Bellefonte, Pa., October 17, 1924.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SO-
CIAL QUEENS OF THE WHITE
HOUSE. THEIR OBSERVANCE
OF SOCIAL LAWS AND ETI-
QUETTE.
By L. A. Miller.
It is a foregone conclusion that the
President of the United States is the
first gentleman of the land. The lead-
er of social as well as official life. As
a rule he is always alluded to as “the
President,” even by his wife. He can
be approached by any one, as the priv-
ilege of calling upon him is accorded
to all, but he need never return a vis-
it. He may call upon a friend, but
this occasion is not expected of him.
Similar rules apply to the wife of the
President.
At formal or official receptions giv-
en by the President—like that at New
Years—the government officials, offi-
cers of the army and navy, and for-
eign representatives are in attend-
ance, and the scene is a brilliant one.
The ladies of the Presidential family,
and those receiving with them, while
not in “full dress,” as it is termed,
wear reception toilets. All those en-
titled to wear uniforms do so, the dip-
lomats and attaches being in court
costumes. The President heads the
receiving list, his wife being next, the
guests passing from them down the
line until they have paid their respects
to all the ladies of the reception par-
ty. The wife of the President invites
several ladies to receive with her.
Mrs. Martha Wachington, wife of
President George Washington, was
the first “first lady of the land.” She
was a lady whose personal beauty and
grace of manner, combined with her
rank and fortune, would have made
her, under any circumstances, a social
leader. With large hazel eyes and a
profusion of soft brown hair, she was
one of those beings fair to look upon
from the cradle to the grave—a lovely
child, a dainty, pretty girl, and in her
age, distinguished by the benevolent
comeliness with which we are all fa-
miliar.
Abigail Smith, wife of President
John Adams, was one of the most re-
markable women of the day; not alone
from the exalted rank to which her
husband raised her, but because of her
great abilities and striking character.
She was not quite twenty when she
married young Adams, then unknown
and obscure, a struggling lawyer.
Her father, Rev. William Smith, pas-
tor of the Congregational church at
Weymouth, Mass., objected to the
suitor, as of no standing, and asked,
who is. this. young man? Where did
he come from? to which she replied:
“I don’t know where he came from,
but I know where he is going,.and I
am going with him.” + die BETA
When in 1797, Mr. Adams became
President of the United States, he
lived first in Philadelphia, and then,
in 1800, removed to Washington,
where the White House had been
built and was, theoretically, fit for
habitation. Mrs. Adams wrote to her
daughter most amusing descriptions
of the discomforts of the place. “No
wood for fires, though surrounded by
woods; no bells and only six rooms
made comfortable.” The east room,
then unfinished, was used as a dining
room. After four months in this un-
comfortable habitation Mrs. Adams,
whose health had begun to suffer from
the hardships endured, returned to
Quincy, and never afterward revisited
the White House. She was its first
mistress and the memory of her wit
and grace linger yet.
Thomas Jefferson had been nine-
teen years a widower when he became
President. He lived socially, a quiet
life, discouraged levees, and was as-
sisted in state dinners and at recep-
tions by the wife of the Secretary of
State, Madison, soon to be herself the
Queen of the White House.
. Dorothy Payne Madison, the bril-
liant wife of President Madison, was
a very pretty girl, and at nineteen
married John Todd, a promising
young lawyer, who, however, after a
brief married life, died, leaving a fas-
cinating widow. In 1794, then aged
twenty-five years, she married James
Madison, a young member of Con-
gress. She was a woman of unfailing
amiability and a joyousness of dispo-
sition that made her ever cheerful,
with a play of humor and wit that
sparkled in her conversation. During
her administration the formality and
stiff etiquette which had been observ-
ed in the Washington and Adams re-
gimes was banished, and everything
was done to make White House recep-
tions pleasant. There is today no
name among the mistresses of the
White House more beloved than that
of “Dolly Madison.”
Elizabeth Korthright Monroe was
the daughter of a former captain of
the British army. When James Mon-
roe was appointed United States Min-
ister to France his wife accompanied
him to Paris and by her grace of man-
ner and dignity did much to make the
young Republic respected. At this
time France was a Republic, but its
liberties were stained with the record
of the blood shed in that name. The
Marquis de Lafayette, the wife of the
champion of American Independence,
was languishing in the prison of La
Force, hourly expecting death. Mrs.
Monroe made her a visit and this act
of kindness saved her life. During
the years she was lady of the White
House Mrs. Monroe was never in
strong health, and spent as much of
her time as possible in seclusion.
Louisa Johnson Adams was an Eng-
lish girl. John Quincy Adams was
Minister to the Court of St. James,
met her, and they were married. While
his father was sident Mr. Adams
was sent to Berlin and later to the
Court of St. Petersburg. After re-
turning to this country he occupied
various places of prominence, was Sec-
retary of State and at last President.
Mrs. Adams made a dignified li...
of the White House.
President Jackson’s wife, Rachel
Donelson, died shortly after his elec-
tion. The old soldier was faithful to
her memory and lived during his ad-
ministration as a bachelor in the
White House. Her niece, Mrs. Emily
Donelson, wife of the President's pri-
vate secretary, did the honors of the :
Mansion. She was young, pretty and |
vivacious, and was assisted by Sarah
Yorke Jackson Jr., wife of the Gener-
al’s adopted son.
Martin Van Buren was a widewer
when he became President. His wife, !
Hannah Hewes, was the playmate of ;
his childhood and the love of his i
youth, and she had no successor. The
honors of the White House during his
administration were done by his
daughter-in-law, Angelica Singleton,
wife of the President’s son, and pri-
vate secretary, Colonel Abram Van
Buren. This beautiful and accom-
plished lady was a daughter of one of
the old families of South Carolina, and
she brought the soft charm of south-
ern manners to the performance of
her duties.
Anne Symanes Harrison, wife of
President Harrison, was a woman of
sterling qualities of head and heart.
She shrank from leaving her quiet
home at North end, Ohio, and was not
with the President during the brief
month he occupied the White House.
President Tyler's wife, Letitia
Christian, before her marriage, was a
woman of most domestic tastes. Her
health was not strong and she lived
as much as possible in retirement dur-
ing the seventeen months of her life
at the White House. She died in Sep-
tember, 1842, and in 1844 the Presi-
dent married Miss Julia Gardner, a
New York beauty. While visiting
Washington with her father, Captain
Stockton invited them on a trip down
the bay to Alexandria. The President
was of the party. On the return voy-
age, an attempt was made to fire a
big gun known as the “Peacemaker.”
It exploded, killing many of those who
stood near, among them Mr. Gardner.
The funerals were celebrated at the
White House.
Sarah Childress Polk was a woman
of tall and commanding figure and
handsome face, and performed all her
duties while her husband was Presi-
dent, with dignity and propriety.
President Zachary Taylor, during
his brief term at the White House,
was aided in all social functions more
by his bright young daughter than by
his wife. Mrs. Taylor was not strong
in health and to her public life was a
trial, and she gladly left to Miss Bet-
tie, her bright, witty, cheerful daugh-
ter, the cares and duties of the official
entertainments.
‘Abigail Powers Fillmore, who be-
came the first lady of the land when
her husband succeeded to the Presi-
dency after the death of General
Taylor, was also a woman of domestic
tastes, and yet she carefully perform-
ed all the duties of her exalted rank.
She was pleasing and sensible and had
oh unfailing cheerfulness of disposi-
ion.
--Jane Appleton Pierce was, from
childhood, an invalid, afflicted with a
nervous and melancholy temperament,
and her entrance to the White House
was preceded by an awful calamity.
As she and her husband and their only
son, a bright boy of thirteen, were on
their way to Washington, just before |
the inauguration, their train was
wrecked and: the poor lad was killed. |
The unhappy mother struggled brave- |
ly to do her duty, but beyond the!
faithful performance of her official |
tasks, took no part in society.
President James Buchanan was a
bachelor and his graceful young niece,
Harriet Lane, did the honors during
his administration. She was a blonde
with fair hair, blue eyes, and an ex-
quisite complexion, her figure was full
and almost perfect in proportion, and
there were intelligence and refinement
in her face as well as beauty. She
was not a coquette, her manner was
always dignified, and she maintained
herself with admirable tact through
the gayeties of perhaps the gay ad-
ministration. The Prince of Wales
was an ardent admirer of the fair hos-
tess, as were scores of other distin-
guished men.
Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was
sorrowed by the death of her son
“Tad” not long after her martyr hus-
band became President. She was,
however, fond of society, preferring
her western friends. The old resi-
dents of Washington held aloof from
the White House during her years
there and the social gatherings in the
wide reception room were decidedly
democratic in character.
Eliza McCardle Johnson was a con-
firmed invalid. She never appeared in
society, and the honors of the White
House were done by her daughters,
Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Stover.
Julia Dent Grant was a pleasing
and gracious hostess. She was sur-
rounded by young people—her daugh-
ter Nellie, afterwards Mrs. Saratoris,
and her sons, who brought brilliant
young brides to add to the gayeties of
the White House. During the eight
years of Mrs. Grant's control the ex-
ecutive Mansion was the scene of
many festivities.
Lucy Webb Hayes impressed her
personality more deeply upon the
country than did any of her predeces-
sors. She had a fine presence, with a
handsome, intelligent face. Wonder-
ful charm of manner and exquisite
tact. She made the Executive Man-
sion a hospitable home for her friends
and a place of kindly welcome to the
nation. As a temperance woman she
was faithful to her pirnciples, and re-
fased to have wine served at the ta-
e.
President Garfield had been chief
executive for less than a month when
he was shot. Lucretia Randolph Gar-
field, a woman of most domestic
tastes, entered the White House only
to find it a place of suffering, of anx-
iety, and at last of death.
President Chester A. Arthur was a
widower, and his sister Mary Arthur
McElroy, did the honors of his official
home. She was a pretty, attractive
society woman and held the place
gracefully, introducing the custom of
afternoon teas, and made even state-
ly functions easy and homelike.
President Cleveland’s sister, Rose
Elizabeth Cleveland, did the honors
fav Law Therndls mvs Avani on 41am Lond martha
St wnpady dat dhe wade House
and then her place was taken by the
dainty and graceful bride, Frances
Folson Cleveland, who was twice mis-
tress of the Presidential Mansion. No
woman was more beloved, her grace
winning the hearts of all.
Laura Scott Harrison made a kindly
and attractive -hostess, although lov-
ing domesticity better than public life.
She died just before the close of her
husband’s term.
President McKinley's wife, an in-
valid, proved a most charming hos-
tess. In my opinion a more congenial
family than the McKinley never ex-
isted. The writer is a distant rela-
tive of Mr. McKinley, and know
whereof I speak. I visited the Me-
Kinly family at Canton on several oc-
casions, and also the business place of
Mr. McKinley at Niles, Ohio, and nev-
er in my life was I better treated;
their friendliness and cordiality knew
no bounds.
For want of space I must patse;
the history of the more recent mem-
bers of the Capitol are, I think, as fa-
miliarly known by your readers as by
myself. Some people think that there
is a little too much stiffness emanat-
ing from Presidents wives, which is,
I believe, not the case. It is absolute-
ly necessary that the rules governing
official etiquette should be more rigid
than those dealing with social affairs,
for the reason that it is not intended
to make official gatherings other than
ceremonial. An official reception is
an official duty, and those whose pres-
ence is required are often subjected to
penalties if they absent themselves -
and cannot furnish satisfactory ex-
cuses. Strict observance of social
laws are imperative.
THE SUCCESS OF THE :
ORGANIZATION. |
What it Means to the Welfare of the
People.
The success of the organization de-
pends upon the support, influence and
co-operation of the people. The men
stationed upon the observation tow-
ers depend on them and their judg-
ment to a great extent. People locat-
ed in valleys are often called upon by
tower men to accurately locate smoke
"in their immediate vicinity. This they
do with a willingness to help which
merits success for the organization.
Forest land owners in particular are
becoming keen observers of the fact
that the same untiring efforts are ap-
plied to private as well as State for-
est.
The interest and support of the
people in combating forest fires is a
mighty help to the forest fire organ-
ization. The personnel of the organ-
ization have come to depend upon the
help of the people. It is stimulating
to know that a great mass of public-
spirited citizens are back of you—all
for one common cause.
Proper protective measures can
sometimes be carried out successful-
ly by the individual, but in most cases
the co-operation of communities must
be had to assure any degree of effect-
iveness. ‘A well organized band of
men trained in the art of forest pro-
tection is very essential. Hence the
forest fire organization with its effi-
cient, alert, trained members.
The people of the Penn Forest Dis-
trict are virtually concerned, or should
be, with the economic manipulation of
the organization, The welfare of each
and every person, whether young or
old, is involved. As in the case of
State forests, and it is to your ad-
vantage to do all in your power to
help protect them from fire.
THE ESSENTIALITY OF THE FORESTS
TO THE PEOPLE'S WELFARE.
People live from birth to death with
the help of the forests. To maintain
a timber level high enough to keep
forest products within the reach of
the public at-reasonable prices, per-
sonal interest in protecting the forest
must surely increase. Look where
we will in our everyday lives we can-
not escape the importance of wood in
everything around us. It is the con-
sumer that pays when the forests are
despoiled. Nearly everything that is
demanded by civilization is affected
when forest fires burn.
In addition do destroying the beau-
ty and value of a region, forest fires
destroy the animal and plant life.
Many denuded hillsides called Penn-
sylvania’s desert is due directly to
forest fires. It is not an uncommon
thing for houses, barns, live stock,
crops, to burn, and even the loss of
human lives can be laid at the door
of deadly forest fires.
There are hundreds of people in the
Penn Forest District who depend up-
on the pure, sparkling water from the
mountains to satisfy their thirst
and needs. Their future supply is
jeopardized if forest fires are allowed
to rage. The natural water shed, a
precious heritage, is one where deep-
wooded hillsides and valleys assure a
never ending stress flow. Bare ridg-
es, ravines, erosion, etc., serve to
either render the water supply impure
or dry it up entirely.
It would seem, then, that there are
countless reasons why the forests are
essential to the welfare of the people,
why their very lives and existence de-
pend upon the forest and its products.
All Roads will be Lifted from Mud.
Pennsylvania’s policy in road con-
struction will continue to be one of
getting “all roads from the mud” be-
fore widening of pavements is con-
sidered.
This is the answer of Secretary of
Highways, Paul D. Wright to a criti-
cism that a certain part of the Lin-
coln highway is too narrow.
The department admits cheerfully
that there are many main highways
not so wide as they should be, declar-
ed the secretary, but, we also take the
stand. that the day of ‘special privi-
lege’ is past, that no one section of
Pennsylvania should benefit at the ex-
pense of another.
There are 5,000 miles of earth State
roads, he pointed out.
Hundreds of thousands of Pennsyl-
vanians living near, and who travel
on these 5,000 miles of ‘mud’ roads
ask merely that we get them out of
the mud, he continued.
The nine named thoroughfares of
the State should be 40 feet ides the
ctnry silly bod with hell fe'Siate
Bul
Sully will
highway system being earth roads,
there will be no action taken on them
at the present time.
i —— A ————————
——1If you want the latest and best
news, read the “Watchman,”
Famous Pleasure Spot
of English Monarchs
Many kings have done their part to
make Hampton court what it is today,
asserts a writer in John O’London’s
Weekly. Wolsey began it all, and it
is interesting to learn that when he
walked in his park he liked to be left
to his meditations. He would allow
no servant to come near him; his or-
der was that they should keep as far
from him “as one might shoot an ar-
row.” When Henry came into pos-
session he at once extended the gar-
dens, planted quickset hedges, and
bought apple and pear saplings.
Hentzner described the gardens in
Elizabeth's reign as “most pleasant,”
adding that he “saw rosemary, so
planted and nailed to the walls as to
cover them entirely, which is a meth-
od exceedingly common in England.”
Charles I formed lakes. Charles II
planted more than two hundred elms
and as many lime trees. William III
in his turn, brought in the note of
Dutch formality with yew, box, and
holly sculptured into bird and animal
shapes or arranged to represent his
royal initials; he formed rectilinear
canals and did strange things with
terrace and balcony, and fountains
better designed (said Horace Wal-
pole) “to wet the unwary than to re-
fresh the panting spectator.” Hap-
i pily, nearly everything he did was
afterward undone.
Tools of Insect World
Surpass Those of Man
Most of the articles in that great
chest of tools that man’s inventive
genius has contrived were invented by
the insect world before he fashioned
the first, writes Ernest Bade, Ph. D.,
in Popular Science Monthly. More-
over, man’s tools are usually inferior
in precision and versatility.
Saw, pliers, brushes, augers, hooks,
hammers, knives, lancets—all of these
and yet other tools are in the insects’
remarkable chest. Nature attached
them to the insects’ bodies—to the
legs, to the head, to the abdomen,
wherever they were needed. They are
made of chitin, a material that, unlike
the metal tools of man, resists the
action of water and the milder acids,
The insect tool chest is truly complete,
one of its wonders being the closeness
of the resemblance of the articles it
contains to the tools that man has
been so long in fashioning.
The Word “Jovial”
‘The word “jovial” conceals the name
of Jupiter, or Jove, according to the
Washington Post. A “jovial” person
Is theoretically, at least, a person born
under the influence of the planet Jupi-
ter, or Jove,
The planet was supposed to be the
most joyful of all the planets to be
born under, just as Saturn is the least
joyful.
| Gradually the word “jovial” became
dissociated from the astrological sig-
nificance, and was generally applied
to persons who indicated the quality
of joyfulness ascribed to birth under a
joyful planet.
Thus many a word in the English
language in common use, traces its
origin to mystic beginnings and be-
liefs in the darkness of the past
ages.
Famous Ancient Tapestry
During the year 1748 a quantity ot
peautifully executed tapestry was dis-
covered in the cathedral of Bayeux,
near Cannes, France. It is said to be
of the Eleventh century, the work of
Matilda, wife of William the Con-
queror, and ladies of her court. The
tapestry, which is 214 feet long and
20 inches wide, contains 72 sections,
each of which represents a scene in
the life of the Saxon King Harold
from the time of his visit to the Nor-
man court to his tragic death in the
battle of Hastings. In these scenes
are 1,522 figures. In 1803 Napoleon,
contemplating an early invasion of
England, had the tapestry removed
to Paris, where it was exhibited at the
National museum. The following year
it was returned to Bayeux.
Frisky Filly
Miss Sarah is “getting along ix
years,” a fact she is unwilling to ad-
mit. She wears very youthful clothes;
she has been described by a facetious
neighbor as “sheep dressed lamb-fash-
fon.” And sometimes when the world
pushes her into a niche where it thinks
she belongs, Miss Sarah rebels.
One day she was talking merrily to
a party of young girls. Her cheeks
were pink and her little curls flutter-
ing. She laughed a great deal.
“Oh, Miss Sarah,” at last exclaimed
one of the girls innocently, “how gay
you must have been in those days!”
“Have been?’ repeated the lady, in-
dignantly. “Have been! Well, Td
have you know I'm not a centurian
yet I"—Los Angeles Times.
Church Sittings Sold
In certain sections of England it is
still customary to sell by auction,
pews in the parish church. The high-
est bidder secures the use o! the pew
for a year. On the east coast of Scot-
land it was quite common 30 or 40
years ago to see an advertisem nt in
the local press offering, say, one or
two “bottom breadths” in such-und-
such a pew in the parish church. The
pews were freehold, and paid taxes In
house. Another reader recalls partic-
ulars of a church pew sale which
ann., free of rates and taxes,” and
that it was “in a good position,” and
“rent regularly paid.”
the same way as a freehold dwelling-
stated that it “produced so much per
| What They Remark and
What They Really Mean
Nearly all adversse criticism mecns,
“I could have done it much better.”
All praise of the gushing variety
means, “I couldn’t ha%¥e done better
myself.” 2
“Please criticize this work for me,”
usually means, “Please give this the
once-over and then praise me.”
“Please den'’t observe too closely, for
the house is in a frightful state” usuai-
ly means, “Take a look and see if you
can find any dust.”
“I didn't have time to do my hair”
usually means, “I think it arranged
very becomingly and you are invited to
share my opinion.”
“I am not half good enough for you”
means, “Please assure me that you
consider it an honor to be courted by
a man of my excellence.”
“The common people are half-baked
Idiots” means, “The common people
haven’t sensa enough to appreciate
me.”
“Hurrah for Brown” means
“Brown's opinions are similar to mine,
which is sufficient evidence that he is
a good and wise man.”
“I had few advantages as a boy”
means, “Haven't I accomplished won-
ders for one so handicapped at the
start?”
“I'll be glad to introduce you to any
of these people” means, “Make a note
of the fact that I am 'on intimate
terms with all of these big guys.”—
Baltimore Sun.
vi
Continue Search for
“Lost” Arizona Mines
Of all the legends of buried treasure
the most persistent is the one about
lost gold mines of Arizona. Only the
Indians are supposed to possess the
secret of this baffling mystery, al-
though the story has been circulated
for more than a century.
That there once were mines in the
region is indicated by references found
in early Spanish diaries and by the
tales passed down through several gen-
erations of natives who were com:
pelled to dig the ore as slaves of their
conquerors. The chief evidence in sup-
port of the tradition is the altar of
the San Xavier mission, not far from
Tucson. It is described as being “in-
laid with virgin gold.” Mission rec-
ords show that the precious metal was
brought from Canada del Oro where it
was mined by Indians under the di-
rection of Spanish priests.
But no trace now exists of the dig-
gings, and the old trail over which the
gold is said to have been carried by
pack mules disappears abruptly in the
sands.—Popular Mechanics Magazine.
Musk Oxen Muskless
The musk ox of North America is &
true connecting link between wild cat-
tle and sheep. It has horns like the
wild Cape buffalo of Africa, cattle-like
hoofs, and its flesh looks and tastes
like beef.
It has next its body a dense coat ot
soft, clean woolly hair, and through
this grows a rain coat of very long,
straight brown hair like that of the
Tibetan yak. It has a tail so short and
small that the animal seems tailless.
The horns meet in a broad base over
the top of the skull, drop far down
then sharply curve upward for several
inches, terminating in sharp points.
They are specially designed for punc-
turing the vitals of wolves and polar
bears.
The musk ox lives and thrives even
up to the farthest north for hoofed
animals, says the Detroit News. Its
supply of “musk” and its “musky”
odor are both wholly imaginary.
Birds as Prophets
In early days superstitious people
paid considerable attention to the
birds and their different cries, which
were believed to foretell events. Thus
comes the old saying, “A little bird
told me.” Traces of this belief are to
be found in our own Old Testment,
where verse 20, of chapter 10, of Ec-
cleslastes, speaks of “for a bird of the
alr shall carry the voice and that
which hath wings shall tell the mat-
ter.” It is generally agreed that it is
from this belief in the universal
knowledge of birds, which, of course,
are supposed to see everything from
the sky-—that we get this saying.
Reason for Nicknames
During the contest between Charles
I and his parliament it was fashjon-
able among the church people to give
Scripture names to their chiidren, and
sometimes the name would consist of
a phrase, or even an entire verse. One
child was actually named “Who Com-
forteth Us in All Our Tribulation,
That We May Be Able to Comfort
Them Which Are in Any TreGble
With the Comfort Wherewith We Our-
selves Are Comforted,” Tichbourne.
And what do you suppose the kids
dubbed him when he started to
school? “Trib.”—St. Louis Globe-
Democrat,
Frog That Liked Eggs
A little girl who studies birds mada
the discovery that a frog will eat a
blackbird’s eggs, the London Morning
Post reports. She found a low-bulit
nest with two eggs, one having a small
hole at the big end. Next day she
found a frog on the nest, its tongue
flicking in and out of the hele. “Either
the noise of the grass under my feet,
or the gssp I let out,” she relates in a
kind of affidavit, “frightened tlie frog
; away.” On the third day she found
both the eggs with holes and empty.
Unlike touds, frogs boast teeth, but are
not usually reckoned among egg
thieves.
Greatness Is Not fo
"Be Gauged by Stature
Lombroso in his “Men of Genius’
says that greatness and stature are
rarely found together. In consulting
biographies of a number of great men
in American history, however, it has
been found that this statement does:
not always apply. There have been
on the whole more prominent men:
above midule height than below, says:
the Denver News. Among the short
men may be numbered John Quincy
Adams, Admiral Farragut, Paul Jones,
Gen. Phil Sheridan, Stephen A. Doug-
las, William H. Seward and Martin
Van Buren. On the other hand we
find that Charles Sumner was 6 feet 4
inches; Thomas Jefferson, 6 feet 214
Inches; Charley Godfrey Leland, 6
feet 21% inches; Andrew Jackson, 6
feet 1 inch; Samuel Adams, Salmon
P. Chase and Jonathan Edwards de-
scribed as “over 6 feet”; James Mon-
roe, 6 feet or more; Bayard Taylor, 6
feet at the age of seventeen; George
Washington, 6 feet. Henry Ward
Beecher, Rufus Choate, Benjamim
Franklin were slightly under 6 feet.
Daniel Webster and Patrick Henry
were about 5 feet 10.
Vacationist Had Real
Problem on His Hands
A revival of this old yarn, once a
favorite of George Roby’s, is not
amiss: It was all about a man who
arrived at a seaside resort and went
to a hotel. Shortly after a friend
called and was shown up to his room.
‘He found him sitting in a chair sur-
veying with a gloomy countenance a
trunk which stood against the wall.
“What's the matter?” asked the
caller.
“I want to get a suit of clothes out.
of that trunk,” was the answer.
“Well, what's the difficulty—lost
the key?”
“No, I have the key all right,” he
said, heaving a sigh. “I'll tell you
how it is. My wife packed that trunk.
She expected to come with me, but
was prevented. To my certain knowl-
edge she put in enough to fill three
trunks the way a man would pack
them. If I open it, the things wilP
boil up all over the room. I could
never get them back. Now I'm won-
dering whether it would be cheaper
to go and buy a new suit of clothes
or two more trunks.”—San Francisco
Argonaut.
Economic Philosophy
Wherever Dickens is read this ad
rice by Mr. Micawber stands out as
the acme of economic common sense:
“Annual income twenty pounds, an-
nual expenditure nineteen, ninteen,
six; result happiness. Annual income
twenty pounds, annual expenditure
twenty pounds, ought and six; result
misery.” . : 5 3
Likewise Josh Billings gives expres
sion to not quite so nearly universal
a truth when he tells us:
“Debt is a trap, which a man sets
and baits himself, and then deliber-
ately gets into—and ketches a kursid
phool.”
Artemus Ward made his reputation
4s an economist and a humorist on his
statement :
“I'm bound to live within my means
i I have to borrow money to do it.”"—
C. W. C., in McNaught’s Monthly.
Do Ducks Swim With Wings?
Do ducks use their wings while
swimming under water? The question
is discussed frequently among sports-
men and nature students, and opin-
fons sometimes differ. Testimony of
reliable authorities supports the belief
that various species of ducks and
grebes, loons and other diving birds
do not use their wings when swim-
ming beneath the surface for food or
in trying to escape capture, says Pop-
ular Mechanics Magazine. A ruddy
duck was observed on Lake Michigan
not long ago feeding in 15 or 20 feet
of clear water. As it got well started
on its downward plunge, the wings,
about two-thirds extended, were used
in quick, short strokes, at the rate
‘of about one a second, to assist in pro-
pelling it and in rising to the top as
well.
Catherine Rush
Medical annals have seldom record-
ed so rare a case of longevity as that
of Catherine Rush, who died in Phila-
delphia on May 1, 1617, at the age of
one hundred and eleven years and
eleven months. So far is is known
Catherine Rush had lived on the out-
skirts of Philadelphia all her life, and
no one was particularly interested in
her until she reached the age of one
hundred, having been a very frail girl.
When she passed the one-hundred-
year mark physicians began to watch
her. They kept up their watching for
nearly twelve years. It was Catherine
Rush's greatest desire, when she felt
the end coming, to round out one hun-
dred and twelve years. She failed of
it by one month.—Chicago Journal.
Traced to Archimedes
The word “Eureka” is said to have
been uttered by Archimedes (287-212:
RB. C.), the Greek philosopher, when
the principle of specific gravity first
dawned upon him. It Is said that the
thought first came to him while in
the bath, and that he fled half-clad
through the streets of Syracuse to his:
home, shouting, “I have found it! I
have! found “it!” The problem that
had been given hin (© a
determine whether a golden crown
made for Hiero, king of Syracuse, had:
been alloyed with silver. This the
king had suspected, and the phlloso-
pher afterwards proved it to be true.
wet wads