Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-15
TR A p &.

Next to piracy and fighting the Indians
there is nothing 50 dear to the Juvenile heart
as traps. From the mouse trap up to the ele-
plant pit there is no form of trap of which the
small boy does not read with interest and with
desire to practically test its efficiency. Espe-
cially is he fond of those traps which catch
their game alive, and which are not limited,
as are mouSe-traps or rattraps to the capture
OF one particular class of animals. The large
catches so many different kinds of beasts, is
Immensely popular in juvenile circles and
there is scarcely boy living outside of crowd.
ed cities who has not made traps of this par
ucular pattern, and set them with more or less
success. One of the leading boys of our coun-
try in this line OF industry is Master Samuel
Sloane, OF Clinton, I'll. He has made traps
every kind of small game to be found in the
neighbOrhood of Clinton, including three
babies under two years of age, and small pigs
fOndness for traps that he neglects his studies
and fails to carry in the wood and to go for
the cows with anything like regularity.
IL was a with the view OF leading his mind
traps that Master Sloane's father recently
gave him a book OF travels In Central Africa,
and directed him to read it carefully. The
boy did So but unfortunately the book treated
quite extensively of the Central African
methods OF trapping game. Master Sloane
thus learned that when a native King wishes
|Ope lie constructs slip moose of thongs and
attaches it to the top of stout sapling. which
is bent down and temporarily fastened to the
ground. When the antelope. or other animal
that effect, tangles his foot in the moose the
sap.ing is released, and, springing back to its
original position jerks the game into the air,
ana keeps it ha nging there until the native
King comes along, chops down the: sapling,
and knocks the game on the head. This des-
crirtion was read by Master Sloane with great
a ADJ hna In faet it was the only part Of
father that the book was "just bully the
pleased but deceived parent fancied that his
sons dormant taste for reading was at last
awakened, and congratulated him thereupOn
A few weeks later he had reason to wish that
he had never heard of Central Africa and that
the native Kings with their diabOlical inven-
tons, had never been born.
or course, Master Sloane determined to try
tne central Africa trip without delay. There
was beautiful, shady road near the village
winch was bordered with any quantity of >tOu 1T
Africa trap, and Master Sloane had high hopes
that he would succeed in catching cow or a
horse, ali hough, of course, he could not ex-
pect anything SO completely satisfactory as a
lion, tiger or antelope. Lale one afternoon he
borrowed hosting tackle fr0m,the nearest
grocer, under the preteXt that his father need
ed IL Tor some intricate and uninteIligi6e pHr-
pose, and succeeded with its aid in bending
down Sapllng of great strength and elastici-
ty. 1t was very simple matter to arran ge Il e
moose and set the trap, after which the ingeEi
Gus boy went home to dream of finding pair
OF horses and carriage swinging in the air
on the following morning.
Master Sloane had sister. a Young lady of
great worth and of very decided character
Other girls, who were enviOus of her beauty.
SAID she was an Ill tempered, red-hared thing
but this was probably mere calumny. At ali
events, so thought The young minister, who was
settled over the Seventeenth CONGREGATIONAL
church; and who was generally believed to be
Miss SlOane'S accepted lover. That he went
TO see Miss Sloane on the very evening when
the reckless boy set his Central Africa tran
was not strange, for he usually spent three or
1ouf evenings every week at the Sloane man
sion, but 1t was coincidence that on that pre-
e1Se evening ne proposed walk, and led Miss
trap was waiting for victims.
How 1t happened that neither the young
minister nor Miss Sloane noticed the bent sap
ling or the rope, no one can understand unless
they were so deeply engaged in the discussion
OF theological questions that they were oblivi-
GUS to II earthly things. Still more difficult
stepped within the moose, which was spread
out in the form of circle not more than a TO It
IN diameter. 1t is possible, however, that the
lady was reading hymn book and that her
companion had approached extremely close to
her In order to see if the hymn was correctly
printed: However this may be, the fact re-
mains that Miss Sloane'S left foot and the min-
listers right foot were just within the moose
when the trap sprung, and the elastic Sapling
suddenly lifted them twenty feet into the air
where they remained hanging like two cher
res IN rough storm, and expressing in lively
tones their suspicion that something unusual
had happened.
Half an hour later the Clinton and Holmes
vile stage passed that way, and the driver and
his passengers were aStOniShed beyond meas
nre. For some time it was supposed that some
new and curiOusly- complicated animal. con
slStlng chiefly OF zebra and black panther. was
swinging from the top of the sapling; but lust
as one OF the passengers was about to fire at if
the driver recognized the minister, though he
was not BILE to recognize his fellow prisoner
The latter'S voice was somewhat muffled but
she was distinctly heard to revile the minister,
and to assert that she never would forgive
him, no matter how he might try to excuse
himself. Six strong men finally bent down
The sap!ing, released the victims, and with
rare delicacy assigned the duty of recognizing
Miss Sloane to the two ladies who were i'm the
stage. Fortunately, neither of Master Sl0ane's
victims were seriously injured, and they both
were able to walk home on opposite sides of
the street.
The results of this affair were numerous
Miss Sloane left town the next day on a visit
to the East, and has not since returned. The
minister was tried for indiscreetly hanging
from the tops of trees with young ladies, and
thereby bringing reproach upon his profes
sion, but was acquitted by a close vote AS
Tor Master Sloane it is believed and hoped
that his father has killed him. At any rate.
ne has not been seen, and the rumor that he
has been sent to the House of Refuge in Chi
cago is not generally believed.-[N. Y. Times