The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-06-14
ANECDOTES.

NAPIER AND THE JUGGLER.-We give an
anecdote illustrative of the the unparalleled
deXterlty OF the natives of India with the
sword, as well as of Napier's simplicity of
character. After the Indian battles ON
one occasion, famous ia ggler visited the
camp, and performed his feats before the
general, his family and staff Among his
performances, this man cut in two. with a
stroke of his sword, a lime or lemon placed
in the hand of the assistant.
Napier thought there was some collision
between the Juggler and his assistant. To
divide, by sweep of the sword, on man 5
hand, SO small an Object without touching
the flesh, he believed to be impossible,
though similar incident is related by Scott,
in his romance of the "Talisman"
To determine the point he general offered
his own hand for the experiment, and he held
out his right arm. The juggler looked atten-
lively at the hand, and said he would not
make the trial
Il thought would find you out!" ex-
claimed Napier:
But stop" said the other, "let me see
your left hand"
The left hand was submitted, and the
man then said, firmly: If you will hold
your arm steady, l will perform the feat"
But why the left hand and not the
right?"
Because the right hand is hollow in the
centre, and there is risk of cutting off the
thumb the left is high, and the danger will
be less"
! Napier was startled.
81 got frightened" he said 81 saw it
was an actual feat of swordsmanship, and if l
had not abused the man as | did before my
staff, and challeged him to the trial, I hon
estly acknowledge L would have retired from
the encounter. However, l put the lime
on my hand, and held out my arm steadily.
The juggler balanced himself, and with a
swift stroke, cut the lime in two pieces.
felt the edge of the sword on my hand, as
if cold thread had been drawn across it !;
and SO much, he added, for the swords
men of India whom our fine fellows defeat
ed at Meeanee"
BOILING HoT WATER FOR JoKB-
There is lawyer in San Francisco, who, for
the accommodation of his clients, has speak
ing tube leading from the main entrance of
his building to his Office, which is just up a
few flights For several days past a smart
young man named Swartz has amused him.
self by calling for the lawyer through the
pipe, and profanely ordering him to set out
on an expedition to Tartarus. For some
time this fun WIS taken in good part by the
legal expounder of the new code until the
fine humor of the joke no longer became
apparent.
Accordingly, one afternoon, the disciple
of Blackstone provided himself with tea
kettle of water, heated to about 81 0 degrees,
Fahrenheit, and waited alongside the pipe.
Pretty soon the old familiar sound came up
through the pipe, Say, cap, hows tricks p
"Tricks is better noY-l guess he'll get
we'll, !" responded the lawyer, reaching out for
the teakettle.
whats been the matter with him ?"
Gle got burnt"
Howl"
"Ill tell you in minute"
"Oh you go to Hades."
The lawyer had finished his last sentence
and then let quart of scalding water down
| the pipe. Swartz had his mouth over it,
concluding his objurgation, and when the
water struck it he was somewhat surprised.
Water was not apt to surprise him, but hot
water was an unexpected novelty.
The man above poured in water for about
a minute and then looked out of the window.
The smart young man was getting along the
sidewalk at pretty lively gait, having evil
IDENTIFY just got up from sitting posture.
He was trying to yell " Police" but couldnt
articulate with much success. About half
an hour afterward he found himself able to
speak and inquired : Did that boiler ex-
vlosion hurt anybody ?"
A JOKE ON DUNDREARY's DoG.-Last
summer, in the dog days, Sothern played a
Joke on his Scotch terrier Jack, to cure him
of making acquaintance with other dogs
when out for walk. When he saw anoth-
er dog, Jack would rush up and rub his nose
against that of stranger and indicate in his
doggish way that he would like to be his
friend. When the season for muzzling came,
Sothern put muzzle upon Jack and took
him out for walk Somewhere near Union
Square he met Florence, and as the twain
stood in conversation, Florence noticed that
whenever Jack applied his nose to that Of
another dog, the latter went bowling down
the street, leaving the terrier very much as
tonished Florence could not understand it
and finally asked:
Ned, what's the matter with Jack, that
all the dogs run away from him."
40, nothing" said Sothern, except that
before ! started out fixed a couple of cam
brio needles in his mazze so that they stick
out about an inch beyond the end of his
nose.
Well, the result was that in day or two
Jack was afraid to go near any brute of his
kind and all those who had been interview
ed with those needles, were careful to keep
away from him. Sothern says he will take
out patent for his invention provided that
Bergh does not have him arrested for cruel
: ty to animals.
CoULDN'T SELL 1.-THE following is not
new but always good. as an illustration of
the truth that some of the finest sentiment
crops out betimes from those who walk in
the lowly paths of life.
A gentleman was walking with his little
boy at the close Of the day, and in passing
the cottage of German laborer the boys
attention was attracted to a dog. 1t was
not a King Charles, nor a black and tan, but
a common cur Still the boy took fancy
to him, and wanted Pa" to buy him. Just
then the owner of the dog came home from
his labor and was met by the dog with every
demonstration of dog joy.
The gentleman said to the owner: My
little boy has taken fancy to your dog and
1 will buy him. What do you ask for him."
4 can't sell dat dog!" said the Dutch
man.
Look here" said the gentleman. THAT
is poor dog, anyway, but as my boy wants
him. | will give YOU five dollars for him.