Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-14
SUDDEN WHITE HAIR


f'soEhess
When the Emperor Leopold was abon
to make his grand entry into Vienna the
old sexton Of St. Joseph's Cathedral was
much troubled in his mind. Upon sucl
occasions it had been his custom to take
his stand on the pinnacle of the tower
and wave flag MS the imperial pageant
passed by; but he felt that age had SC
weakened his nerve that he dared not
again attempt the perilous performance.
After thinking the matter over, he came
TO the conclusion that he must finda sub
stitute and knowing his pretty daugh-
ter had plenty Of stalwnrt suitors, the
old fellow publicly announced that the
man who could take his place successful
ly should be his son-in-law. To his in
tense disgust, the offer was at once ac-
cepted by Gabriel Petersheim, his special
aversion, and the special favorite OF the
girl, who saw not with her fathers eyes
On the appointed day, Vienna opened its
gates to the new-made Emperor but il
was evening, or near upon evening, when
the young ilag-bearer welcomed the pro-
cession iron st. Joseph's Tower. His
task performed, Gabriel would have de-
scended from the airy height, but found
his way barred. Two wretches had done
tHe tiSutHtIOuS seAtOu DlutlluB, huu
closed the trap-door of the upper stair
way, leaving the brave youth to choose
between precipitating himself on the
pavement below, or clinging the cold
night through to the slender spire, with
but ten inches of foothold. He chose
possible life to certain death but when
rescue came with the morning, his eyes
were sunken and dim. his checks yellow
and wrinkled, his curly locks as white as
snow. Gabriel Petcrsham had won his
bride at fearful cost.
Believing fortune might be easily won
IN the oil-country, young Bostonian
went there to enrich himself. One stormy
night glare in the sky told him that an
oil-tank was on fire n few miles of ; and
knowing that after time the oil would
boil up and flow over the side OF the tank
he made for Il hill to witness the specta-
Gle. 'Shss coming" man shouted.
There was rumbling sound, and then
the burning oil shot up from the tank,
boiled over its sides, and floated down
the creek, destroying everything in its
way, and setting fire to a second tank.
Curiosity getting the better of discretion,
he ran to the ground in the rear of the
tanks. to get better view, and in trying
to avoid pool of burning oil, fell into Il
mudhole, anu stuck fast therein. Strug-
Cling till he could struggle no longer, he
lay back exhausted, watching the billows
OF smoke surging upward and floating
away into space. Suddenly his ears were
startled by the sound of cannon firing u
column OF flame and smoke shot up from
one OF the tanks, and he was stricken al
most senseless with the knowledge that
tstNts 1i,,n 4 =
the first tank, to draw off the oil, and SO
prevent another overflow. He tried to
shout, but the words would not come. A
little stream ID burning oil ran slowly
but surely toward him. He watched II
creeping on until it was almost upon him
then in n moment all was dark. When
he came back to consciousness, he found
himself in his own room, surrounded by
''the boys" who had seen him Just in
time to save him. It was weary while
before he was himself again, and then he
was inclined to doubt if he was himself,
for his once dark hair was perfectly
white.
Instances have not been wanting of the
hair being deprived of its color in a few
minutes. The Homecoming Of the King
of Naples after the Congress of Laybacli
VINO 'tlcpiuteu WIN iiiucn puDllC TtJOlc-
ing. To do the occasion honor, the man
ager Of the San Carlo Theatre produced
grand NEUROLOGICAL pageant, in which an
afterward well-known opera-singer made
his debut in the character of Jupiter.
The stage-t thunder rolled, the stage
lightning flashed, as the Olympian mon
arch descended on his cloud-supported
throne. Suddenly screams of horror
rang through the house the Queen faint.
ed, and all was uproar and CONSERVATION,
until the voice of the King was heard
above the din, crying: "If any one
shouts or screams again, I'll have that
person shot y Something had gone wrong
with the machinery before the clouds had
descended ten feet, and Jupiter had fallen
through. Fortunately, strong iron wire
or rope caught his cloak, and, uncoiling
with his weight, let him down by degrees.
But workman falling with him was i'm
Paled upon strong iron spike support
ing the scenery. In ten minutes or SO
they reached the ground, the workman
dead, the singer dazed, but able to thank
heaven Oh his knees for his escape and
then the awe-stricken people saw that the
black haired deity had become transform
ed into white-hnired mortal, whose
youthful features formed strange con-
trast to their venerable-looking crown.
Staff-surgeon Parry, while serving in
India during the mutiny, saw strange
sight. Among the prisoners taken in a
skirmish at Chamda was a sepoy of the
Bengal army. He was brought before
the authorities, and put to the question.
Fully alive to his position, the Bengalee