The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-06
szHtsrezai,n.
WHITE ELEPHANTS.

w u A<A1A
Some Tales of These Terrible Animals, b.
an Experienced Chronieler.
James Payn In Belgrsvia.
know a good and honest lawyer-rdr,
arts in-(nO, shall want that fine oil,
quotation presently)-an honest lawyer
who has stated it as his opinion-and hi
opinion is what people give pounds an,
pounds for-that it is great mistake I.
be much respected" His experience is
he says, that most persons who have beel
thus designated are dead; and that tn,
rest suffer from their good regulations. II,
has himself often succoured the widow art
the or phan, free, gratis, for nothing, an,
when the orphans have grown up thew ar,
apt to be grateful. They send presents I,
thier valued and much respected friend
from the uttermost parts of the earth
which is what he objects to, even wher
they pay the carriage.
And true it Is, it often happens lever
conhning the matter to this country thai
present is a misfortune to one. For ex
ample, | am myself a poor man, and {
rich friend sends Inc haunclI of venison
Ny larder is not big enough for it to hans
IN, my kitchen range is not large enough
to cook it, and it has to lodge, and ever
to board out flor it requires flour and all
sorts of applications dally); thus it costs
as much as a leg Of mutton to begin with
Then am obliged to ask ten people &c
eat it, the expense of which entertainment
reduces me to my last shilling. Ny rich
friend has no wish to improvIsh me. but
the effect of his munIfcenoe is similar to
that Of the present of the While Elephant
which the King of Siam gives TO those
whom he intends to ruin; its meat, drink
and clothing flor they supply its trunk, OF
course) eat them out of house and home.
Or, suppose am rich man, and a poor
one sends me, as friendships Offering.
some ornament for my drawing-room
which is very tastefully and elegantly fur
nished; what the deuce am / to do with
itp If il is really handsome | feel that
have robbed him; if it Is otherwise, though
one does not prize gift according to its
cost, it spoils my drawing-room by its con-
trast with what Is already there.
Again, there are lot of people in the
world who are always giving one presents
which are worthless, they remember oae's
birthday, and ones marriage-day, and
the anniversary of the day one was ap-
pointed a revising barrister. or the chap
Ian to the lunatic asylum. They think it is
very touching to call to mind these inter
estIug dates by the gift of a paper-kulfe.
or box of tooth-picks, or a volume O,
Tuppers Poems. For my part, | would
much rather COMPOUND" for all these
subscriptions, as is done in the Inns OF
Court, and they gave Inc a five-pound note
and had done with them.
There is still a more troublesome sort OF
PROFESSIONALLY very wealthy-who in.
sist upon paving your fare for you when
you travel with them by the Underground.
or on defraylng the turnpike toll when YOU
drive over the bridge; but to get FIVE
pound note out of then-in the way OF
composition or any other-is dream TO I've
INDUCED In not even by the most san
gulne.
Then there are some excellent persons
who insist upon providing us with some
specimens Of their own particular produc-
tons; what they have themselves invented
concocted or made captive by their own
bow and spear: and which in nine cases
out of ten, and independently of the obli-
CATION incurred, one would infinitely
rather be without.
Your friend the amateur author, for ex-
ample, sends you presentation copy of
his first novel in three volumes. Now.
what are You to do with that? OF course
II you are prepared to read 1t have moth
ing further to say: but suppose Won shrink
from proceeding TO that dread extremity.
you have in that case to sit down and
write quickly that you have received his
most tn9ughuui present; which will indeed
DE hlghiy pflzed, and that you are look
ing forward WITH the greatest eagerness'
10 its perusai. bnt II you think that will
sa.isis hih' except Ior the moment, you
are very much mistaken. He will be sure
TO inquire your OPINION, sooner or later.
aoout ,uat Immortal work-and then be on
your GUARD; Tor iatal TO your friendship
Win MN VIII tie the moment when he
eiicfts the truth. Above all things, cut
the Sook-i mean with the .paper-knife-
on tne instant OF It's arrival; no eulogy,
IoSetcI NaS"e anu sh,ilni, VIII avail You
u ne uisooyefs tnat TINS precautlon has
ho, wen tahen'
asAn, thefe are some excellent house
YVES VINO not content with delighting
lilei, owh tainiiies with preserves and
Pichles, anu even medicines OF their own
lna man export them TO other PEG
Pie houses tney present one at Christ
mas win "':ie OF homemade Curacao,
oe.'er' as they INFORM us. than any we can
~. =. 'ns Mlne merchant :; and some
sspsuue Q. .neir own conooction, which,
, IN ~ so'e.elsn IL may be against