The Oregon scout., September 05, 1889, Image 2

CRAZED BY PROSPERITY.
Too Much Success Driven a Musical Com-
poser MhI.
The. sad story of Willlnm Rob, tlie
composer, who has just bcon placed la
a lunatic asylum, from which, accord
mg to tho doctors, no is unlikely over
to go out again, glvos a striking illus
tration of the dangers of overprosperl
ty. His story ia very curious. Twenty
years ago ho led tho life of an out-and-out
Roheminn not of an elegant imi
tator, cashless Arab of art. At that
timo ho was tho familiar of two
singers, who had a tremendous reputa
tion among tho frequenters of tho lerw
ropntablo musical halls at Vienna. At
their entertainment he was the orches
tra, for tho solo accompaniment in
these places is tho piano. Resides
this, lie could make for them tho not
very moral couplets with which thoy
made their mark. The lifo might not
bo unpleasant, for though tho wages
wcro not good, and Rob often had to go
all day without a meal, ho could com
pensate for it at night. When his two
"divas" were asked out to supper he
went with them, and, by shilling him-f-olf
with good things and champagne,
ho mado up for forced asceticism.
One evening a lucky thing happened
to him. Somebody had suggested to
Huron Nathaniel 'do Rothschild that It
would be amusing to visit one of these
Ringing saloons; and ho went. As Is
well known, he is a musical amateur,
and particularly fond of Viennese
music. So when chance brought him
to tho place whero our trio were per
forming ho paid littlo attention to the
rather commonplace charms of tho two
sirens, while ho noted with surprise
the brilliant execution of their accom
panist, who performed valses of Strauss
and Laura as well as his own composi
tions in tho interludes. Now, Roths
child had been thinking for some time
of getting together a company of twelve
firat-rnto musicians for his palace at
Wildcn. and tho idea camo across him
which he ultimately carried out of
installing Rob there as permanent
chief. Hero was a chance for tho
poor Rolioinian. At tho touch of a
magician's wand lie found himsulf
transformed into splendid apartments,
fashionably clothed waited upon by
servants, with his pockets full ol
monoy, and publishers clamoring for
tho rights of publishing his songs.
His now patron, was proud of him and
took lilin to London, Paris and other
places, got him to play boforo th
Prince of Wales and otherwise made a
lion of him. Everywhere tho ox
planlst went about like a great lord;
everywhere ho was treated with tho
doforenco paid to wealth and tho
friends of millionaires. Tho change
proved too groat for his brain. Tho
' derangement of his faculties soon be
gan to bo shown by tho development of
extraordinary eccentricities. Ilo de
veloped an iueredlblo rellnentent of
taste, and even the table of the Huron
do Rothschild was not exquisite enough
for him. As to champagne, ho gave
overdrinking it and used It externally
This got worse anil worse. Tho Huron
who treated him as a spoiled child
thought to obviate tho llrsl symptoms
of madness by traveling about with
him to tho Alps and elsewhere, but in
vain, lie got worse and worse, and
eventually had to be handed over to a
specialist, a sad ens of a man's brain
being overturned by prosperity.
London dlohi.
WOMAN'S PROGRESS.
Jtlglits mill ItenollU Mm Hit tiiiluril In
I'nst ('fill ury,
in Washington s limn women had
scarcely any rights or opportunities
out of the domestic circle.
A married woman was a legal nou
entity. 1 he husband was the legal
guardian of tho wife, or rather ho pos
sessed all the rights of both. In law
tho twain were one, and that one
wag
tho husband.
To-day u wife Is in many respects
distinct, independent being in law.
Sho may acquire, hold, convoy and
will properly. Sho may engage In
business, carry on trade, make con
tracts. She may sue and bo sued, may
enforco her rights and defend them.
Hot h married and unmarried women
have acquired political rights, in cer
tain Territories a sullrago equal to
that enjoyed by men has been con
forced on them. In some States thoy
may vote for certain otllcers and hold
certain olllces. Everywhere there Is a
growing tendency to enlarge tho polit
ical rights of all women, as there Is to
enlarge tho civil rights of married
women,
SHU more striking has born the
opening of a vast and varied sphere
for tho occupation of women, in lit
erature they have come to the front in
largo numbers. In trade and Industry
countless thousands aro employed.
Thoy aro found In office and store, lr
shop and factory. A largo proportion
of tho box have coasod to bo depend
ents. They have beconio wugo-aarn-era
and frelf-supporters. They aro re
spected and honored for
tho necessities of llfo
their own livelihood.
And this vast army
battling with
and earning
of employed
women and
crease with
Y. Herald.
girls is destined to In
ovory coming your. N.
Florida people can hold their own
In tho way of titles. Tho Palatka
Herald romiirkst Yesterday wo made
it our business to keep a record of tho
number of men in our town holding
some sort of title, and In loss than
three hours tho figures showed up six
Generals, flftoou Colonels, eight
Majors, nineteen Captains, ninety-eight
fudges, nine doctors und only twelve
privutos, and thoy wuro defeated can
JltJutcs for office."
HANGING FEELS GOOD.
Bo Say a Young Man Who Ha Oona
Through the Experience.
I icarnod from tho hotel clerk horc,
Bays a Now York Herald correspondent
at Elmira tho othor day, that a young
plumber doing business on tho prin
cipal street had once been hanged, and
when cut down was thought to bo dead.
Hero seemed a good ehanco to inves
tigate from first hands tho tortures of
tho operation which has relieved the
State of so many of its ornamental
citizens.
This young man's namo is Miles
Doyle. Ho is a fine, strapping fellow,
a member of Assemblyman Hush's
crack Twenty -sixth Company. Ho has
always resided in Klmira, where his
parents wcro among tho first settlers
long before it became a city.
Tho event which culminated In his
hanging happened 11 vo years ago. and
at the time attracted much attention
from tho local press, although his de
scription of his feelings while dang
ling by the neck was never recorded.
It was a school-boy's escapade, While
chasing a rabbit through tho grounds
of ox-Alderman Hughes, lie attempted
to run ovor a raised platform upon
which the housewives stand while
hanging clothes upon a revolving reel.
There is no date obtainable as to the
length of tlmo which ensued from tho
moment ho ran upon tho platform
and tho tlmo when a servant girl
opened tho kitchen door and was hor
rified to see a young man, his face
black and blue, dangling from the
ropo on this reel. One glanco at tho
distorted features convinced her that
tho youth was dead, but sho gavo a
shriek which called tho neighbors to
tho scene.
Ex-Spenkor JorcMcGuiro was among
tho first to arrivo, and with consider
able presenco of mind cut young Doylo
down and, with tho assistance of Mrs.
Hughes, procooded to resuscitate him.
At first It was thought llfo was extinct,
but in less than half an hour ho had
been sulliciently rcstorod to bo con
voyed to his home.
Such is tho narrativo of tho occur
ronco, all tho partlos named being
woll-known residents of this com
munity.
1 found young Doyle at his meteor's
jesidenco, lifJO Columbia street. Tho
young gentleman was making active
preparations to join his military com
pany. When I asked him what were
his feelings while hanging he replied:
"At first I experienced a slight
wrench In tho neck, but no pain fol
lowed It. 1 thought thou that I had
jumped from tho top of a high building,
and when goingdown 1 kept wondering
when I was going to alight. Gradually
tho air seemed to thicken, and thou I
thought I wasn't going to full any
further, but that something under mo
kept mo Hunting in the air. 1 could
hear distant music, and a wonderful
light Hashed through tho scene Hint
made tho whole place the most beauti
ful J had ever seen. I felt awfully
happy, and when 1 recovered my senses
my tlrst thoughts were of resentment
to tho rude persons who took mo away
from my beautiful vision.
"1 think hanging is about as happy
a death as one can choose, if he's got
to go."
A TANK
INCUBATOR.
New Wiiy of Hatching Chicks
for
the
riillmli'lplilii Market.
Not many spring chickens aro being
raised by incubators in Rorks County,
Pennsylvania, which clings to tho old
fashioned way. Hut Mr. Hoch. of Oloy,
mado a success In that lino and Intro
duced some now ideas. He makes his
own incubators. He runs two of thorn
this spring, tho ono having a capacity
of y.r0 eggs and tho other 100. His in
cubators aro heated with hot water,
tho tank being immediately ovor tho
top of tho drawer containing tho eggs.
Mr. Hoch claims that this Is far bettor
and safer than tho oil-lamp heat. Kaeh
day, two or three times, he taps off a
quantity of water and rolllls the tank
with boiling water, enough to keep the
temperature in tho egg drawer at 103
dogreos. When tho eggs have boon in
tho inoubator live or six days they aro
tested, and Mr. Hoch says ho can then
toll whether they aro fertile or not,
Tho sterile eggs aro thus removed and
tho good ones placed back In tho Incu
bator. At tho end of tho tlmo required
by a hatching hen three weeks tho
drawer Is full of chicks, nearly ovory
egg producing one.
"Hut whore do you got a mother
from to take care of tho chickens?"
asked an Kaglo representative.
Mr. Hoch replied that ho had a
building for this purpose called a
brooder-house. The building Is forty-
six feet long by ton wide and ten feet
high. The shlo toward tho cast slants
to within two feet of tho ground, and
Is supplied with windows which, by
means of a twlno and pulley on tho In
side, aro raised and lowered at will.
Thirty-six feet of tho house aro divided
into pens four feet wide, and in those
tho chicks aro placed as soon as
hatched. Tho lloor of tho house Is
double, with four Inehos of space be
tween tho two. In tho space Is a coll
of inch plpo and tho building Is heated
by tho hot-water system, Tho water
Is heated In tho ton-foot room at ono
end of the building. Instead of using
a stove, as others do, to boat tho water,
Mr. Hoch merely walled la a coll of
live one-Inch pipes ono foot long, with
u firoplneo beneath. In each four-foot
pen a small tin pipe protrudes about
two Inches above tho lloor. Over this
Is placed an ordinary stool with four
logs about three Inches long. Around
the outside of tho stool Is tacked a
piece of calico, which hangs nearly to
tho lloor. Under this stool tho chicks
gather and are as comfortable as under
tho wings of a hou and out of danger
of luseow. Reading (Pa.) Kaglo.
EAGLE VERSUS TIGER.
The I'lnasant Kxprrlrnne of a Tanks
Tourist Ht Monte Carlo.
I entered tho gaming saloon immedi
atoly after a gentleman who had the
air of a Yankee, nnd was no littlo sur
prised to notice an official, in swell uni
form, approach tho American, and
with a snrug of tno shoulders In puro
trench style, Intimate that visitors aro
not allowed to wear their hats while
within the precincts of that sacred room
Of course, the "wide awako" was im
medintely put into a place for safe
keeping. From this littlo incident, the
Yankee was very much observed; but
In tho course of thirty minutes ho be
came quite a hero. He soon approached
tho roulette table, and observed the
play very closely, but apparently
could not make up his mind to venture
and, in succession, he made a tour of
all tho rouletto tables, but did not stake
oven a livo-franc piece, which is tho
smallest coin accepted. Finally, ho
had his attention quite riveted to tho
gaming table whero "Trcnto ct Quar-
anto is the order of tho day. This
game is worked by a distribution of
ordinary playing cards. Hero the
minimum stake is a Napoleon, and
piles of gold aro laid all over the
table. Our Yankee friend inquired tho
highest stake tho croupier would al
low to bo placed on the table, and was
informed by a gentleman standing close
to him that tho amount was nearly
equal to live hundred pounds in English
monoy. 1 may here remark at tins
gamo no odds are given; therefore the
winners receive the exact sum staked
ol course, in addition to tlie monoy
ventured. " oil. ' said our Yankee
visitor, "I guoss I'll go for tho swag;
and go ho did; and, to tho amazemont
of tho entire company, he camo off
winner. Tho first winnings wcro cool
ly placed in his pocket, leaving his
first stake on tho table for another von
ture. Tho cards woro again dealt out,
and again ho was on tho successful
color. Onco more tho winnings wore
placed In safe keeping.
Ry this time, tho American was
man to be envied, and others followed
his example. The third venture had
an immonse pilo of notes and gold on
the samo color that tho man from the
Now World had been so lucky with
and again it proved tho trump card,
and mdeh to tho umuzomont of players
in othor parts of the saloon, u hearty
cheor greeted this announcment, and
tho "bank" was broken. Rut those
who are acquainted with Monte Carlo
well know that tho breaking of the
! bank is only of short duration viz.,
I whilst the croupier goes to headquar-
tors for another supply of the "ready."
On the croupier's return, down went
tho Yankee again and again, until he
ho had made hazards ten times, and
each time to the fullest extont allowed
by tho rules of tho establishment; and
his extraordinary run of fortune mado
him tho winner each timo. The period
had now arrived for a. change of
croupiers, which takes place at regu
lar intervals during the day. Our hero
of the hour, noticing this move, and
not quite understanding its purpose,
turned to tho rotlring croupiers and
remarked, "Thank you, gontlemou;
this is the first time I have had tho
pleasure of playing this game, but I
assure it shall ho tho last." And he
quietly retired from tho room, a richer
man by nearly fi.OOO pounds than when
ho entered about half an hour previ
ously. Liverpool Post.
FLORIDA'S WHITE ANTS.
How
tho llusy Inscot Assist Nature
in
Her Processes of Change.
Ono warm morning, after a hoavy
rain during tho night had saturated
tho ground, as I wont to tho well,
caught sight of my favorite toad squat
in tho grass, covered with winged ants,
and darting out his tongue to keep a
place clear about him. Ruttheoncom
log crowd swarmed around and ovor
him. Ho never winked, though thoy
walked heedlessly across his oyos, on
his nose, anywhere to get a point ol
vantage from which to take night
Soon tho air was full of them up to
great height, going in all directions
and rising from ovory stump and do
caylng log of wood. Somo stumps and
partly buried masses of wood were
white with them, a constant stream
from boneath tho ground clambering
up higher over ono another in their
struggles to get up and take flight
Whero were thoy all goinr? Whor-
over they brought up against a treo, n
house, stump or bit of wood, their
lllght ended, and by an instantaneous
and amusing twist of tholr littlo bodios
tho wings woro thrown off and thoy
started by tho shortest route for tho
ground. Somoln tholr seemingly aim
loss tlight would strike a piece of wood
or a tree within a dozen foot of the
starting point, but off wont tholr wings
with a jerk, and down thoy travolod.
hat is tho meaning of this? hy.
aro these littlo beings so intent pn dis
trlbuting thoinsolves overywhero? No
wonder ovory piece of wood under
ground, or even lying upon its surfaco,
is inhabited by its colony of termites,
oaoh busy for itsolf in eating and liv
ing, but carrying out the wonderful
nnd, in this southern climate, rapid
procoss of change, destruction and new
forms of life. No sooner docs a troo
fall to tho earth than myriads of these
white ants find a homo mid food in It,
nnd so hasten its destruction. If a
stake is driven to support a lily or
tuberose it will shortly bo set upon by
these busy consumers, and you will
aoou find it prone or ueoding support
rathor than giving It. Living wood
they do not choose. American Agri
culturist. On a roeont day In Pittsburgh thora
woro so many funerals that liverymen
were unable to bupplv tho demand for
ourriai'ei.
TOLD BY THE WAVES.
I "was u child, but tho sen was old.
Gray ami old wus the roaring sen,
When tlrst tils mighty waters rolled
At my restless feet nnd sang to mo:
I an n child, hut tho wishing waves
In their trailing Brief or Iticlr lltful play,
Culled my mime In the hollow caves,
And told me stories of yesterday.
Of u strange old time, 1 know not when,
Of a distant land, I know not where!
Of a Home beyond tho thoughts of men.
And beyond the reach of my fondest pray'r
I was a clnlil, but the (,'r.ij old sea
Told of a time that was long of yore
Told of a past Kternlty
Like the great Infinity before.
Long have I trodden his beaches bare.
Gathered his sea-weeds brown and wild,
Scattered his spray from my waving hair
As though 1 were still ti little child.
Hut now no more does the ocean tell
His mystic tales of the Pust to nie,
For 1 hear In his ceaseless surge and swell
The call of u far Futurity.
Arthur I... Salmon, in Once a Week.
J. 11 U lJJUlllVU JiUL'iJUy J-i
It Is Inconvoniont to Inhont from
Living People
.fames Wallace, a salesman in tho
iry goods store of Messrs. Fog it .Mil-
kit, was electrified one morning by re
viving the following letter:
Sill: In accordance with the provisions of the
will of my late client, Mr. Anthony Wallace, I
im directed to Inform you that you have fallen
lie r to the sum of 11 f ty thousand dollars, not
payable, however, till the end of the year. In
the meantime, you will rece.ve the dividends
quarterly. As the money Is Invested securclv
t e glit per cent., this will amount to fourtliou
ainl dollars annually. I send you a check for
i thousand dollars la advance, suppoing that
vou may llnd Its present u.o desirable. Yours
respectfully, John I'oun, Attorney at Law.
Tho delight of James Wallace in re-
reiving this epistle may be Imagined.
Hitherto he had been confined to a snl
nry of six hundred dollars a year,
which, of course, had computed him to
live in a modest manner.
"Fifty thousand dollars! Four thou
and dollars a year! Isn't it glo
rious? Won't I make things Hy?"
What do you mean by making
things ily?" inquired his cousin, John
Wallace, who was employed in the
same establishment.
"Moan, my dear fellow? 1 mean to
enjoy llfo. That's what I mean."
"Don't you enjoy it now?"
"How can I, cooped up in this shop
til my timo? No, the first thing I
shall do will be to discharge old Fogg
nnd .Millet. My days of slavery are
over."
I suppose you will go into some
other business?''
Then you supposo wrong. With
mi income ol lour thousand dollars a
ear I don't need to be tied to busi
ness.
1'hon you will devote yourself to
somo study and cultivate your mind?"
Nothing of tho kind. I toll you 1
mean to enjoy life."
"I hope you will in tlie right way."
"Not in your way. You're too
steady-going for me. My plans are
not arranged, except that 1 shall go to
the Rollevillo Hotel to board, and next
cok give a grand blow-out in honor
of my inheritance. Will vou come?"
"I won't promise. Might it not bo
more proper, considering Uncle An
thony's recent death, to postpone it?''
Not a bit. 1 didn't know much of
him. I haven't seen him since I was a
hoy. Ry the way, I wonder ho dtdut
leave you something."
He had a right to dispose of his
property as ho pleased."
"Well, If you don't complain, I don't.
That is certain."
.lames Wallace lost no time in wait
lug upon his employers, and tendering
in a very cavalier manner his resigna
tion of the clerkship which ho hold.
"1 congratulate you, Mr. Wallace,
on your prospocts," said Mr. Fogg.
"If you should dotormino to go into
business for yourself, Mr. Millet and
niyso f will bo glad to assist you with
any advice in tho selection of goods or
on other points."
"I shall not go into business, " said
tho young man. "I havo had enough
of it."
This was all tho satisfaction his em
ployers received for their disinterested
offer.
.James Wallace lost no time in estab
lishing himself in handsome rooms at
tho Hellovllle Hotol, which ho refur
nished in a costly manner. At tho end
of a week ho Issued Invitations for his
"grand blow-out," as he called it.
About fifteen young men were invited,
his cousin among thorn. John Wal
lace thought It might bo churlish to
refuse, and accordingly aceoptwl tho
invitation, but withdrew at half-past
ten o'clock, finding tho entertainment
fast degenerating into a drunken revel.
Tho remainder kept it up till nearly
morning, and few of them wore in any
condition for business tho next day.
James Wallace, bolng under no such
necessity, did not riso till two o'clock
In the afternoon.
As might bo expected, his bill "for
furniture added to tho expense of his
entertainment, consumed entirely tho
thousand dollars which had boon sent
him and all this in ton days. How
ever, the fact of his Inhorltanco boinc
known, ho found no dllllculty in ob
taining credit any where.
Having been accustomed to having
his tlmo fully employed, ho found in
his present idleness that It hung heavi
ly on his hands. His associates not
bolng in independent circumstances,
were occupied in tho day tlmo. In the
evening, howovor, a coterio gathoret'
In his rooms, where wiuo and oiirim
were always provided.
I shouldn't think yir llfo would
bo very satisfactory," said his Cousin
John to him ono day.
"1 wotililu t exchange with you at
any rata John."
lot 1 think am happier than
you."
J "Ynit find voce haonlness in sL&T-
ery and drudgery I don't," rejoined
James.
"In whnt. then?"
"In independence, and plenty of
monoy."
"I am glad if you havo plenty of
money. I supposo you my;ht bo ex
ceeding your Income.
"Well. supposo I have. Shan't T
havo a pile coming in at the end of tho
year?"
"I am afraid that will only lead to
fresh extravagance on your part"
"I think.it will be some tlmo bef.oro
I am a candidate for tho poor house."
"It ought to be; but I'll toll you
what, James, though you have fifty
thousand dollars, and I have saved
only four hundred, I will guarantee,
in case you do not change you course,
that at tho end of ten years I will bo
the richer of tho two."
"What's four hundred dollars?" ex
claimed James, contemptuously.
"Not much, I grant, but it is a nest
egg, and as I may fairly count on an
incrcaso of salary, it will steadily
m-
crease."
"Very well, you may go your way
and I will go mine. Ry tho way. why
don't you drop in of an evening? I
generally have a little company."
"To bo frank, lam afraid I shouldn't
enjoy it, James. I usually spend my
evenings in reading. It is all tho tlmo
I have, and I don't like to lose it."
At the end of six months James
Wallace had not only spent his semi
annual income, but as much more, so
that ho was now two thousand dollars
in debt. This did not trouble him
much, however. He thought of the
fifty thousand dollars, and had al
ready formed plans for disposing of it.
One morning about this time or
afternoon rather for it was ono o'clock
James Wallace was told that a gen
tleman was below who wished to seo
him.
"Show him up," t-aid tho young man.
An old gentleman, apparently about
sixty-live, in an old-fashioned costume,
was ushered in by the, servant.
James Wallace had given an enter
tainment tho evening bofore, lasting
till a late hour, and tho effects were
plainly perceptible iu his haggard face
as he leaned negligently against tho
mantel, smoking a cigar.
Just behind him was an ornamental
French clock, and tho entire apart
ment was elegantly furnished.
"I come from Mr. Podd," said tho
old gentleman, very quietly. "Ho has
received si request from vou to ad
vance a portion of tlie money you
woro to receive at tho end of the year,
lie is surprised at such a request. Ho
supposed your income ample to defray
your expenses."
"Well," said tho young man, "I
have been at considerable expense to
fit up these rooms."
"Not over a thousand dollars, I
should say." said tho old gentleman
looking about him.
"That is about tho figure."
"And tho other thousand I should
suppose would have boon sufficient to
maintain you during six months."
"Then you supposed wrong. The
fact is, old gentleman, you don't know I
how much it costs to support a young
man in stylo."
"Pi-obably not; but it is a good rule
not to exceed your income "
"I don t want any advice," said
James, haughtily.
"I am afraid it will do vou littlo
good. May 1 inquiro tho amount of
your salary beforo tills inheritance
camo to you?"
"I starved on a salary of six hundred
dollar
"Do you know how much your cousin
receives?"
"Seven hundrod now. Ho did
re-
coivo the samo with mo last year."
"How much aro you in dobt?"
"About two thousand dollars."
"So you havo spoilt four thousand
or your entire year's income in six
months?"
"So it appears,
said .Tamos, non
chalantly.
"What am I to think of that?"
"Really, old gentleman, for I haven't
tho pleasure of knowing your name,
you appear to concern yourself consid
erably in my affairs. May I suggest
that I don t seo any necessity for iL"
"Perhaps you will when you know
my name."
"All right. Lot mo know it."
"1 am Anthony Wallace "
"What!" exclaimed tho young
starting as if ho had been shot,
unelo! Aro you not doad then?"
man,
"My
"I am as much alivo as over I was."
"I don't understand it," said tho
nophow, pale with affright.
"Then I will explain. I havo no
others to Inherit my property except
you and your Cousin John. Not wish
ing my monoy to bo wasted In oxtrav
aganco, and boing ablo to think of no
other ordeal. I took tho course 1 did.
To my mortification, I find that you
havo run a career of extravagance and
dissipation. I recall the inheritance,
nnd shall mako John, of whom I hoar
oxcelentroports, my heir. As for you, I
will pay your dobts and will allow
twolvo dollars a week forthreo months.
During that tlmo, I advlso you to ob
tain a situation. Aftor obtaining it I
shall watch your courso, and if it
meets my approval I will give you an
incomo of fifty dollars a month. That
is tho utmost you need expect. Had
things been different, you should havo
received the fifty thousand dollars
which Is but one-half of my prop
erty." James Wallnco's mortification was
extreme, but ho hnd no ono to blamo
but himself. His cousin received tho
inhorltanco, of which ho made a
worthy and noble use, nnd has sinco
Inherited balanoa of hU entire
nrflperty. .Tamei is still a clerk on a
Email salary. Horatio Alger, Jr.. in
Yankee Rlade.
A NOTED ALLIGATOR.
lie leather f.'njny Helng Shot at and U
Always mi Manil.
Rob of Dunn's creek is tho best
known to river men and tourists df
anv nllitrntor in Florida. He is one o!
tho largest saurlans iu the State, being
fourteen feet six inches in length,
while the largest alligator on tho St.
John's river of which any roliablo ac
count can be had is but .sixteen feet in
length. Dunn's ereck.k Rob's home, is
one of tho most beautiful of Florida
streams. It is twenty-two miles in
length and it is very deep, boing tho
outlet from Crescent lake into St.
John's river. It is a very crooked
stream, and is so narrow that in
places the boat will scrape tho banks,
It is lined with evergreens, which
meet overhead, forming a leafy bower
that is delightful to tho lover of the
picturesque. The windings are very
abrupt at times and the navigation is
exceedingly difficult. The steamer
Georgia. Captain Height commanding,
is the only boat now plying in its
waters. In one of tho shortest of Hie
many bends in Dunn's creek Hob has
had his home for many years, always
lying on the same log, and so close to
the ' log that ho passengers
can reach him with an oar.
Alligators usually become fright
ened and roll off from the logs
into the water at the approach of a
boat, but Hob is used to it, nnd ap
pears to wait for tho boat to come.
Every day for ten years he has been
seen on the same log, and as tho boat
approaches ho slightly turns his head,,
as though he were waiting for the
passengers to begin to shoot at him.
which they invariably do. After ho
is lired of this amusement ho dives
into tho water, to again reappear when
the boat returns. He has been shot
every day during the last decade, but
he never tires of it. and no ono has
over succeeded iu hitting him iu a
vulnerable place. He seems to under
stand that ho is there to act as a tar
get for the marksmen and throws his
throat close against the log and turns
his head so that the bullets can not
strike his eyes. He then knows that
he is -life. The log on which Hob suns
himself has beer, measured a number
of times, and his length is therefore
well known. During the ten years
since ho first began to' become famotia
he has grown two feet.
Captain Rright stated that ho be
lieved tho pilot would miss his loca
tion if Rob was to die. Ho is a certain
landmark, and passengers who tiro ac
quainted with tho stream will ask
"How many miles aro we from Rob?"
?n order to ascertain their where
abouts.
The log upon which ho lies has be
come known as Rob's log. and some
facetious passengers have made up
petitions to havo a post-office establish
ed there and Rob appointed as post
master, giving him as a surname that
of tho man after whom the crook was
called. Several petitions, it is said,
have been prepared, but so far as
heard from none have been presented
to the department; but if Rob's Land
ing. Hob Dunn, postmaster," is ovor
put in the "Postal Guide" it can be
known that no ono lives there and the
postmaster is a huge 'gator.
Hob's home is tlie half-way point be
tween Crescent lake and St. John's
river, and visitors to Florida should
not fail to see him. Captain Rright
slates that if thoy ever run short of
ammunition they will catch Hob and
take the bullets out of his back, whero
enough to stock a small storo must be
imbedded. Rob is not a myth. Ho
can be scon by any passenger who will
go up Dunn's creek, and hundreds of
tourists will testify as to his existence
and characteristics. Cor. St, Louis
Globe-Democrat.
CONSOLABLE WIDOWS.
A Itereavml Wlfo Who Was Only Too
Thankful for ICeli-iise.
Once I was with a friend of mine
when the news of her husband's doath
was brought to her. Ho had been
killed in a railway accident. Sho was
shocked by tho news and the dreadful
suddenness of it. and turned so white
that I thought sho was going to faint.
1 mado her sit down on a sofa that was
near, and sho whisnored in mv oar:
"Get them all out of tho roflm, Madgo,
I am so afraid thoy will seo the joy in
my lace that I feol in my heart!" Ho
had been a brute to her and to his
children. He used ofton to knock tho
littlo ones down in his rages, and,
though his wlfo never told mo so, I
fancy that ho more than onco had laid
his hand upon her by no means "In tho
way of kindness."
Now, was not that a releaso from
misery for her and her children? Thoy
aro happy as possible now. and when
any one suggests a second marriage to
her sho smiles iu a wav that a fow of
her friends understand thoroughly.
Leila, our American friend, is great
on the subject of vidows. "1 know,"
sho says, "that socioly expects wid
ows to sit on their husbands' coffins
and mako ovory body uncomfortable,
and society Is just tho first to turn and
rend them for doing it. Just you wait
till I'm a widow; I'll bo a leal smart
one. 1 his is the sort of cap I'll wear."
and sho sketches her own pretty head,
wun a cap about two inches snuaro on
tho top and a pair of "weepers"
strotmlngon the air behind! "There!
sbnu't 1 look nice? Oh. girls! I wish
I'd been boru a widow. Hint 1 do!"
Madgo," in Loudon Truth.
During the past twenty voars thcro
havo been granted la the United State
m71C divorces.