Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-24
THE PODDLES FAMILY.

Poddlcs, Junior, had unfortunately an
ear for music two much SO, in fact. In
this he bears no resemblance to Poddles,
perc, whose musical notions are so wage
that he can with difficulty distinguish his
iavorite air. ''Old Dog Tray" from "The
Irish Washerwoman."
Whenever Poddles, Jr., is relieved from
the laborious occupation Of dcvouring
bread and m nlasscs, he is either whistling
or singing. His repertoire Of airs is ex.
tcnsive, comprising all those furnished by
the street musicians and concert halls.
No matter though no be perusing the
most exciting pages of"Jack Harkaway,"
this youth INDUCED in song at the same
time, totally oblivions of the fact that
others cannot appreciate his music when
similarly engaged.
The other evening his father entered
the room, where the junior, seated in his
favorite rocking. chair, with one leg over
an arm, was filing the house with that
well.known air, "Up in Balloon
'Thomas, where did you put the mar.
ket basket this morning!" demanded the
senior.
'Down in coal mine, underneath the
ground" sang the junior, without looking
up"
SHOWN wherc!'' sharply inquired the
senior. who is little deaf.
"Where ray of sunshine never can be
found,' yelled the youngster.
'Can't never be found, hey! you young
rascal" shrieked the elder party, making
break for his son and heir. "What do
you mean: Answer me Directly
''Yes, pap; what is it?'' sweet Gene
We've sweet Gene--'"
''I'll sweeten you, young imp. Mrs.
Poodles, this has come from that boy
reading dime song books, Jack Harka.
way, and similar stories, Come, sir
(threatningly). where's the market has.
ket!''
SIN the cellar, pap. Put me in my lit.
tie bed,' he shouted.
Every good. Be of this instant" re-
piled the senior, taking tho junior at his
word, and before this misguided little
musician could we'll realize the turn af.
fairs had taken he was quickly trotted of
bed.ward to the enlivening tune Of the
"Mulligan Guards.''
An hour afterward faint voice from
the attic was heard imploring forgivness,
mingled with the plaintive song of the
Madigsl boys, "Good night, good night,
good night" Danbury News.
A CHINESE MATHEMATICIAN.
The Terre Haute Gazette says: Wong
Chingfoo, the highly educated Chinaman,
rather got away with young profess.
or at Greencastle the other evening.
During the course of the evening, Mr..
Wong stated that among the Chinese
mathematicians were hired at four dol.
lars per week, and were not as goood as
the most ordinary men here. They do
this work by machinery, as it were, and
lit is the dirty labor of the empire.
When Mr.. Wong first came to this coun.
try, to enter college, he was told that it
would be necessary to study mathematics
two years he at once told them he knew
mathematics better than those who were
to teach him in this particular branch.
Illustrative of this, Wong, in his address
at Brown Hall, offered to foot up several
columns Of figures. For convenience, his
manager, Mr.. Watkins, was to name the
figures, but the young professor Of math.
emstics Of Ausbury, who WAS present,
thought he saw flaw there. and at once
came to his fcc:. He asked:
Evil! you, sir allow me to give you the
''Certsinly, sir. I shall be glad to have
you do SO" was Mr.. Wong's courteous
answer.
SHOW, then, sir, ;" began the professor,
and he named sum upon sum, not going
beyond the tens Of thousands, but civ.
ing him at least thirty different sums t.
add. When they were all on paper Mr.
Wong asked: 49,.
''And now is that all p .. -
"rhat's oil, replied the professor, ''ge'
ready to add"
Mr.. Wong stood smiling, and when tn,
professor had Strengthened himself ~
and said, Snow Begin" he quietly re
marked,
i every we'll, sir. here is my amount.
This before the astonished professor hat
thine to get half way up the first col
umD.
"But you're not through already" re-
J, marked the professor.
"Here is the footing Of my figures
was the response and he read them, th,
footing being exact.
"Please read that again, sir,,' asket
the professor.
He did SO and the astonished profess
! or was forced to admit that it was right
Tho professor was astounded, and VA
forced to admit that Mr.. Wong did know
|. something about mathematics.
The mandarin stated that he Was moi
IN extraordinary mathematician, as com
pared to some Of the educated Chinese
|; The professor afterward called on Mr.
Wong ct the hotel.
. wl f,h:. Hs:,-., ..