The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-09
Turning The Tables.

Tom Hills, sometime huntsman of the
Old Surrey Hounds, were once sent to buy
Il fox in Lcadcnhall Market for service the
next day. The commission was not at all
to Toms liking but obeying orders, he
rode to town, got his fox, and putting him,
securely strapped, legs upward, In capa-
cious pocket in his ovcrcoat, turned his
horses head homcward. Somewhere about
midnight he reached Strcatham Common
to be suddenly stopped with the once
familiar challenge "Your money or your
ltc!"
'NIy money |" exclaimed Hills. 'I
haven't got any; am only servant; and
you wouldn't take my life, surcly9"
The highwayman told him to look sharp,
emphasizing the injunction by pointing a
pistol at the huntsman's head.
"Well, my man." said the latter, eve
won't fall out. want my life; SO, as I've
no money, I suppose you must have
moneys worth. You'll find something
quite rs good in my pocket here; so pray
help yourself"
The robbers disengagcd hand dived into
Toms pocket insantcr, and Master Rcy-
nard's teeth closed as quickly upon it, caus-
ing the fellow to yell in dismay, and drop
pistol and reins; while Tom gallopcd off at
his best pace, leaving his unwclcomc ac-
quantance to bandage his hand and digest
his disappointment at leisure.
Relating his Indian experiences, Colonel
Meadows Taylor tells of his being beset by
hundreds of pilgrims and travellers, crying
out against the bunias, or tlour-sclcrs, who
not only gave their customers short weight,
but adultcratcd the flour so abominably
with sand that cakes made of it were utterly
UNBEATABLE. The colonel determined to pun
ish the cheats; and this is how he did it.
81 told" says he, "somc reliable men of
my escort to so quietly into the bazars, and
each buy flour at separate shop, being
careful to note whose shop it was The
flour was brought to me. I tested every
sample, and found it full of sand as
passed it under my teeth. / then desired
nil the persons named in my list to bo sent
to me, with their baskets of flour, their
weights and scales. Shortly aftcrward they
arrived, evidently suspecting nothing, and
were placed in n row on the grass before
my tent Now said I, gravely, each of
you is to weigh out a seer 1.-TWO pounds] of
your -four which was done.
is 1t for the pilgrims2' asked one.
"No, said I, quietly, though had much
difficulty to keep my countcnancc. You
must eat it yourselves. .
''Ihey saw that was in earnest, and
offered to pay any fine I imposed.
"Not 80, I returned; you have made
many eat your flour; why should you
object to eat it yourselves2' Ei
''Thcy were horribly frightened; and
amid tho screams of laughter and jeers of
the by tandcrs some Of them actually began
to cat, sputtcring out the half -moistcned
flour, which could be heard crunching be-
tween their teeth. At last some of them
flung themselves on their faces, abjcctly be-
sccching pardon" And so, with q severe
admonition, they were let off. No more
was heard Of the bad flour
It is pity rascals at home can not
be served in the same way, pure food
would be the rule, if the concoclcrs and
venders of vile make believers were liable
to compulsory consumption of their own
wares.
Sir John McNcill a shrcwd Scotch, ,diplo-
matist, gained the rcputc of being the only
European who over got the better of dcrv-
ish. During the New Years festival the
Persian religious mcndicants ply their voca-
ton most vigorously, not merely asking for
aims but demanding such sums as they
deem proper, according to the rank Of the
giver. A dervish tried to extract an ex.
travagant tribute from Sir John, and the
ambassador proving obstinate, proceeded to
'tsit upon hiln;" that Is to say, he estab.
lished himself in Sir Johns garden, Just be.
fore his study windows, and relieved his
feelings by making hidcous hullabaloo
day and night. The dlplomatist was in.
clined to make short work of the nuisance,
but was warned that violent measures
would be dangerous
kff1oA LII - ST.. fofttt... 4.