Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-25


OF horse-thief trial. Il will, replied his
Honor "the Court charges each iuryman
one dollar for drinks, and six dollars extra
for the one who used the Courts hat for
splttoon during the first dav of the session. -
Darwin disputes the vague assertion often
made that plants are distinguished from
afimals by not hayirg the power of move
meat. Whereupon says the Louisville
CouriT-Journai Darwin is quite right as
We scientists generally agree. Suppose, for
the sake of Illustration, that YOU were to
meet rhinoceros and a heliotrope in the
road, would you distinguish the heliotrope
from the rhinoceros by its not having the
power of movement Certainly not. Or, if
you would, we scientists wouldn't
The newspapers have been given oft time
to telling the secret Of A. I. Stewart. sue
| cess in business A correspondent of an ex-
change says that an old friend of Stewart's who
taught school in New York at the same t me
wheniA. I. was teacher, advised the latter
when he opened thread and needle store, to
place stools in front of his counter for the con-
yenience of tired ladies' The novelty became
great attraction, ladies dropped in and sat
| down TO wait for the cars or to rest them
selves, and at the same time bought some
| little purchase. The little store became
known, it was always crowded, business
/ brought business, and finally made the
millionaire what he is to-day. Speaking Of
| Stewart, more extravagant stories are told
concerning him that Of any other American
/ 4 French paper recently undertook 10 give
a .lSt Of Mr.. Stewards pictures, and in this
connection related few personal anecdotes
D No ,ll tb,e -
/ Stewart, having had extensive dealings with
the government, was its creditor 10 the
amount Of $50 900 GOO. One day, when
the government was in a hobble about money,
and some reference was made to this in
dehtedness, the great merchant exclaimed,
Fifty millions Oh, don't mention such
trihe, and with one sweep Of his pen
transferred the sum from one side Of the ac-
! count to the other
Some months since an Englishman named
Atkinson bought country place near Pithi-
YIers, IN France For many weeks there
after carpenters and masons were busily en-
ployed in repairing and altering the chateau
and after their work had been completed,
Mr.. Atkinson issued invitations for large
dinner party to all the most prominent
families in the neighborhood. The guests
arrived at O'Clock, and on taking their
seats at the dinner table noticed with sur
prise that there was not even one servant
to be seen. The soup was consumed in silent
astonishment. When all had partaken of
it, the host sounded a whistle, and as if BY
magic the soup plates disappeared and three
magnificent silver platters, each containing
| roast goose appeared. Little cries OF terror
were heard from the ladies. Mr.. Atkinson
took no note Of his guests surprise, but
remarking that 1t was very warm evening,
whistled again and the whole ceiling cisap-
/ Teared, the hosts black coat vanishing at
the same moment, leaving him clothed
I IN g white suit The guests, alarmed, were
about TO rise from their chairs, when
| they found themselves. their chairs
and the table suddenly raised five feet
above the floor. They however, were
soon lowered again to the floor. and
all took refuge in hasty flight from
the demoniac abode. 4 judicial investiga-
ton was instituted. and il was found that
Mr.. Atkinson had been for ten years the
chief machinist a Coyent Garden theatre in
London, where he had amaSsed a nice little
fortune. The dinner was q little freak TO
indulge his fondness for his old pursuit.
IL Is Il CURIOUS lNfllCLI IN uAlflmuuN tual
II you tell your wife TO get up and build the
fire, she EXHIBITS her dutiful obedience by
forthwith proceeding to fire up.-Cma
uai. Iims.
An exchange asks, Why do scotchmen
quote Burns as saving the "wee sma' hours,
etc ? The phrase e, which occurs in the
death and Dr. Hornbook," " is "wee sma
hours ayant the twal.
An interesting divorce case came up in
New Orleans court the other day The
petition of the plaintiff, Fanny Hendricks.
a colored woman, represents that she was
married to one Charles Ross on the sth Of
January, 1872, and that she has behaved
herself as a good wife ever since She al
leges that with her assistance they amassed
several thousand dollars. with portion OF
which her husbands freedom was purchased,
he having been a slave and that notwith-
standing her labors 10 free her husband, he
has taken TO himself another, and left his
helpmate of years alone and sorrowing.
There is something touching in the circum-
stances Of the case. An old woman who has
toiled for wears 10 free herself and husband
from slavery thus TO be deserted, is a story
savoring much of those cruel stories that
noyelsts sometimes invent.
lie came home very late one night, ard
after fumbling with his latch key a good
| while muttered to himself, as he at length
| opened the door, Il mushnmakeny noish
caush tholomans ashleep." He diyested
| himself of his garments with some trouble,
and was congratula ting himself on his success
as be was getting into bed, when calm,
clear, cold voice sent chill down his spinal
column "Why, my dear, you amt going
to sleep in your hat, are you >"
1t is told ola western map agent, that on a
recent trip be was attacked by highway rob
| bers, who demanded his money. As he was
too prudent to carry money in the country,
they failed 10 make haul out of their VIC
tim. But, said the agent, al have some
| splendid maps of the country along with me,
which should like to show you ;" and in a
twinkling he was off his horse, had map
stuck upon pole, and explained 1t 50 ei-
| fectually that he sold each of the bandits a
map, pocketed the money, and resumed his
journey.
reporter OF the Cincinnati Commercial
has encountered a bachelor from North
| Carolina one hundred and four years of age.
| Tine old gentleman was on his way to seek
relatives in Indiana, and gives most inter-
esting account of himself. About four hun
dred miles of the journey from North Caro-
lima this lively centenarian accomplished on
foot. If all these statements are facts the
story is true.
A good story is told OF a gentleman well
known in town in connection with late
visit of his to n drug store. The gentleman's
name is Carr. There arc several Cars in the
city, however, and the given name OF the
particular one will not be revealed in this
item for worlds. This Carr wanted some
medicine for his family the other night after
twelve o'clock, and visited drug store to
obtain it. The drug store was closed, and
he rang the bell vigorously. The druggist
at once put his head ont of an upper win
dow and inquired, sleepily "Whe's
there ?'' "Mr. Carr, responded the gentle
man at the bell. missed a car >" Well,
whats that to me ,confound you Stop
ringing that bell and 20 about your bust
ness, man ~ Down went the window and
the Druggist was lost 10 sight. The dis
eomfited Mr.. Carr was lost in amazement
for time, but finally seized the bell and
rang it frantically. The druggists head
appeared at the window again. He was
wide awake this time. Nv he 5 there now -
Mr. Carr tell you - @'Who cares if
you have? Get ont Of that, quick If you re
! drunk and have missed car it's YOUR look
out. Don't touch that bell again - but,
tell you, you idiot, In Mr.. - Carr ~
"Oh, Lord Why didn't sou say so before ?'
The window went down again and the drug
gest soon appeared at the door to explain
i volubly that he d supposed he d been aroused