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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1900)
1 1... UNCOLN COUNTY LEADER CHA6. F. & ADA E. gOVLG, Pubs. TOLEDO OREGON The open door In China gives the dowager empress a chill. Messenger pigeons being used In war is quiie a contrast to Noah's dove busl ness. It used to be the strong brain that told In college work. Now it Is the husky right leg. There are different ways of hauling people over the coals. One Is when the dealers run up prices. In Kansas they are making sausages of rabbits. However, hairs in sausage are not altogether a novelty. Considering the marked falling off In marriages instead of wedding marches It looks like popularizing "The Flag of the Union." Few women have yet attained to the degree of wisdom that inspires them to save up their rainy day skirts for a rainy day. Scientists say that in future ages all people will be brunettes. We suppose this will be due to the passing of the white horse. Another college student has died from the effects of hazing. When will stu dents learu that brutality is a crime except on the foot-ball field? The "automobile face" is said to be worse than the "bicycle face." The wearer looks ns if he had suddenly been aroused from a nlghtmareless sleep. The Chicago man who speared a waiter through the lungs with an um brella made a wrong use of the article. The umbrella was designed to shed water, not blood. It will always be a puzzle to think ers that if 800 shots are fired for every person killed In war, why there Is such a big percentage of loss from acci dental shooting In the hunting season. It Is reported that Great Britain wants to buy the Galapagos Islands. This must be a mistake. If Great Britain wanted them she would first trv to get them by sending surveyors there. Hetty Green says no way has ever been Invented to prevent people from throwing away their money. It is gen erally understood, however, that no such Invention would be of the slight est use to Hetty. The Queen of Holland is reported to be engaged to Emperor William's old est boy, but It Isn't likely that they Will be married If the young lady finds out that such a union would be agree able to her ministers. The 10 per cent, a week syndicates offer a brilliant opportunity to get something for nothing, but, unfortun ately for the credulous Investor, the opportunity Is afforded only to the men who run the syndicates. Gov. Bradley of Alaska nsks that the territory be granted statehood and an appropriation of $110,000 for a peni tentiary. With such Improvements the Governor apiwnrs to believe that even In Alaska almost all the comforts of home may be obtained. A New York woman arrested for keeping chickens in her rooms sup posed they were no worse than the squawking parrots and barking dogs of tlys other rooms of an apartment house. Why should there lw so much difference of opinion as to pets? Think of a promoter In the Intelli gent city of New York inducing people to give up their money by promising them 020 per cent, a year! Evidently, If you want to hoodwink people, you want to hoodwink them well. If he had only promised a return of fl or 10 per cent, he would, in all probability, have secured few victims. There Is an Immense amount of attraction In a gold brick. The head of a large corporation says that he Is tired of having letters in volving thousands of dollars delayed because his stenographer's feelings were hurt by a reproof for tardiness. The remark sheds light on the fact that many corporations are supplanting women by men employes. Too many women have yet to learn that business Is business, not sentiment, and that places nre held. If not always won, by business qualifications alone. The humorist's assertion that talk Is cheap, women half price, seems in the whirligig of time to have brought In Its own revenges. At the recent In ternational Council of Congregatlonal Ists. every speaker exceeded the time allotted htm, thus encroaching upon the privileges of his successor. At a subsequent meeting of a State Feder- ( stton of "Women's Clubs, only a single speaker overstepped the limit of time, and the exception was a man! The necessity for some change in foot-ball rules may be seen when it is noted that In proportion to men en gaged in action there were more casu alties reported last fall from the cam paign on the gridiron than from the war being waged in the Philippine Islands. Twenty-two men engage in a foot-ball game and the contest wages for an hour and a half. The casual ties in killed, wounded and disabled will average 20 per cent., which, we believe, is very much greater than have marked the tierce and bloody battles of the world's history. True, a man Is not killed tn every game, but the death list, nevertheless, Is far too heavy. As for broken limbs and noses and ribs and collarbones, these are but in cidents to the sport. There are other Bill Anthonys. Brave men who have faced dangers In flood and field, but find the everyday strug gle of life more meuacing, more trying than facing shot and shell. And there are many men and women who have done nothing more heroic than to "keep up with the procession" until now, but who feel discouraged and are not sure of the future. To all such It may be said that, however safe and easy our posterity may find the path of life, tn days to come when perhaps justice and order reign, the conditions to-dav give a splendid opportunity for character-forming. For this cause we should deem ourselves fortunate that we live in an age of stress nnd strife. For this reason we should set ourselves stead fastly to our daily tasks, however hard. Mark Tapley, one of Dickens' cleverest creations, accepted every hardship and trial as an opportunity for gaining credit to himself for cheer fulness and helpfulness. That is the spirit in which we can succeed. This Is the Ideal which we can carry with us In daily life and conquer. Our new Department of Agriculture, which, when lirst authorized by Con gress, was regarded by many as likely to prove more costly and ornamental than useful or profitable. Is craduallv justifying its creation. While the ex periments tn agriculture carried on un der its supervision may not have been of great practical value to the average American farmer, the Information It collects and furnishes to the nubile In its monthly bulletins and annual re ports is worth many times the cost of collection and publication. It Is well known -that- we raise'" cotton, wheat, corn, oats, various fruits ami meat products to supply the deficiencies of the rest of the world, but It Is not so well-known that we Import $200,000,000 worth annually of the agricultural and forest products of other countries. The annual report of the Department of Agriculture for the present year pre sents this fact in clear and unmistaka ble figures, and the mere statement In dicates that there is still a vast profit able and unoccupied field waiting for the American farmer. The bulk of these Imported products, which include coffee, sugar, India rubber and a dozen varieties of fruit are chiefly grown tn tropical countries. With our recent ac quisitions in the West Indies, Philip pines nnd the Sandwich Islands we are prepared to engage In the production of all these articles and the $200,000, 000 prize Is certainly worth striving for. As a prerequisite to success tn this Hue the American people should cultivate a little more pride nud faith in American products. We nre im porting and using very Inferior Amer ican wine, which Is exported first to be furnished with a foreign label when we could get a much better article at home If we were willing to be known as consumers of home-made wines. There is little doubt that we can pro duce figs, dates, prunes nnd othet fruits which we now largely luinort Oranges of the best we already grow in Honda and California, and with our new West India acquisitions all our tropical fruits can easily be of the home grown varieties. And whv should we not be able to supply oui own wants in the shape of coffee nnd tea and the sugar to sweeten both within a very few years? The fault of the American farmer to date has been his Inclination to confine himself to the cultivation of a few staple crops, with which he often overstocks the markets. There should be greater dl- versity in his farming, and the reports of the Department of Agriculture point out very definitely the field tn which tills diversity can be profitably exer cised. American farmers cannot study these reports too carefully for their own prosperity. Slates and MiortstffhteUneps. It Is the opinion of a Gernin n (VMllfai that the use of ordinary slates by school children tends to produce short-sightedness. As a substitute he recommends pen and ink or an artificial white slate, witn black pencil. The latter have been Introduced in some of the German schools. Try ThU Soup. Fried wasp soup is considered o great delicacy in Chlnn. It Is stitetf that It U quite an acquired taste. prompted from w . m HN the "third floor back" of a dismal-looking lodging-house In a street near Waterloo bridge, a man was standing, singing. In a dilapidated armchair by the window, his audience one wee, pretty lassie was curled up, wrapped about with an overcoat, for It was the afternoon of Christinas Day, and there was no flrj in the cheerless gra te. "Shall I light the lamp, daddy?" she asked, as he ceased to sing and began to execute a grotesque dance, still whistling the refrain of his song. "It has grown so dark that I can't see to give you jour cues," and she held up sortie tattwed manuscript as she spoke. "No, Batsie; that will do for to-night. Don't try your eyes. Shall we have our usual chat tn the dark, pet? There Is no rehearsal to-night. Ugh how cold it is. Have we no coal or wood, dearie?" "No. dad; but it Isn't very much cold er without fire, because the silly smoke won't go up the chimney, somehow, so IN A DIIjAPIDATKD AllMeilA IK ONE WEE, rKKTTV 1.ASSIK WAS CUKLKD UP. I have to keep the window open when we do have a fire." "My poor little frozen baby," he said sadly, taking her in his arms. "We will find lodgings where the smoke does exit the proper way after boxing night." "Dad," she said, as she nestled close up to htm in the armchair, "shall we have a Christmas pudding some day?" "Shall I sing to you, Babsle?" he in terrupted hastily. ; And, gently strok ing her soft curls, he broke Into a live ly music hall ditty. Babsle was soon fast asleep. He lifted her up and placed her on the bed. "Heaven help her!" he murmured sadly, ns he gazed upon the sweet white face. "If I had only been a laborer you would not have gone hungry on Christ mas Day, my pet. I wonder how many poor mummers are waiting eagerly for Boxing night? I have looked for work without ceasing. I wonder if the noble army of bogus managers with whom I've been so closely acquainted nf Into nre dining well to-night while she is starving, i li sjwnd every penny I earn this pantomime upon her comfort. Oh, if I can only make a hit, now my chance has come! Oh, my Babsle. mv brave lit. tie Babsle!" "Daddy, it's the glorious Boxing dnv at last!" cried Babsle. dancing round him in her excitement, as he was pre paring to go to the theater. "Everything wasn't ouite smooth at dress rehearsal." he had explained to ner; "so l shall be at the theater all day." The latter part of this statement wh not true; but he saw that there wna barely food for one in the cupboard, ami nis pocket was quite empty. as ne ran down the stairs a little shoe came clattering after him, and a saucy, smiling face peeped over the bal usters. "That's for luck, dad," she called out. He noticed the little shoe had a hole right through the sole, and he sighed. When lie reached the theater he found only a few shivering nobodies assembled on the stage. They all waited for nbout two hours for the stars, who had never Intended to appear, nnd then the stage manager dismissed them. Ilalllday met his manager as he turned out of the stage door with the Intention of strolling about the streets until even lug. "Hallo!" said that individual, genial ly. "Hope all the plum pudding you had yesterday won't affect your top notes. I think your song will fetch 'em up stairs. There's money in it " Ilallidny uttered an exclamation, and, stooping down, picked up a quarter. "There, what did I tell you?" laughed the manager, ns he slapped him on the back nnd went on his way. Ilalllday hugged the little coin tn his palm. It meant so very much. It meant a little Christmas for Babsle, and It had entirely changed his plans for the day. He hurried homeward with a lighter heart than he had carried for months, only stopping nt a coster's bnrrow on his way to Invest some of his treasure in rosy-cheeked apples. He sprang lightly up the stairs to his home, calling "Babsle!" as he ran, so the Gallery, f anxious was he to see her astonishment and delight. But no answer came; no patter of little feet The dreary room was empty. He sat. down chilled and uneasy, and the apples rolled unheeded to the floor. But one hour two hours three hours passed, and still no Babsle. The fog was growing denser and denser, The anxious father paced up and down the little room. At every footfall on the stairs he rushed out and called her name. The cailboy at the Regal Theater was calling out "Overture and beginners" as he made his way along the passages when a man rushed past him and dlsap peared into one of the dressing-rooms, It was Nigel Ilalllday, white and trem bling, and with huge beads of perspira tion on his brow. "He'll never be on!" said the perform ers In chorus. But he was at the side, dressed and made up, fully five minutes before his first entrance. The other performers were looking at him curi ously, for his face was twitching and he spoke to no one. "Nervousness or drunkenness," they all agreed. There was a ripple of laughter as he made his first entrance. It acted like an electric shock upon him. He knew what was expected of him, and he worked desperately. "He'll do," said the anxious manager, sagely, -as he watched his grotesque exit and listened to the applause that followed It As soon as Ilalllday was off the stage after the fourth scene he caught the as sistant manager by the arm. "I'm not on until the palace scene," he said, eagerly. "How long Is my wait?" "Oh, about an hour to-night," was the reply. Ilalllday rushed down the passage to his dressing room, removing his kingly robes as he ran. "What the deuce are you doing?' cried one of the men, as he watched him struggling Into his overcoat. "Are you drunk to-night, or what?" "Don't stop me!" panted Ilalllday. "Hands off, I say! It's my long wait. I'll be back In time. My child Is lost missing since morning. I'm crazy with anxiety; she's my only one." - Through the streets he ran.-threading in and out the traffic, heedless of the shouts of drivers. The fog had cleared away, and the night wns starry. "Babsle! Babsle!" he panted, as he tore along. "Babsle! Babsie!" as he vaulted up the dark staircase to his home. All was silent in the desolate room. He stood there one moment and threw up his hands In voiceless prayer, and then he hastened back to the thea ter. Just before his entrance In the palace scene the doorkeeper made his way through the crowd and said something in a low tone to the stage manager. He saw them glance toward him, and in a moment he was beside them.' "In heaven's name, tell me, Grahnme! Is it news for me? Don't lie; I know It is!" "When you come off, Ilalllday after your song. There's your music playing now. Go on. old man." "Tell me first." Ilalllday replied hoarsely, "and I give you my word I'll go on!" "A little girl run over taken to Faith Hospital. Don't know who she belongs to. Died unconscious," G Ta nnine replied hastily. "Thank you," was all the wretched man said as he staggered past them onto the stage. A child in the gallery laughed glee fully at his grotesque entrance. It sounded Just like Babsle's laugh. Bab sle now, perhaps, lying a little mangled corpse In the Faith Hospital. Why was he there, he asked himself, If his dar ling lay dead? What did he care for money now? But Babsle had been so fond of his "drinking song." She had looked for ward to hearing him sing it He would sing It for her sake. Then his voice began to falter he lf III WAS BEING CLASPED IN HER FATHEB'S AMIS. swayea slightly. Wl.A uown, was. tne terrific 8 "Won't some one step in to fill gap?" lue And some one did. Rght froin very back of the gallery it cam child's voice that caught up the refrain just as the wretched singer was about to rujh from the stage, and the astern ished artists, looking up to the "gods" beheld the singer, a little girl, m-vlml upon the shoulders of a stalwart ester It was Babsie-Babsle alive n-i.1 well' By the time the little gin hnd through the chorus nnd the gallery ha, shown their appreciation by npnlnu and whistling, Ilalllday hart regained his self-possession, and he sang the re malnder of his- ditty with such joyous vigor that he carried his audience along, and the infection of gayety from all the smiling faces on the stage made Itself felt all over the house. "That kid In the gallery' Is n 01J music-hall dodge," said one petite to another. "Yes, but this was jolly well worked I thought the chap had really broken down," replied his friend. Behind the scenes the "kid In the gal- ' lery" was being clasped in her father's arms amid a group of sympathetic peo ple in motley attire. Babsle's story was soon told. si)e had been offered a quarter by a neigh bor to mind her babies while she went out. The temptation to see her "dud" perform had been too strong, nnd the little girl, with her precious coin in her hnnd, h-vi patiently waited ouuiue the gallery door for many hours. As she had not expects! her father home nil day she had not been in the least un easy. Then Manager Vaughan nnd Stage Mnnnger Grahnme claimed her atten tion, nnd the former slipped a brand new dollar bill Into her hand. "It's what I owe you for that unre hearsed effect" he said, laughiu, Forget-Me-Not FORTUNES IN TOYS. Wealth Waiting for the Man Who Can Invent a Popular Puzzle. The chief penny toy now most In de--mand Is something of a mechanical kind, either in the shape of a woik.n? model or puzzle. The old kind of toy with no movement, but which simply was made to be looked at, is of no use to-day. Of the most popular penny toys, during the last half century, more than one dealer gave me full particu lars. About 18C2 or so there was a tremendous run on penny watches with imitation gold chains! And tha man ager of a famous firm told me how cu riously this tame nbout. It was nil) j? dueto"a woman who stood near the Mansion house, it seems. This hawker colored a piece of thin board with black velvet, nnd, cutting out holes for the penny wntehes, placed the latter in them, with the "gold" chains twisted attractively round. Then she called ont loudly: "A lovely watch and chain, for a penny!" People began to buy rapidly, and time after time that day she replenished her stock and sold out again. Other hawkers learned of It and within three days this penny watch had become quite a raire all over Eng land. The toy firms were simply "mob bed for it by the hawkers. One firm nlone sold over 5.000 gros3 in three mouths; and the maker, a Frenchman in raris, had to nut down new machin ery and keep his factory going night and clay for four months to supply the demand. There Is a fortune now waiting for the man who can Invent a puzzle that will take the place which the "fifteen puzzle" once had, or the famous ' plg in clover." I was informed, on the very highest authority, that more than one regular street seller of toys' could he pointed out to me who bad often made over 20 a week; nnd that flO weekly was by no means unusual for many of them to make durlni? a crood run of a popular article. English Illustrated. An Old Timer. A crowd of vounir men were seated IB one of the steamboat ofiices in the city the other afternpon while an old steam- boat veteran regaled them with stories about old times on the Mississippi and reminiscences of old-time citizens. "Did vou know old Rill Jnnes?" nsked one of the men, after the captain had finished relating how he lan a gantL't or Indians with his boat 'way back in the forties. " 'Member Bill Jones? Well. I guess I did," replied the captain. "Let's see he died Just after the war. He was a good old fellow, too. I knew his father before he wns man ted to Bill's mother." One of the bovs thought the old man was "doninc." nnd. bv wnv of trlnDlng him up on his dates, asked: "Cap. how long have you been runsing on the river?" "Who. me? Whv. I started on the Mississippi when it wns nothin' but a creek." Memphis Scimitar. New French Pistol Saber. A pistol saber Is a new form of weap on now engaging the attention of the trench war department. It has a fire arm in the hilt and when the swonl meets with a resisting surface it re cedeb and the pistol Is discharged The sword weighs one-third more than till 11 ail fl 1 nnvnlnn nnnnn n ti rt Vl'Vlllffe .uiaiijf v t 1 1 1 u ii , auu ThP niatnl a nsf Iaii.1a,i 41. a miW nn be used in thf nn1inirr wnr. Itfirr ments show that the bullet will gos . i- i through a breast plats.