The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, January 14, 1899, Image 1
TRI WEEKLY EDITION WINNSBORO, S.C;, JANUARY 14 ,1899, SALSE 34
SING A SONG.
V you'll sing a song as you go along,
In the face of the real or the fancie- wrong:
In face of the doubt if you'll fight it out.
And show a heart that is brave and stout;
If you'll laugh at the jeers and refuse the
tears,
You'll force the ever-reluctant cheers
That the world denies when a coward cries,
To give to the man who bravely tries:
And you'll win success with a little song
If you'll sing the song as you go along!
If you'll sing a song as you plod along,
You'll find that the busy, rushing throng
Will catch the strain of the glad refrain;
That the sun will follow the blinding rain:
That the clouds will fly from the blackened
sky:
That the stars will come out by and by:
And you'll make new friends, till hope de
seends
From where the placid rainbow bends;
And all because of a little song
If you'll sing the song as you plod along'
If you'll sing a song as you trudge along,
You'll see that the singing will make you
strong;
And the heavy load and the rugged road.
And the sing and the stripe of the tortuous
goad
Will soar with the note thet you set afloat;
That the beam will ehange to a trifling mote;
That the world is bad when you are sad,
And bright and beautiful when glad,
That all yon need is a little song
If you'l.~sin the song as you trudge along !
-Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.
SI8Y O[IDE SPOKERIJ
By MES. X. cORBET-SETMOUR.
Spook being the Flemish word for
ghost, it will 4e seen at once that I
am going to tell the story of a house
given up to that very unpopular kind
of tenant.
The visitor to West Flanders will
not find the Spookerij without a little
painstaking. It stands far back from
the road running between the ancient
city of Bruges and the modern water
ing place of Blankenberghe. It will
be reached by first following the
course of the canal and then as sud
denly abandoning it for a short scut
across several potato and cabbage
fields.
The Spookerij is not colored, ac
cording to local custom, either a pale
green, a boiled shrimp,for a light blue
-tint ; it is only dirty white. A, low
pitched, rambling dwelling it is : just
four or five rooms on the ground floor,
the same on the floor above, and a
grenier at the top. In England it
would be a little farmhouse ; in Flan
ders it ranks as chateau-or it did so
rank-before the spooks came into pos
Pon.
We, who were old residents, knew
it as Chateau Rosendael. Nowadays,
should a chance visitor pass that way
aud make inquiries, he will be told
thatit'isithe Spookeri.
The tall, spare form of an English
man named Geoffrey Langdale used to
be seen in the garden which separated
the ho.use from the fields that sur
round.it upon three sides, but only
after sunset. He did not court the
sunshine; it was kept ont of the house
by venetian blinds duing spring and
summer.
L- The two elderly servants who were
Mr. Langdale's sole attendants said
that "the Master" shut himself up
with his books for companions, and
only caine forth into the air for an
hour or so of an evening and in all
-weathers.
Why he had chosen to expatriate
himself and settle in this solitary
corner of West Flanders, no one pre
tended to know. Every one was at
liberty to hazard a gness, bat there
was absolutely no means of ascertain
ing if snch a guess was right.
Therefore it was settled that Geof
frey Langdale had reasons of his ow a
for loving this absolute retirement,
and would never probably reveal what
those reas';ns might be. After renting
the place for one year, he purchased
it at a very low price.
The servants, man and wife, frankly
admitted having taken the situation
for the sake of the high wages offered;
otherwise they wou~ild have preferred
li~e in England.
They knew nothing whatever of Mr.
Laughae's previous history; they an
swered an advertisement which had
appeared in the Daily Telegraph, and
at a subsequent interview the matter
was5 arrangu
Letters-so they said when ques
tioned-never came for Mr. Langdale
in a general way; there was always
one, however, which arrived upon the
fifth day of every month, and bore the
Taondon Ostmark.
After its receipt, Conlson or his
wife were sent with a check to the
English bank, which has existed for
many a long year in Bruges for the
convenience of residents and passing
Visitors.
There was no stint in the domestic
arrangements of the little household,
b)ut neither was there any extrava
gnce Geoffrey Langda!e was himself
an alstainer and a very frugal eater;
lhe C'id not entertain guests and be
n e.-e: gave anything in charity. Somne
2one sOlV lipp~ed through his fingers in
]bmprchase of books, for he was
continnally adding to his library;
other wise, Coulson could got imagine
what he did with those mornthly
efeks.
Not that these servants were spa
cially given to gossip concerning their
master: indeed, there was but little
chiauce of it in a country where they
-could not speak more than a word or
two of the language.
But on market days, in Bruges.
Mrs. Coulson had some chance of con
;versation in one or other shop where
Ehglish is spoken; her hnsband, also,
End just a few intimates in the town
with whom to exchange a few harmless
co~nfidenices. In this way, then, some
ofe p)eeniarities of Geoffrey Lang
dale~ becamue known.
Tw~o or three of his compatriots
p acked up the courage to call on him,
bnt to all guests entrance seemed
ricty prohibited. Coulson could
nly shake his gray head regretfully,
and in a voice of low toned apology
utter the formala
"Mr. Lani..ale does not receive."
The ultra curious would now and
again traip out as far as the little
chateau on a fine summer evening
and linger by the gate with a hope of
catehing just a glimpse of the English
recluse Those whose efforts were
successful agreed that he must be
about sixty years of age, and that his
appearance seemed to indicate a sad
story connected with his past life.
Several years went by. Then came
the event which stirred those sleepy
districts into passing excitement and
gave birth to a mystery which has not
been-probably will not be-cleared
up.
A visitor had preseited himself at
Chateau Rosendael and when Coulson
appeared his explanation was waved
aside with the remark
"Stand back. I am expected."
In subsequent examinations and
cross-examinations before the judicial
authorities the old servant always
made the statement that this visitor
"didn't look like any one human."
When pressed to explain this opinion
he added that he was "more like
somebody who had been dead and
buried." However, he had handed in
a folded paper, which was carried to
Mr.n Laugdale in his study, and,
wonder of wonders! he was instantly
admitted without aword of complaint.
It was then late afternoon, but not
dark, for the month was August. Both
servants deposed to the absolute calm
which reigned in the house; they did
not even hear the sound of voices.
After about an hour there were steps
along the hall, and the door opened
and closed, as though the visitor had
taken his leave.
.he room was empty when Coulson,
according to- custom, carried in the
tray with afew sandwiches and a glass
of water-the master's invariable sup
per. But writing materials lay on the
table, books were scattered about as
usual, and concluding that Mr. Lang
dale was strolling in the garden, the
servant withdrew and presently re
tired to bed.
Next day, there was no sign of
Geoffrey Langdale. Up-n a half sheet
of paper he had written, ' I give and
bequeath all of which I die possessed
to-." There the "will" ended.
The police were of opinion that the
hermit had drowned himself., and the
canal was dragged-with no result. A
search was made for many and many
a mile round that part of the country,
but the master of the chateau was un
discoverable either alive or dead.
The next monthly letter was sent
back through the postoffice; the Coul
sons packed up their personmd belong
ings and departed in haste from the
scene of so unpleasant an occurrence.
The civil authorities closed the house
and left it to its fate. Thus by slow
degrees it dwindled from -a chateau
into a Spookerii.
The Flemish are very superstitious.
They firmly believe that Geoffrey
Langdale was only a spirit sent back
to earth in human form to expiate
some crime of early life. They say
that the mysterious guest must have
breutght him his release and summons
-w~hether to celestial regions or other
wise has often been the subject o
heated argument.
But others think that he is not
really dead, and some day may see fit
to make a reappearance.
My story-so far as it goes-is true.
SEA-BRED CARR|ER PiGEONS.
HoXw to Acquire a Gooud 5ervice b~y Veath
ered1 essn:ers From Ship to Shore.
Captain yohn R. Bartlett, United
States navy.retired, chief of the coast
signual service during the war with
Spain, has reported to the department
oni the value of carrier pigeons for
signalling purposes. In substance he
r epor ts:
"That experimienits be made for the
purpose of training homningpigeons in
conn1ection with coast signalling, for
the reason that they ofTer a solution of
the prloblemn of communication with
vessels in the off shore patrol fleet.
These vesseis would most probably
operate in districts having established
bases, and at sneh a distance from the
coast and from the inshore patrol that
visual signalling would be impossible.
A homing pigeon service cannot be
improvised and be of any real value.
The birds must be systematically and
patiently trained for a year or twvo,.
not only to equip the cotes with trained
carriers for thbat locality, but to far
nish a stock with sea-bred breeders.
Experimental cotes should be located
at the bases of naval coast defense
d~stricts, a small vessel provided wvith
a carrier pigeon outfit and an officer
de'aiied to develop this means of com
munication and superintend the sys
tematic training of the birds. Unless
this is done with intelligence and
thoroughness for ct least a year it
wouid be useless to rely upon it at
all. Snehl a systemi could be very
economically in unrated and could
be maintained a. a comparatively
slight cost. A si-nple routine of
drills, exercises and reports b)ased
upon our recenxt experieucos could be
readily puit into ol'eratio:1 and small
rewvards 0r approp)riate ratings would
stimulate proticiency. Tnm times of
peace such a service would be of con
stant convenience to this department
and to the mnaratimie interests of the
country, .and the constant practice
would prepare the men for the enmer
gencies of war.
Attention is called to the fact that
every other maritime nation has such
a system, generally mneh more elabo
rat- than the one herein proposed, or
ganized oy and oye:ated under its
naval or mnaratimte dtepartment.
Thme World's Locomoctive,. I
-One h undired and nine thousand ho
comotives are at present running in
various countries. Europe has 63,000;
America,40J,000); Asia, 3t00; Australia,~
THE BOYS CALLED HIM MIKE.
It Grieved Ilis Mother, but the"Old Man"
Thoua-ght It Was smart.
"Where's the boy?" iuquired Mr. 1
Spadina, cheerfully, and it occurred
to him that it was about time for his.
7-year-old son to bid him good night.
"The boy," replied Mrs. Spadina
severely, "is in bed."
"Not sick?"
"No L :s not sick," said Mrs. Spa
dina, in a tone that implied some
thing even worse. "I've been wait
ing for an opportunity to tell you all
about it, but have not had a chance
until now. It just means this, that
we must move away from this neigh
borhood. It's no place to bring up a
bcy, and I just won't stand it. We
must get a house in some part of the
city where Harold will have nice chil
dren to play with."
"But what's the matter?"a-ked the
husband with concern. "What has a
happened?"
"Well, I'm telling you just as fast r
as I can. This afternoon when the
doorbell rang I was in the hall and
answered the door myself, for I saw a
boy there. On opening the door the
boy said to me: 'Please, can Mike
come out and play ball?' I told him 1
that we had no Mike here, and said t
that he had called at the wrong house.
'No,' he said, 'I mean Mike, you know
-your boy, Mike. I guess you call
him Harold,' he said.
"Now, what do you think of that?
Well, you may be sure I told that boy
what I thought of him, and he began
to whimper and said that Harold bad
licked him-that's just what he said
Harold had licked him yesterday for
not calling him Mike, and everybody
called him Mike at school. And its
worse than that, for they call him
Mike Spad-not Harold Spadina, but
Mike Spad."
"Well, upon my word!" exclaimed
Mr. Spadina.
"I marched out 'into the dining
room, where Harold was eating some
bread and butter," continued Mrs. r
Spadina, 'and I went for him, and do a
you know that child sat up in his chair
and said that he'd rather be called
Mike than Harold, and, that since his
chums had started to call him Mike
Spad, the other gang's afraid of him.
Well, I just sent him off to bed at 5
o'clock, and he's there yet. Mike
Spad," she added with intense feeling u
on each word.
"The little scamp!" exclaimed Mr. .
Spadina.
"We have been talking of getting a
better house in some other part of the
city for a long time," said Mrs. Spa
dina, "and I'm sick and tired -of this
place. We can't send him over to
that school any longer, with its rowdy
naaes and its gangw and i figting.
Harold has clearly ieen fighting, for
the boy said as much."
The father was looking silently at
the ceiling. He generally thought
matters over before giving his deci
sion, and Mrs. Spadina cautiously
went upstairs, where she found the Id
formidable Mike Spad sound asleep
and with the clothing kicked off him.
And Mr. Spadina said: "At school e
they used to call me Bump." And
presently he smiled and, knocking the i
ash off his eigar,he chuckled: "There's I
good stuff in Mike. I wonder how
big the b)oy was that he walloped!"
And the important point is that of ~
the son, the mother and the father,
one was as true to human nature as
either of the others.t
Doinz Himself Proud.
The young man had applied for the
position of country correspondent.
He promised the "'rural" editor that
he would send in all important news
once a week. He was a bright young t
man, and above his celluloid collar i
the soap or. his face shone.
The office had great expectations. ~
Ah, but alas !
The young man's name was Robert i
Edgar Billson-.
The following is his first breezy
letter:t
"Last evening R. E, Billsoa went ,
to Squtown to visit relatives. t
"Early Tuesday morning Robert E. e
Billson found that the hen-house had i
been robbed. There was gr-eat ex- t
citement in the village to know who e
the culprits were. -
A most delightful surprise party i
was given to R. Edgar Billson ont
Wednesday eve. There was dancing I
and oysters. t
"Popular 'Bob' Billson is thinking
seriously of going to Cuba.
"The engagement of Robert Edgar
Billson to the belle of the village,
Miss Mathilde Hayrick, has been an
nounced.
"'Ed' Billson will take charge of
his father's store while the latter is in
New York."
Ever-ybody in town is now wonder- t
ing who the bright new correspondent i
of the Daily Hustler is. -New York
Journal. t
A Relic of Emtin Pash1n.
A relic of Emnin Pasha's last expedi- t
tion has just been received by Messrs.
Wellcomae and Co. It ':ousists of a
tabloid medicine chest, which was r-e
covered from the natives ntear Kenia, I
in the Aruwhinmi county. The case I
was taken Iby Ar-abs after the murder
of Emin in )ctober, 18S:r2. and, after a i
caeer (f adventure that innust have,
tried it sorey, it passe: into the po's
session of Baron D~hanis. the ' on- t
mader of the Congo F-eo State t
troops. when lhe defeated1t he (ougo
Arabs at Kasoigo. Mesas Bur
roughs & Welicome send us n>
graph of the chiest, whib hitto-:. at
little battered. still siwws~ ch- in I
Roman c-apitals ne na ;'.-in I
Pah;. ch tabioidh-, ho'wemv- w
and se.: -au o:yy hop)e that' th' muri
lers of E-itm l'asha :mf' r'red oti]c
jusice by (cous::m~ng the.n as~ >:ie- '-f
cies. The last s-tate of me c:::e ei
erve ws a vilinge m-asaUry chest.-- i
T io"n ('h uenn .E
WOODFORITS ESCAPE.
IOW THE BULLFTCHTEFt'S SAVED
THE EX-MINISTER'S LIFE.
Lucky listake at a Funeral - The Ef
feet of It-A 'Mob, a 1zow of Drawn
Swc-Is and a Itetreat - Spanish Grati
tude in Evidence in the Nick of Tine.
General St wart L. Woodford, for
ier United States minister to Spain,
wes his life to an act of courtesy that
e once paid to a Spanish toreador, or
mlifighter. There is no moral in the
tory. as the act of courtesy was en
ire;v unintentional and the toreador
ras dead, says the New York Com
aercial Advertiser.
One afternoon during the Spanish
Lmerican crisis, a few weeks before
ar wts declared, General Woodford,
eccmpanied by his wife and niece,
rent for a drive in the embassy -car
iage through the streets of Madrid.
L noted Spanish toreador had died a
ew days previously, and it happened
hat his funeral was being held tid.
nay. Owing to his:wonderful success
a killing bulls the man had become a
'opular idol and his funeral was at;
ended by ali -lasses of Spanish so
iety, even the grandees sending their
arriages to swell the procession.
Miss Woodford having expressed
he wish to see the funeral, the gen
ral ordered his coachman to drive to
certain point where the procession
rold pass. When they arrived there
b was found that a great part of the
rocession had 'already gone by.
ieueral Woodford ordered the driver
o turn about and go home, but the
aan misunde; stood him and drove on.
le aftempted to drive right through
he funeral procession.
Such an act is not considered good
aste in. any European country, and
a Spain it is a heinous offence.
To make matters worse, General
Voodfor.l, owingto the unpleasant
elations then existing between Spain
nd the United States, was a marked
ian and by no means a popular one
ith the people. The embassy car
lage was one of the best known ye
icles in Madrid.
Realizing how the mistake would
i misinterpreted by the populace,
reneral Woodford directed his coach
in, when he had reached the middle
f the street, to turn and accompany
he procession, intending at the first
pportunity to leave the procession
nd drive to his residence. The op
ortnnity did not offer.
Owing to the dense crowds that
ined the sides of the streets the min
ter was compelled to accompany the
aneral to the cemetery, intend ing to
emain there until the funera) party
.ad gone and the streeig were onee
iore quiet.
After waiting for about an hour
Ley started to leave the cemetery
nd go to their carriage. At the gate
he general found to his surprise that
compauv of the civic guard was
rawn upon either side of the path
ading to the carriage. As the Am
ricans approached the officer in com
iand of the guard gave an order and
nediatelv the swords of the men
ose in salute. Wondering what on
arth it all meant, the general re
Lned the salute and re-eatered his
arriage: He passed several soldiers
ud oicers on tha way back and his
stonishment was intensifie3, for
liey, too, stopped, faced the carriage
n saluted as it passed.
Sh rtly after he had returned to
ie embassy he learned the reason of
11 the unusual respect that had been
hown him. A deputation of torea
ors called upon him and thanked -
im for the honor that he had done
lieir profession in attending the~
aneral of their chef d'armes in per
on instead of only sending only his
arriage. They assured him that they
ould never forget .it, and that their
eling of affection was shared gene
ally by the people of Madrid.
The toreadors were appreciative;
he peop)L of Madrid were not. A
reek or so afterward, when interna
ional matters had almost reached a
liuax and nearly al .the Americans
ad left Madrid, a mob formed for
he purpose of destroying the Ameri
an embassy and, it was feared, to
ssassinate the minister and his famn
ly. The toreadors, who live in a cer
amin prt of the town by themselves,
Leard of the intention of the mob and
hey resolved to frustrate it.
They got together and went to Gen
ral Woodford's house to assure him
f their protection and advised him
o send for military aid. Then they
rent out to do their part. They
alked down the street a few blocks,
rew the terrible little whip-like
words, in the use of which they are
o expert, formed a double line across
he street and waited. Tfhe mob came
.p saw the toreadors with their
words realy for uee and cheered
hem. Then they s'aw that the bull
ighters had their backs turned to the
mbassv and their swords pointed at
hemselves-and they halted.
They couldn't understand it.
The leading toreador explained
atters. He said that General Wood
rd had one ftaken the trouble to do
onor to dead toreador. He had
one with hiis wife anid fa-uily to the
nera in his carriage. and had driven
li the way to the cemetery as a mark
f respect. Thme toreadlors were going
:tec~t he Amerie:t i minister with
heir swords and lives if necessary,
ud adel the mob wima they wvere
ita to do abont it.
The wob stared. They looked the
readorsnu and dlown. at their faces
'd then at'their swords. Then they
itmer that <+eneral Woodford had
.xilitary protection night andI day.
rhe first Amerian life insurance
o fpy. the Presbyterian Ministers'
mnd was established in Philadelphia
a 1759, and is still in good condition
t ihe nag of 1?,9.
CARRIED A CORPSE 25 MILES
Singular Experience of Moose Hunters
in the Canadian Ensh.
George -1. Sinn has just returned to
Montreal,after a short business trip to
the Temiscamingue district in Canada,
during which lie had a thrilling ex
perience, never to be forgotten. It
was in connection with the accidental
killing of Mr.EdwardMinera wealthy,
manufacturer of Kingsville, Ontario,
highly respected in Montreal and
throughout Canada, and the champion
pigeon shot of the Dominion.
Mr. Miner, his brother and Mr.
Bennett Squire of Windsor, Ontario,
set out on a hunting trip, and were
soon buried in the woods thirty miles
from Temiscamingue. Mr. Squire
fired at a fine moose, wounding it,and
the enraged animal charged the
hunter,who attempted to fire a second
time with his repeating rifle. Some
thing was wrong, however, and the
weapon did not go off. Seeing the
danger of his friend, Mr. Miner
stepped forward, and and was in the
act of raising his rifle to fire at the
beast when Mr. Squire's gun went off,
the ball passing directly through Mr.
-Miner's head, killing him instantly.
The brother and unhappy friend
beene crazed with grief. They ,were
thTii-ty miles from the nearest railway
station, and there was absolutely no
means whatever of conveying the
corpse thither except by carrying it.
For twenty-five miles they carried the
body through the terrible wilderness,
and finally, exhausted and half fam
asheLt for want of food, they reached
the track at a small signal station,
seven miles from Temiscamingue sta
tion.
It was here that Mr. Sinn found
them. Utterly incapable of making
another move,the two gentlemen sank
to the ground, and with the body of
friend and brother between them
awaited the coming of assistance.
The circumstances were soon ex
plained to Mr. Sinn, and as quickly
s6sible he secured a handcart and
got the corpse and two men on board.
When they got to Temiscamingue it
was found that no trains wiere running,
so Mr. Sinn determined to take the
party on the ,car all the way to
Mattawa, where the body could be
prepared for burial. Getting two
men to help him M-r. Sinn started at
the lever, and the fearful journey of
forty-one miles was commenced. Mr
Squire and Mr. Miner were half be
side themselves with grief, and it was
with the greatest diffi qlty that Mr.
Sinn. kept them suffi tlv calm to
c, -ate the forty-one-mile run. A
-is small for four men to- ride
upon it, but when an extra man and a
corps -re ,added ~te difficulty of
Tien, oo, tle horror 'of the ride 'was
hEght ned by the inky darkness of
the -night.
As'laylight broke Mr. Sinn's efforts
increased, and his ha>S now show
the strain to -which they were sub
jected. At last the little car passed a
farmhouse, another and another, and
soon the depot, was reached. The
news quickly spread through Mattawa,
and while kind friends looked after
the suffering travelers the Odd Fel
lows took care of the body. it was
embalmed and sent to Kingsville for
burial. Mr. Miner and Mr-. Squire
could not find words sufficient to
thank Mr. Sinn for his goodness. He
was found at his office but not in any
to good a condition for work. When
asked about the matter he said: "I
have not much to say, I only did what
I thought to be my duty."
Why Her Visit Was Spoiled.
A young lady who is pretty well
known in Cleveland society recently
had as a yisitor a Miss Legge of B uf
falo. Miss Legge is a sweet, beauti
ful girl, and her Cleveland friend tried
to make her visit a pleasant one, but
she only partly succeeded in doing so.
'Tm sorry, Alice," the girl who had
done the entertaining said, when the
other got ready to return home, "that
you are deermined to go back so soon.
What's the matter, anyway ? You
don't seem to have had a good time at
all."
"Oh, I know it," Miss Legge re-.
pied, "but it hasn't been your fault,
dear. I'll never go away from home
again until l'm married.
"Why, whatever put such an idea
as that'in your head, you dear little
goose ?"
"Well," the Bufflulo girl sadly said,
"every time I am introduced to any
one he always looks blank for abou t a
minute and then says: 'I didn't quite
catch your name. What is it,please?"
When I get married and have a new
name I may feel like going out among
strangers, but until then I shall stay
right around where people know me."
-Cleveland Leader.
Seein:; Euzllet-t as They Fly.
"As every sportsman knows" said
an enthusiastic New.Orleans h::nter,"
"it is easy to see a rifle bullet in the
air, and those fired from the newv high
power guns are very curious to look
at. Stand a dozen yards to one side
of the mark andl let a friend blaze
away at any range with a small calibre
weapon. using the siuokeless powvder.
and von will see a strange. bluish
white streak the~ instant the bullet
strikes home. The streak is appar
etly at couple of inches wide and
several feet long. anud is more like a
flash of light than anyvthinig else 1 can
think of. With the old-fashioned
Remington or Sprin~gtield carbine the
bullet has the appearance of a long,
black rod, and I don't know why there
is such a difference in the optical illu
sion produced by the smaller calibre.
I have hear d some people deny that
the buillet cain be seen, but they are
e rimuch in error. It all depends
on 'getting the right viewpoint. A few
feet either way will render the missile
inisible, but the right spot is soon
fund by experiment, and after that
the thing is as plain as day.-New
Orleans Times-Democrat. .
SOUTH'S OLDEST COLONY
COMPOSED OF CHINESE AND OTHER
ORiENTAL SHRIMP FISHERMEN.
Hidden Away in the Labrynthine Bayous
of Louisiana - Their Habits Are Ie
credibly Simple and Semi-Savage -
Interesting Story of a Chinese Prince.
Hidden away in the labyrinthine
bayous of lower Jefferson parish,
Louisiana, and scattered about the
margins of Grand lake. Little lake
and the musically named Cheniere
Caminada is a strange colony, the
bare existence of which is practically
unknown. It numbers, all told, at
least 2000 people, three-fourths of
whom are Chinese and the rest Man
ila men and unelassifiable mongrels.
They live in brashwood camps near
the edge af the water, their habits
are incredibly simple and semi-sav
age, and their business is the catch
ing and drying of shrimp.
This singnlar settlement recently
came to the surface in some litigation
on the calendar of the New Orleans
courts over the ownership of a piece
of adjacent property, but the industry
has been quietly pursued, from time
out of mind, in almost unbroken iso
lation. Its product is never seen in
the New Orleans market, but is
shipped direct to San Francisco and
New York and consumed entirely by
the Chinese. At certain seasons the
shrimp are caught by the million in
rude hand nets and spread in layers
on platforms. built over the surface
of the water. The hot sun soon
shrivels them up and they become
t
desiccated. When thoroughly dry
they are brown and brittle and have a
sweet, nutty flavor that is far from
disagreeable. In this condition they
are packe 1 loosely in barrels holding
about 250 pounds each and sent to
native merchants on Mott and Doyers t
streets in New York and to the fa
mnvs Chinatown of 'Frisco. At ,.th
places they are in lively demand and C
are eaten either as condiments, with
out further preparation, or with a
curry of rice. Even American bar
barians find them very good.
The scene at the shrilnping c
is so strangely Oriental that it ii hard
for a visitor to realize that he is in
the neighborhood of a big American
city.
Secluded as they have been, the
litigation already referred to is not
the first event that has brought the
Chinese shrimpers to the attention of
New Orleans officials. About eIeven
years ago a tremendous row. was
raised at the postQffice over somein
known matter that was taintin -
mails with a- peculiars Sn
vdor. Thetraii abeing
the aura of a soap foundry, the gov
ernment sleuths were notgreatly over
worked in following it to certain mys
terious parcels, decorated all over J
with Mongolian hieroglyphics. t
The bundles contained dried shrimp,
prepared after a special and odorifer
ous formula and sent as tidbits to
friends of the colony. Needless to I
say, they were promptly confiscated
under the rules of the postal service,
but the mailing went on to a wild
chorus of public protest, until it was
stopped by a peculiar incident.
One day the superintendent was
passing his window just as a China
man dropped a tabooed parcel in the
slot. The official was a man of ac
tion. Grabbing the package, he
hurled it instantly at the retreating
Celestial, who turned just in time toI
stop it with his nose. The Chinaman
emitted a howl of anguish, and from
that day to this not a single shrimp
has ever irerfumned the mails.
But the most remarkable story con
nected with the shrimpers is that of
the Chinese prince. It is a true story,
and so curious in its details and so
grotesquely sinister in its denoument
that it might easily be elaborated into
a striking romance of Anglo-Oriental
life. However, the plain facts are
these:
About seven years a go a Chinese
princ5 of the blood came to New Or
leans for lii- health. He was not ill,
but he had reason for believing that
he might live longer if he removed
himself temporarily from the neigh
borhood of the court and enjoyed a
cmlete change of diet. Exactly
what these reasons were nobody
knows, for, like all Orientals, he kept
his own counsel strictly, but it was
hinted in the Chinese colony that he
had taken too active an interest in
politics and was regarded at Pekin as
an oil'ensive partisan.
Strangely enough, the news of his<
presence never got into the papers,
but there was no doubt whatever of
his genuineness. Those Americans <
who met him in connection with cer
tan business transactions found him
a cultured, sulperbly educated and
thoroughly ac'complishied man of toe
world. 1His offieial robes, which
formed part of an extensive luggage,
wee such gorgeous affaiirs as are sel-i
doia seen outside the sacred eireles cf<
the court. Tihey were made of silk of I
the wouiderful weave reserved for the
royal house, to counterfeit which<
means death. and were stilT wih inl
ti eate embiroidery. He had, besides<
a mltitudte of strange and beaiutiful1
t inket's. cavig in jade and ivory,
spledid fan. in li work as delicate
ais fio'. cask t's erns4ted w.th silver i
ilagree and on huded and one other1
things. all attesting his ta-te. posiuionI
and a lea:t former v~sh Eut in
vey b~usiae-s1ie gentlem?an and~ he
poe. .ded at ,ncee becni!e his exi ,e
by obtaiinig aA intore:nt in the largest
Ih :.pe. x Un ana.:I lake. He hi
the sag'ityI to atssum jch*iarge of the
books.i which hef kept with suich skill
tha: at t he ead or si~itunu his they
clealy demonastrated that lhe ows
the eti re pr. g~:ry and wae entitled
to the enth e pr..t of the seasoni. A
ong wranigie ei m e 1. MIr. Edgar 31.
Cahn of the then firm of ..oise 4
Cahn, was the attorney of the
shrimpers and his ofice was the scene
of interminable arguments, all ending
as they began, with the prince in pos
se:sion.
Such was the situation when one
ifternoon six stolid-looking Chira
ien filed into Mr. Cahn's presence.
They were the plundered partners,
tud without wasting time they made
i brief and pointed statement in choice
pigeon English.
"We are tired of American law,"
they said in substance.. "It is too
slow. Besides we have a society that
ittends to such matters. It is called
.he Highbinders. Possibly the prince
aas heard of this society. If not he
,ill hear from it shortly. Kindly con
ey him the message wiih our com
pliments. Good day."
The prince was sent for. He ar
:ived at 4 o'clock and listened to the
:ommunication with composure. At
o'clock he called again and made a
ettlement in fnfl. Next day he de
>arted and has never been heard of
;ince. It is understood, however,
hat there was a change in the politi
al situation in China and that he now
-esides at Pekin, where, judging from
iis shrimping adventure, he has
)robably prospered. Before leaving
ie gave some trinkets to a few friends,
vho still preserve them as. souveu-s
f a singularly able man.
LITTLE THING LOST THE GAME.
k Touchdown Saved by Grasping the
Loose Laces of an End's Canvas Jacket.
"Little habits of care!essness some
imes produce unexpected results,"
aid an old football man to a Sun re
>rter, "and a most unfortunate illus
ration of this occurred in a game
vhich we played against Harvard a
ozen years ago. Football was not
he game then that it is now, and al
hough I was a member of one of the
maller New England college teams,
ve usually won from Harvard on our
iwn grounds. Our best end rush was
6 man whom I may call Smith, and he
vas the most careless man I ever
new. He had lots of money and
8r* *-'-.Jta impos
a le to get him to train properiy,.Jut
lespite that he was always in betfer-..
ondition than the rest of us; He had
constitution of iron. H'e was so care
ess that he was in hot water with the
aculty most of the time, and he piled
ip so many conditions that he ndver
ot his diplgma. He was a star foot
)all man. On the occasion of this game .
rith Harvard'Smith cameon thefiel
rith the. laces of -his canvasj
~angligloose around his nk
~atainspdketo~iA.
nybodyl'7
"The teams were pretty eyeny
atched, and neither side scored in
he first half. We made up our minds
hat we must score in the seconhalf.
t the end of 15 minutes we had the
>all in the centre of the field. It was
>assed back to our left half .back, and
Le in in turn passed it to Smith, who
vas playing end rush. Smith started
or the Harvard goal with the bal
mder his arm, and in less time than it
akes to tell he had dodged the entire
larvard team and had a clear field te-.
ore himi. The Harvard quarter back,
who was a star runner, however, was
fter him hot foot. The quarter back -
ained so that he reached out one hand
o tackle Smith, but he could get no
old on the b~ack of his canvas jacket.
Smith was approaching the goal rapid
v, and it looked like a sure touchdown
Inst as he reached Harvard's ten-yard
ie we saw that the quarter back had
meceeded in getting a grip on his
acket, and on the five-yard line Smith
as downed, andi 'n falling he dropped
:he ball. The quarter back picked it
ip and carried it well up into our ter
itory before he was downed.
"Then we discovered why Smith
ad failed to make a -touchdown. The
aces of his jacket, which had 'bee~
ranging loosely, had been blown bac
ver his shoulder, and the Harvard
larter had succeeded in gettinga
rip on them in such a fashion that -3
when he pulled Smith was choked to .~
standstill. The game closed without
rither side scoring.
"Smith's carelessness lost it for us.
[f he had tucked in the laces of his
acket he would certainlyi1xave made a
:ouchdown." ~ -
Natural selection Illu ,rated.
Instances of natural selection in the
nimal kingdom and of the survir
f the fittest are. alwvays of inter
~specialliy when the particular ins
s not due simply to the long re
f time, but due to a local cause,
Mfeet of which can be appreciated in
tfew years. Such an instance was
ecentIy brought forward by Dr. H.L.
fameson. who exhibited before the
~oological Section of the British as
oiaionI examleIs of a race of pr
ectively colored mice that are .foujd
> a sanidy island in the- Bay of
Dublin, known as the North Bull.
he marked predominence of san:1
~olored mficr.or mice distinctly lighter ]
n color than the ordinary variety, is
-onfsideAred by Dr. Jamesoli- as due to
he actionu of natural selection. A.
eference to old charts shows that this
sland can ze into existence about a cen
uv neo s. that it is possible to fix
im'e 1; uit wvithiin which this lighu
olore race~ has been evolved. ~Th.
saaigivcn for the survi o
tohis aticlar colored mou
'IL, *ud is ypiod e - e of the
rrval of ,thp -raest. It i
npi::ined that she hawk a
,-. ;13.rIch fir iequent .this1
ind andi ,h aut >I2, sight, are thek~n y
e::enies ih at th'e inice have t-ocomnie
gan.i ispeviden~t that the dairk
oor ie :ge thre.most easily *s..e.
hen~ i-w' against the= sai
round.~4::-rus a weeding-out pro
eee i ' irk'er colored-aie...::
beu oin01 for somp hundrede r&a>