100 for a letter from Henry Ward Beecher which ho never even published until recently, says the Peoria (111.) Star. A note of Mr. Bcecher's containing a check for $150 was returned from tho dead letter office In Washington, and when he re ceived the usual notice ho sent this to tho postmaster: "Oct. 28, 1880. Colonel McLeer. Dear Sir: Your notice that- a letter of mine was dead and subject to my order is before me. "We must all did! And, though the premature decease of my letter should excite a proper sympathy (and I hope it does), yet I am greatly sustained under the affliction. "What was the date of its death? Of what did it die? Had it In its last hours proper attention and such con solation as befits the melancholy occa sion? Did it have any effects? "Will you kindly aee to Its funeral? I am strongly inclined to cremation. "May I ask if any other letters of mine aro sick dangerously sick? If any depart this life hereafter don't notify mo until after tho funeral. Af fectionately, "HENRY WARD BEECHER." On learning that the letter contained a check Mr. Beecher called at tho of- Jflve and withdrew the request for its cremuuuu. 1 OLIVER TYPEWRITER. The Standard Visible Writer. The Oliver Record Has Never Been Equalled. o The Oliver Typewriter Company. Omaha, Nebraska ire Ton Interested in raiding chicks in an up-to-date way? If you aro and nrc looking for something cheap at a cheap price don't write us. If you want as good fiH the bent at reasonable price, we have it to oiler yoa. Write for frco catalogue of the "ONLY" INCUBATOR AND BROODER Manufactured by Lincoln Incubator Co., Lin coln Neb. ""U ue ": j THE TRUSTS! ?yll0"ST. bout tho Trusts? If so. uend us 10 cents and we will send you on trial, for three months one of the best and most powerful anti-Trust papers published, and request 100 publishers of like re form papers to mall you sample copies of their tiublicatlons. Lots of interesting and Instruc lvp reading mattor on important reform ques tions. Head our running article on the Modern Pharisee (tho Trust magnates and their satel lites) and sec how they make religion a stepping stone to tho accumulation of great wealth. Ad dress, THE INDUSTRIAL TR.IBVNE. Coronet, N. Y. P.O. Box 397. 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