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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1889)
o 0HB ? OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , AUGUST 11 , laSO-SIXTBEN" PAGES. "LET THE ASSASSIN SHOOT. " Thomas H. Bonton'a Memorable Quarrel With a Brother Senator. ELECTED BY HIS RABBIT FOOT. The Queer Superstition of a Florida Cnnarpfisinnn Violation Snrdou's Fatalism Two dtnrics of Cam- ron Editor Shopard's. Current Anecdotes. I witnessed this Incident In the sen ate , In which Thomas H. Benton played a prominent part , writes Hannibal Hamlln. Senator Footo , of Mississippi , hnd nssallod him violently dully until Mr. Benton deliberately tiroso one morning In the senate and declared If the rules of the senate wore not en forced by Us presiding officer ho would talto the rules Into his own hands. Ho notified the senator from Mississippi that "if ho continues his personal as saults on myself , I will take ctvro of htm myself. " Well , I was quietly writing one morn ing when niy oar told mo that Footo was pursuing precisely the same course of proceeding as the day before ; the chair of Benton on my loft was thrown back with great violence nnd ho passed mo In the area and wont toward Footo as though ho had a purpose in his mind. I never doubted that ho hod. Footo glided out from his scat down amid the senators , taking from some part of his person a pistol and attempt ing to cock it. I suppose it was one of that kind of pistols that had a guard in the rear , and ho had forgotten to pull the guard around nnd couldn't cock it ; but when he was passing down and try ing to use the pistol , Bontoa lUorally tore ma vest ppon and said : "Senators , stuud aside and let the as sassin shoot. " Well , the assassin finally reached the coat of Daniel S. Dickinson , of How York , who disarmed him , and there was a cry all over the Bonnie , "No quarrel ing ! No quarreling ! " liutilon hod returned to his scat , and vrlth the dignity of a Homan he said : "Mr. President , I never qunrrel , I have sometimes fought , and when I fought , I ( ought lor a funeral ! " Congressman Dougherty , ot Florida , is an earnest believer in the rabbit foot. Ho says that when ho was first nomi nated there was great opposition to him. One day during his campaign he was training a lot of young hounds , and they scared up n rabbit , which ran into r. burying ground nnd disappeared un der u tombstone. When he went homo he mentioned the circumstances , and his friends decided that he must have that rabbit * Some of them were so superstitious that they vowed they would not vote for him unless the rabbit was caught. The moon was shining brightly , and n party went out one night and caught the rabbit. One of the feet was cut off and mounted , and Mr. Dougherty says ho xsurried it and was elected la a pi to of the odds .against him. him.To To an accident is attributed Vic- torien Sardou's singularly superstitious mysticism , for ho is a great believer in portents and omens. Along the narrow street there was passing a. wagon laden with cut stone , and to allow room Sar- flou took rafuge in a doorway , lut ho imd scarcely established himself there when a big , fat man was driven to the same shelter. It was obvious to the dramatist that there was no room for two of them , so he crossed over the street and established himself in a door way opposite. The wagon passed , the swearing driver all the time whipping his horses , and it was probably owing to some jerk they hnd given thata huge cube of stone was detached and crushed in itd fall the man to whom , waiving his claim as first occupant , ho had surren dered the place. It was this that laid the foundation of his superstition. To express it ho his borrowed u. word from tbo Arabs , those inveterate fatalists , boukra , whieh means to-morrow. After thoso'Wild bursts of passion at rohor- eals , when ho is reduced to dumbness by his own shouting , this is his first word when ho ia suillciontly recovered to utter it. On one occasion the duke of Welling ton received a letter in the following terms , says u writer in the Pall Mall Gazette. I correct the spoiling. "Mr. TomkiiiB ventures to address the duke of Wellington. Mr. Tomkins' mother is a washerwoman ; Mr. Tomkinu regrets to say that , having washed for the mar- quls of Douro for many years , his mother lias boon unable to obtain payment , for the last throe years. Mrs. Tomkins is very poor , and cannot afford to lose the money. She hopes the dulco will kindly pay it. Mrs. Tomkins' address is . " Alto r carefully reading andconsldoring the letter , the duke sent the following reply : "Field marshal the dulco of Well ington bus received a letter from Mr. Tomkina , stating that the marquis of Douro is in debt to his mother , Mrs. Tomkins. The duke ot Wellington la not the marquis of Douro. The duke rogrotf ) that his oldest son has not puld hit washerwoman's bill. Mrs. Tomkina bos no claim upon the duke of Welling ton. The duke recommends her. fulling another application , to place the matter in the hands of a ropeotnblo solicitor , " Borne six weeks later the duke had a dinner party at Apsloy house. One of the guests uskoit the duke If ho was not tor mented by applications for his auto graph. The duke replied. "Oh , yes , constantly. " The friend then said : "A low days ago I was examining a most interesting collection , with your grace's in the place of honor In the book. " "What was that ? " said the duke. "Well , the collector's plan is to write to very person of eminence and to accu e hie eldest son of bilking his washerwo man. Ho paste * bis own letter and the reply face to face. " I should like to have scon the duke's face when ho heart the llrwt Prussian cannon at Waterloo I should also like to have seen it on this occasion. The Now York Tribune prints the following anecdote of the Into Simon Cameron. Speaking of Gnu oral Logan ono day General Cameron remarked : "JvOtrm was a grand num. JIo uud I were great friends , and I don't think wo over differed fored but on ono occasion in our lives Just after the close of the war , Genera Logan introduced a bill which was de signed to abolish the olllco of military Btarckoepor , which I opposed. He came tome and said ; 'Cameron , you seem to be fighting my bill. ' "I replied : 'Vos , general , I nra. and I I propose to fight your bill as long ea I m in the United States senate. ' " 'Well , why do you tight it1 "Because , General Logan , when tras candidate lor the boimto a friend el mine who was sick caused himself t < b carried in a cot to th'j ' capital o Pennsylvania to vote for ma , and he it eoe of the men whom you propojo to \ Iteialato out ot olllco. ' 1 'Oh , that's U , ' said Logan ; 'well how would it suit you to nmond my bill o that horonftor In nil cases of death or resignation the vacancy will not bo filled/ , filledThat would ho satisfactory , " Bald I. And the [ old gentleman remarked , with a smile ! "My friend is still hold- "ng that office. " Ono day I asked him : "General , what nro the faots about the planting and raising of 'ft crop of corn in the streets of Charleston. S.O.V" "Well , " said the general , ' . 'that is true , but it woa a very foolish thing- very foolish ; but you. aoo partisan feei ng was running very high at that time and wo did things that wo would not done no W. The way it happened was thla : "Before the war Mr. Davis and ! wore warm frlonds , nnd up to the time ho loft the sonnto wu had numerous con versations , which sometimes becnmo rather warm , not to say bitter , Just before ho wont south ho spoke of firing on i'ort Sumtor. I replied : " 'Mr. Davis , K your people over dare to lire on Fort Sumtor your city of Charleston will bo laid In ashes , ' and during the conversation I further re marked : 'If your people over dare to fire on Fort Sumtor I myself will raise corn on the streets of Charleston. ' Mr , Davis went south shortly afterward and Fort Sumtor was llrod upon , and in duo time Charleston was captured. Shortly after the capture of the city I wont there. After landing at the wharf nnd while passing a commissary depot , I found ono of the sacks of earn was burst open. This reminded me of my prom- lee to Davis. I tilled the pockets of my overcoat with corn and hired a man to plant and cultivate it in a triangular ploco of land in ono of the streets , nnd no shipped to mo the crop. But it was a very foolish thing to do , after all. " Elliott F , Shupardhas kept this whole town laughing throughout the year and a half in which ho has controlled the Mall and Expros , says n Now York let ter to the St. Louis Republic ; but the laughter has boon subdued in compari son with the chorus of shouts that would have hailed a full account of what wont on in the ofllco of the great religious daily. When Colonel Shepard "took on" the Mall and Express , to use his own picturesque phrase , bis well- meant efforts to exploit his peculiar notions in its columns wore care fully balked by the staff. ' His scriptural texts wore lost on'thoir way. to the printers , and his absurd puns were "hilled" in the proof. This wont on until tbo colonel suspected treach ery , and then strict orders wore issued that what ho wrote should "go. " Go it did , but his editorial articles wore shown about the ottlco in proof to a wondering staff , and the first edition of the paper uas eagerly scanned above stairs , that the colonels latest eccentric ities might bo discovered. Ills oddest things wore greeted by the staff with roars of laughter nnd exclamations of incredulous astonishment. As the time went on , however , queer things became a matter of course , una the staff grew hardened to the chief's oddities. This , however , did not prevent a vast amount of ollico gossip , and the colonel wis maddened to find his most secret coun sels spread abroad in rival newspapers. He cave strict orders that nobody should talk , and finally hired a detee tive to spy upon the ofllco. One of the funniest scones of the year occurred ono day when the managing editor was informed that the "text , " by that time a well-established daily feature , hod been lost. For five minutes the atmos phere of the pious sanctum was blue with profuue denunciations of the man who had lost the text and of tbo text itself , and even of the amiable colonel. Finally the loss was reported to head quarters and a new text supplied. Lord Fife , who is to marry the eldest nnd ugliest daughter of the prince of Wales , comes of a queer family , says the New York Metropolis. The cable has told us how three of his sisters have been divorced and married again. His mother was n very stout and handsome lady ; vho used to wake up in the middle of the niaiit and devour chicken and champagne , which were placed upon a table at her bedside. She was liberal in her views and furnished a house in Kensington gardens for Edmund Yates , then a popular noveiest. When ihe died suddenly her husband , old Earl Fife , found the bills for the furniture and , like a true Scotchman , closed his eyes to their suggest ! venoas nnd merely requested Yates to pay them to him. At any rate no eulogy of Lady Fife appears in the "Reminiscences" pears ot Ed mund Yates. When poor Dion Townahend , the Illi nois congressman , wus dyine that last terrible forenoon in the Rlgga House , when there was nothing but delirium and agony for the sufferer , ho called now and then , as his mind would clear a little , for Tom Lowory. Ho was an old friend , the big railroad man of Min neapolis , whom ho could somehow faint ly remember was in town. Mr. Lowery came to the bedside at once. "What can I do for you , Dick ? " ho asked. "Is there anything I can do ? Only say what It is , Dick. " The dying congressman was able to tell him in the next few moments that a mortgage for 85,000 on some property of his in Washington worried him , be cause it might raako trouble for his wife. As soon as he could gather his friend's meaning , Mr. Lowery retired for a moment to a corner. "Hero , poor follow , " he said , as bo bold a ploco of paper up before the eyes of the nufforor. "There ! Perhaps that will relieve you , Don't worry , don't worry , Dick. " The piece of paper was a check for $5,000. Grant used to chop cordwood In a pe culiar way. says Judge Lunham in thu St. Loulb ICepublic , cutting the tree all round instead of half down on one side and then on the otherlike the ordinary axman. While president ho visited St. Louis and I wont with him to his farm , and passing- the spot where ho ODCO chopped wood , I Bald : "General , the follow who cut those stumps was a poor wood chopper , don't ' you think so'r' The president replied with a stub : "That might bo true , judge , but to toll the truth , I was hap pier then that * now. I cut my wood , hauled It to the city , got my price for it , returned to my family , and was happy ; but now the bunion of a nation In on mo , mid I know tie rest. Those were happy da > s , iudge. " Speaking of minister * ' salaries , re calls to the Providence Telegram a bun mot of tht > late Iloury Fail-brother. Meeting a minister in Pawtucket with whom he was well acquainted , one day , the divine told him ho had received a call to another parish and should ao- copt. "A call ? " said Houry. "Yea , I have boon laboring in the vineyard of the Lord here in Pawtucket for a num ber of years /or a salary of 81,000 per an num , and have received a very flatter ing offer to go to Brooklyn with a salary of $3,000. " "And that la what you mean by u call ? " "Yes. " "Well , up at the club wo Hhouid call that a raise. Our soldier boys have been hav ing n great time at the state camp says a Now York letter to to the Phila delphia Hocord , where the Seventh has been followed successively by the Suv- outy-first and the Ninth regiments. I was in company with a group of Sev enth regiment mon when ono of them remarked that each company had ita characteristics. Ono company is de voted to athlotloa nnd another to so ciety , and eo on. "My company js re markable , " said ono in reply to a quoa ; lon , "for the number ol roprosonta- ilveaqf old families which It contain * . 0 of thom is the descendant of a famous cabinet' minister of many years ago , n secretary whoso name wa at ono Lima a household word throughout the United States. When wo wore at Washington wo waited on General Sherman and this young man , vl\Q \ wa.s carrying about as largo u load of cham pagne as ho could conveniently mane - ; o , stopped up airily and introduced msolf , remarking that ho supposed the general had hoard hifl mun.o. "Yes , " said General Sherman , with 'omothlng like n twinkle ip his eye , "I have often hoard Hand always honored it. You hoar a famous puma indeed , sir. and I trust you fool the full respon sibility ot the load you carry , " Now that the Persian minister has taken his departure 'for Ilia country a number of tun using stories are related concerning him stories which do not in the least reflect upon his cleverness or his ability to aarvo his sovereign most creditably hero , but which plainly evidence that ho is not altogether con versant with seine of the pleasantries incident to Washington life , It may not bo amiss if I toll you two vhloh I heard yesterday , says the gossiper of the Washington Prosq. Thu minister found when ho camn to Washington that ho hnd at least two acquaintances , if not frlonds , They wore a lady and gentleman who had for some years Jived in Persia , whore the gentleman was connected with n largo importing house , Calls wore at once exchanged , and finally an invitation was extended to his excellency to dip nor. The in vitation was graciously accepted. Un fortunately the former American rcsi- dcuta in Persia bad one drawback to their marital happljioss they hnd no children. It seems that in Persia it IB the custom to assemble around the table all of the children of the family when a very special dinner is given. When , therefore , the mlniator noticed there was An entire absence of the little ones , ho inquired through his secretary , who tipoaks English well , the cause of it. The lady of the house replied that she did not have any children , but that if she had been eo blessed she could never have loved them as she did that "dear roaturo" whose portrait hung just over the mantel-piece. The dear creature referred to was the likeness of n "pug dog , " a pot in the household , who hod died a short time before and whose memory was perpetuated in oil. When this was translated to the minister an expression of horror cumo over his countenance. He evidently did not en joy his meal and ho brought his visit to tui abrupt conclusion. Ho never could bo Induced to enter the house again pro testing that ho could not associate with a lady "that loved dogs more than she did children. " Upon another occasion the minister called At the house of an official who had been away from his homo for u lit tle while. As he was , through his in terpreter , conversing with , the lady of the house the husband entered , and , after shaking hands with jtho minister and his secretary , turned } to his wife and naturally kissed her. i The minis ter rose immediately , and ] bowing pro foundly to the lady ana gentleman , placed bis hand over his heart and an nounced , through his sectary , that ho would hold ever inviolate the con fidence which had thus been placed in him , and uothing should induce him to reveal to any ono the scene which he had just witnessed. In explanation , it apnears that no Persian ever kisses his wile or wives in public , or is in any manner demonstrative before stran gers. The minister properly imagined that , as the gentleman kissed his wife before him , he desired to pay him some special honor , for which ho was grate ful and must keep to himself. It is no wonder , after seeing so many unaccus tomed tights and hearing eo many strange expressions , that the minister felt that Washington was no place for him. him.A A remarkable trial has just occurred at Brownsville , in this county , before Justice Sparks , in which'Daniel Fosa was charged with stealing water from a ditch , says a Marysville ( Cal. ) special. Local excitement was intense. Tbo prosecution was conducted by District A ttorney Forbes , and the defense by W. G. Murphy of this city. The trial consumed six days , and was enlivened by the constant exchange of personali ties on both aides , which wore hugely enjoyed by the spectators. Justice Sparks said , in presenting the case of the defense to the jury : "Gentlemen , them's my sentiments and I want you to bring in a verdict accordingly , as they are the law. " Tossing the district at- tornoy'a instructions to the jury , the justice contemptuously remarked : ' 'Them's not my sentiments ; they are no good. You can take them for what they are worth. " The jury after a few moments deliberation returned a verdict of guilty. The justice was dumbfounded. ' 'What ' ! " ho shouted ; "you dare go agin mo sentiments ? The verdict is sot aside and the prisoner discharged ! " This ends the case for the present , but further proceedings are expected. Both parties to the ac tion claim a right to the water in dis pute. 1 was recently sitting in MarkTwalns homo in Hartford waiting for the hu morist to return from his daily walk , says n Now York letter to the Boston Journal. Suddenly sounds of devotional singing came in through the open win dow from the direction of the outer con servatory. The singing was low , yet the sad tremor in the voice seemed to give it special carrying power. "You have quite u devotional domes tic , " I said to a member of the family who came in shortly afterwards. "That is not a domestic who la sing ing , " was the answer. "Stop to this window , look in the conservatory and eo for yourself. " I did BO. There , sitting alone on ono the rustic benches in the flower-house , was a small , elderly lady. Keeping time with the first linger ol her right hand , as if with a baton , she was slightly swaying her frail body as she sang , softly , yet sweetly , Charles Wesley's hymn , "Jeaua , Lover of My Soul , " and Sarah Flower Adam's "Nearer , My God to Thee. " But the singer was not a domestic. It was Harriet Beoohor Stowo. There sat the once brilliant authoress like a child crooning a favorite air. Dining ono evening with Wilkle Col lins , lie spoke of the dilliculty of imag ining a piece of character which had not its original in real life , says a writer in the Now York Metropolis. After he had described the house in "Armadalo" a gentleman called upon him and upbraided him for putting his residence into print. The description was exact , although Wilkie Collins had never seen the place. Ho invented u man who wus to careful about his food that ho weighed it in little scales at table. A gentleman was introduced to Mr. Collins and aatd : "You had no right , air , to caricature mo. I Weigh my food in little scales , sir ! Hero they a'ro , sir ! I always carry them about with mo by advice of my physicians. But is that any reason why 1 should be hold up to ridicule , sir ? " In vain Mr. Collins protested thut ho had never before fore hoard of such a habit. III } TO AFTEHEAR a Plonoor Michigan Justice Suddenly Adjourned Court. KNE\V YVHE.N GcnprM Q P , lltmftrU's Kxpnronoo | ( Old Ilutoh" Kmporor Sett-Control. Plonoor Jintloo Sft A story that Judge RoiUy occasion ally repeats whort thZriubjoct of Michi gan justice is up Jor discussion , rutp ) substantially as follows , say the Potrojt Tribune : When Gratlot county , Michigan , flrat began to bo disturbed by pioneers , and after it had its first justice pf the peace , a farmer named Davison walked three miles to secure a warrant for the nrropt of hlf ) neighbor pained fvjcachivm for as sault and batttory , * To P YP the con stable a slx-mllo trip the defendant walked with the plaintiff. They encountered - countered his honor just leaving hia house with lua. gun gn hlspbouldor , apd Davia.on halted him with : . "Squire , I want a w'arrant for this man for striking mo , " "I'm in an awful hurry , " said the squire , "Come to-morrow , " 'So'in ' I in a hurry , and I'm going to have a raising to-morrow. " "Meacham , did 1'Qu hit him ? " asked the justice. ' Yep , " "Davisou.dld you strike first ? " "No , " "Moaoham. hud you rather work for Davison three days than go to jail ? " "I guess so , " answered Moaoham. "And will that satisfy you , Dav- tson ? " "Then moke tracks tor homo , and don't bother roe another mlnutel My son has just como In with the news that an old boar and three pubs are up in the same beech , down at the edge of the slashing , and I'm going to have some bear moat if it upsets the supreme bench of Michigan , Court stands ad journed at present. " General Blicrnmn's Rank Rcdnood * The other night General Sherman wont up to tire Broailway theater , eays the Now York World , to oujoy Francis Wilson's merrymaking In the comic opera ot "Tho Oolah. " There was a clear sky when the general wont in , but before the performance was over it began to rain and the temperature became - came raw and cold. At the end of tbo second act ho went into the Gcdney house , a few doors , botbw the theater , and inquired of Clerk Majilton if ho could uiro an umbrella , at the snroo. time explaining that ho had beoq caught out in his evening suit and ho feared rheumatism aud other com plaints. Majilton didn't kuow him , but he thought be could w ll afford to take chances on such an eminently respecta ble-looking gentlqmn.n' ; and although the polite plork haaa , rotund figure and weighs about two hjin jiecl and twelve , be gladly-offered to loan him his over coat , as well us his silver-handled um brella. , , V.P "But , " .said the gpnoral , "you are lending these things to an entire stranger , and you ought to accept some kind of a deposit to secure you against dishonesty. " * * p "Oh , that's all * right , colonel , " re plied Majilton. as he tossed a key grace fully to Louis Harrison. "I can 't be de ceived by you. I'd trust that face of yours for anything. " The warrior was tickled by the com pliment. and ho remarked casually as ho wont out with his tall , gaunt form enveloped in the garment that fitted him like a meal-sack : "I'll take you at your word , and you shall have my card when I return these things. " The next day the coat and umbrella arrived , accompanied by a note of thanks and a photograph of General William T. Sherman , with his auto graph across its face. "Groat Scott ! " said Majilton , "and I called him 'col onel , ' just as if ho had been any ordin ary American citizen. I wouldn't mind it half so much if I bad called him 'judge. ' but to be reduced in military rank after all his years of service aud by a hotel clerk ! It's awfulJ'J Ncixl Uoiv's War on Hinoklnf ; . General Dow is strongly opposed to the use of tobacco as ho is to liquor drinking , and has carried on a lifelong crusade againet it , eays the Lowlston Journal : Ho always has claimed that tobacco dulls the moral sense. Many years ago , before there wore any railroads , a man traveling in a stage coach with Dow , one day , lighted a cigar. "I wish would sir " you stop smoking , , said Dow. "Is smoking offensive to you ? " the man asked. "Yes , sir. " "Well , I'll stop as soon as I've finish this cigar. " Without another word Dow suddenly reached forward , pulled the cigar from the man's lips and thow it in the road. The man fired up. looked at the well- knit figure of hia fellow-passenger , re garded the bright light in his eyes and cooled off. "I recall an incident coming down the Rigl , while I waa traveling in Europe. " said the general. "European railroads did not provide a separate smoking car then , and I don't kuow as they do now. A passenger in our car waa complacently smoking hia cigar. " 'You're an Engllahmuu , air , aren't you ? ' I eald to him. . " 'Oh , no , ' said ho ' briskly ; 'I am an American. ' , i " 'What ! you an' i American aud smoking in the presence of ladies ! ' "Ho stopped smoking , but with poor grace ; and ho lookou us if ho would like to oat me. ' " "Ho was of a dijTcrpnt typo from a man whom I mot oaju steamer in the English channel. , I asked him to atop smoking , and he dld ieo , with profuse apologies. I told him that I believed that tobacco dulls thoi'morul SCUBO , but ho smiled at the idea. " ' "You furnish a proof of my theory , air , ' said I. You.fyoro smoking when you ought not to 3'aVjO ' boon and you acknowledged it tip'oon as I called jour attention to 'it. v ; Tobacco dulled moral . ' " , your sense. n Miserly Dlllllonalro. I never talked to a board of trade man ton minutes without hearing some thing about "Old Hutoh , " says u writer in the Chicago Mall , He seems to bo as persistent In getting into men's mlnda and on their tongues as was Charles I. in Mr. Dick's Memoirs. Thla man said : "You can find 'Old Hutch' on one of the stools at a cheap lunch counter down near the board every morning of the week. Gooa iu there regular and orders two so t-boileU ogga and rolls , and ho looks at the chock as closely as any poor clerk in town. How's that for a man with his money ? Millions and and millions of wealth , and eating a 1C To OFFICE SEEKERS , Tie Palace THE BEE BUILDING. A Superb Court , Perfect Ventilation , Thoroughly Fire Proof. WELL LIGHTED OFFICES , HARD-WOOD FINISH , TILED CORRIDORS . /Fifty-Eight Vaults , t ! Lighted by Electricity , f-3 , . , . Night @ Day Elevator Service THE BEE BUILDING , Seventeenth and Farnam , offers attractions for Professional Men , Insurance Companies , Brokers , Real Estate Agents and Business Men , who desire elegant , commodious and fire-proof offices at reasonable terms. For particulars apply at the Counting Room , New Bee Build ing. or 20 cent breakfast. But that's his style. He surprised mo the other day. As long aa I've boon around the board I never saw 'Old Hutch' wear anything but a black slouch hat ; but , the other day he appeared with ono of the new style straws with straight still brim. Nobody could look at ( him without smil- ingand the old man 'turnblod'and wore it only ono day. Ho doesn't care , for dresa , or comfort , or good living , any way. Ho has just ono passion iu life , and. that's gambling. Ho is the first man on the floor of the board always , and the last ono to leave it. The ex citement of tbo trading hours is the moat and drink of hia life. Ho revels in it. Imagine , if you can , the supreme delight to such a man of running a cor ner such as ho manipulated last Decem ber. But he's almost parsimonious in his daily life. I saw him at the theater ono time alone , sitting in a parquet seat without a soul to talk to. He's a oner ; that's what ho is. " Kmpcror WHUam'a Self-Control. Emperor William , who is naturally of an excitable and nervous temperament , never loses an opportunity of schooling himself to prevent any display of feel ing , says a Berlin letter. A few nights ago ho gave a most astonishing exhi bition of absolute self-control , and even cold-bloodedness. During the state per- formnnco at the Royal opera in honor of the marriage of the princess' sinter to Prince Frederick Leopold the dresa of the premiere danseuse caught fire from the gas jot in the wings , and in a mo ment she waa wrapped from head to foot in a sheet of ilamo. With great pres ence of mind the principal baiso , who was standing near by , draped in Roman toga and waiting to "go on , " daahon her to the ground , and tearing the toga from his shoulders enveloped her in its capacious folds , thereby extinguishing the flamoa. She was , however , so badly burned that during three days her life was despaired of , nnd as it is the poor girl will bo disfigured for life. Her rcacuror was also badly burned about the hands , arms , and face. The incident , although concealed from the major portion of the audience , was plainly visible from beginning to end to the emperor , who was seated in one of the stage boxes. Notwithstanding the exciting nature of the scene , ho neither raised a hand nor oven moved hia chair , but remained apparently in different and unconcerned , coldly gaz ing on the poor girl battling with the cruel flames. Only at the conclusion of the act did ho send one of his aido-do- camps to make inquiries as to the con dition of the sufferers. bliu Couldn't Stand Blacksnnrdinm When General O. O. Howard waa marching down through Tennessee , General Whittlosoy , lute president of the Frcodman's bank , was absistant adjutant-general on his staff. Whittle- soy had been a clergyman down in Maine , and was fully aa straight-laced as Howard , says the Washington Post. One day Howard drove into a farmyard from whloh Whlttloaoy waa just depart ing. A woman and her grown daugh ter were standing outside the door. 'My good woman , " snid Howard , "will you kindly give mo a drink of water V" "No. Got out of my yard. A lot of more impidont Yankees I never seed. " "But I have done uothing and said nothing out of the way , and will se verely punish any of my soldiers who should say or do anything wrong. " "That sojcr insulted mo , " said she , pointing to the retreating form of General - oral Whittlosoy , "He axed mo for a drink of water uud when I done give it to him ho sussed mo. " "But but that la General WhlttJesoy of my staff. I am sure ho wouldn't bo rude to any woman , " .Maw , " said the girl , pulling her mother's dreas , "I reckon ho moughtu't ' have meant anything misboholdon. " "Hush ; don't I know low-down black guard talk when I hears it ? Ha aakod mo what waa the state of my nativity. " Not "General" But 'George. " Some time ago a party of gentlemen at Woodland , says the Sacramento Boo , were discussing the characteristics ot George Washington , the father of his country , when Sam Ruland , the gorgeousness - ousnoss of whoso imagination has made him well known throughout the state , broke in uoon the conversation. "You are right , gentlemen , " said ho. "Washington was a cold , austere man. He was us haughty as could bo , and u stickler for formalities. There was never but ono occasion , so far aa I have heard , when ho throw aside the usual frigidity of his demeanor. That in stance was narrated to mo many yoar- ago by my grandfather , ' who served under dor Washington in the'war of the rcvo lution. It was the next day after a b.it tloin which the British troops had booi < routed. The Colonial troops wore drawn up in ranks , and Washington rode down the line , mounted upon the white charger , of which you have all heard. When ho came up to whore my grand father was standing , the latter called out : " 'Why , how do you do , general ? ' " "General Washington reined up his charger , dismounted , throw his arms about ray grandfather's nock and ex claimed ; ' "Ruland , do not call mo general- call ' " mo Goorgel' Grant's Gallantry. It is doubtful whether any chronicle or romance of the days of chivalry con tains so touching an incident of matrimonial menial devotion as that lately told of General Grant , says the Graphic : When the honors came upon the Grants , like sorrows to the house of Denmark , not single spies , but in battalions , the mistress of the white house began to re new the dream of her girlhood to have her cross eyes straightened. Wiahing to surprise the president , Mrs. Grant , tolling' nobody , sent for the moat eminent oculist In American. Ho wil lingly promised to undertake the opera tion , which he assured her would be easy to accomplish , and .without danger. The good lady could not contain herself for joy , an woman-like , ( am I right , lucadnmed ? ) guvo way when she saw her husband and confided to him her secret , thu pleasure she hnd iu store him. Ho looked wistfully into those dear eyes which had hold him in tender gu/.o through all the trials of a checkered oaroer , and said in a simpl e way : "Julia , I wish you would not change thorn. I love them as they are , nnd they might seem strange if altered. " Nor Lnuucelot , nor Romeo , nor lover of any clime or ago over spoke worda of tenderer gallantry than tboso of tbo hero of Appomattox. How Olliiioro Maintains Discipline Band Leader Pat Gilraoro has boon a pretty prominent man out west , A'horo his musicians have boon playing at expositions - positions and public performances , says the Now York Ghxphic , How ho retains discipline over his performers is one of the unfathonablo mysteries to the west ern mind , but a Now Yorker tells u story which explains it easily. lie wont up to the band room ono morning where they were practicing a dlfllcult compo sition , and ho says : "Mr. Gilmore was standing on a liitlo platform , waving his baton energetically. The band was playing for all it was worth. Sud denly Mr. Gilmore stamped hia foot , frowned viciously , nnd on the instant the musio ceased , f wondered why this was , aa my untrained eura could detect no discord , With a stern look upon his face the great bandmaster turned and pointed hia baton at a cowering trom bone player over in ono corner , In a voice that Hounded like the wrath of the storm king , Mr. Gilmore said : "Karl , that was very , very bad , The boors nro on you. " Then no raised his magical wand aloft , and the musio bogiui again. "Pat , " said I , shortly afterward , in low , dulcet and somewhat familiar tone * , "what flo you mean by saying 'tho boors are on you1' "Don't ' you know ? " ho replied , "Well , I'll ' toll you. When ono of my musi cians make a mistake I line him by compelling him to buy the bear for the crowd after rehearsal. It's a great scheme , and it pleases everybody but the victim. " llonry Ward Uanohnr in T ar . The interesting fact is junt disclosed hat of all the stories which Honrj Ward Boochor road during his lifetime Mr. Thomas Nelson Page's beautiful tale of "Marao Chan" was his special favorite. The story was first brought to Mr. Beechor'a attention from a reading - ing of it by a rich southern lady , who subsequently moved to Londonsaya the Washington Press. When the great preacher was on his last visit to London ho madoj it a special request that the i-cnding should bo repeated to him by the same lady ; and ho had actually , unid all his engagements , not forgot- .on to bring over u copy of "Murao Jhan. " so that ho might not jo disappointed. 'An ' evening was then fixed at Dr. Joseph Parker's house , at which Mr. Booohor stayed during his visxt to London. The scene which followed the reading was ono never to bo forgotten by those present. Mr. Beochor had begun by the statement that ho intended to have "a good cry , " and before the story was half through ho had realized the ex pectation , for great toara were falling down the Plymouth pastor's checks , nnd every lady in the room , including the reader , was sobbing aloud. Sara Stnccorod Kclltor McdIU. According to Rev. Eugene Field , Colonel Joseph Medlll suya that Sara Bernhardt la the most singular woman ho ever had any dealings with. Hav ing boon introduced to the eminent actress by Mr. Abbey in Chicago sev eral years ago , the colonel thought it would bo no more than polite to call upon her when ho visited Paris. So ono evening last month ho dropped at the Hotel de Rlvoll and sent up hia card " to the fair Sara. It was about 7:30 o'clock. S.ira had no engagement at at the theater that evening , and a bet ter season for a call of propriety could hardly have been ehoson. But pres ently Sara's maid came tripping down to the waiting-room with this message : "Madame ooz vor sorry , but madame 0015 engage at 7.0 praiaont ; wlllmonsiour bo so kind to como again at haff-pass-2 in 20 morning ? " "It win the most extraordinary re quest I over hoard of , " says Colonel Modill. I put on my hat and walked off in high dugoon. Yet , after all , I uin glad that it was I and not my son Robert. " SINGUIjAIUTlKS. The two-year-old daughter of a Cniali ( Vt. ) farmer ! reported to have slept forever over ono hundred and twuaty cousecutlvo hour * . J. Backus , of Inglmru county. Mlahlgun , has u swnrm ot lighting boos. Tuoy recently attacked a Hock of twenty-five turkeys and killed ovary bird In tliu Hock. A rnUlcanuka Kept by un Orlailuo ( Fla. ) Icwolor lived olgliluou months without oat- liKHia \ owner ttion put un and to the smiko's misery by chloroforming him. Wlrt county , W. Vu. , icporU the discov ery of a gruon Bnalto , with two heads mid two necks. The rcptllo U about two feat lo.ti ; nnd sbujiud fiomotliiuj : Ilka tUo let ter Y. A Btrollhig Italian musician In Philadel phia ha * an Improvement on the monkey. It U u parrot which ingu operatic music In a eoprono voice thut U beurd for Bnuaros , and then collects coins from high window * . Tun bird can lly whore the uioukoy woula full to roach , The people who live naar Goguac Lake , LSattlo Creak , Mich. , claim that ttio shores uro gradually vouilng together , nnd that m a few years the luke will bo dry land. No ono knows of any mlot to It , and tlioro is a con stant drainage of sovcral hundred thousand gallons daily. Mrs. John Porter , of Otscgo , N. Y. , gave birth last week to a baby that weighs only thirty ounces , The child is barely tan Incho * long , and measures but three Inclios acroac tbo shouldoi's. It is perfectly formed , ap parently healthy , and lively and vigorous. It Is clotbud In doll's raiment , mid roils coin , fortubly In a small doll'a carriage , BotU parents uro of usual statue. A phenomenon vrhioh Is astonishing tha people of Sussex county , M. J. , U tbo Un4 > lug of DOW lee dully ou tlia land of Polo * Feather. Lost Sunday Mr. Feather gath ered uuOlolant lee from tha place the mouth of an unexplored cavern to freere two can * of Ice croam. A small stream ruus out ol tbo cave and forms a pool at the opening , and bore it U that tha too forms. A cofd draught of alrltauei continuously frou U cavoru and conceals Ibft watvr.