The weekly Placer herald., 1854-06-10

MASONIC Sign OF DIsTREss.-We met
a gentleman the other day, who related
to US the following amusing incidents
"l had been out hunting, and feeling
somewhat tired and hungry, sat down
upon an old fallen tree to eat portion
of the provisions had procured for the
Jaunt. While eating a gentleman came
up and entered into conversation with
much familiarity and friend mess, and
invited him to partake of some with me.
We soon finished our repast, and ceiling
little languid, | got up to stretch myself
and putting both arms out, gave yawn
as men often do, when to my surprise,
my companion jumped up, took out his
pocket book, and placed in my hand a ten
dollar bank note | asked him what that
was for. He said it was all right, and
should feel no delicacy in accepting the
money. Good God! exclaimed, hope
you don't think want to charge you for
what you eat9 Certainly not, said he; I;
but the money is all right understand
you very well; put the money in your
pocket and say nothing about Tits all
right. told him did not want the
money, but he would not listen to me,
/ then in rather an offended manner de
manded of him why he thus acted. He
then stepped back looking me intentIy in
the face, and said. "Did you not give
ME the sign?" "What sign :" enquired.
"Why, the sign Of distress!" 81 am not
in Distress" said |. "What under hea-
van does the man mean! What sign of
distress?" "Why | must be plain-the
Masonic sign Of distress You should not
tru 70 ;tI
it is the duty of every one Of our Order
OH receiving the sign of distress from
brother to assist him, and ask no ques-
tons; and why do you thus interrogate
me?" told him that was not Mason;
to which he replied, "Weil, you have the
sign any how, and have performed my
duty; the money is yours" Seeing the
oddity Of the man, thought he must be
an Odd Fellow--for he was certainly very
odd, and told him was neither IA Mason
nor an Odd Fellow. Again he viewed
me intently, and | could not but smile.
But told him it was not all right, and il;
was with long persuasion that got my
new friend to take back his money after
which we parted, he on his way and
in search Of game. But could not re-
collect what sort of motion it was | went
through, that my transient friend called
the s'sign Of Distress" So have con-
cluded to stretch myself, after this in the
presence Of every stranger meet until
get the right hang Of the ''sign ofdistress." :"
They are queer set, these Masonic
brethren.
We take the following humorous para
graph from the Jackson Sentinel of May
18th: cit is ludcrous to witness the
thorough contempt with which our shirt
less Indians regard the Chinamen They
consider them the lowest species of any
thing human, and insult and abuse them
at every opportunity. One Indian has
no hesitation in elbowing through crowd
of Celestials, knocking them right and
left, pulling their tails, and treating them
with every sort of ndignIty 1t would
seem that they are pleased to find them
selves not quite the lowest in the scale of
humanity, and we think if there can be
any comparison between the dirty digger
Indians and the sweet-scented sons of the
Flowery Kingdom, that the advantage is
all On the side Of the former. The arrival
ia town of hand-organ and a monkey, is
the occasion of much sport to the indians,
..,Lo ze,,l> ~ ,,,o,,Eo ou (ttho litfIo Cb;no