St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-01-19
Clever Strategies.

oDtdlHiip HioHes WilHoue dshiHS iot ~
was that adopted by Queen Elizabeth's
famous Ambassador, DIR. Dale. On one
occasion. when dispatching letters to
the Secretary of State, he artfully sent
one addressed inside to '.his dear Kate
in cover addressed to "Her Most Ex-
cellent Majesty" The establishment
of the Queen when she opened the
missive and found herself addressed in
the most endearing terms, my deared,
my loved; petted and sweethearted,
can well be imagined. But when she
read the passage where she was made
acquainted with the state of his health
and the emptiness of his purse, she fell
at once into the trap. and, with unusual
liberality, relieved his necessities. An
other good story is told of the way in
which the same party got pecuniary
help from his royal mistress. Prior to
his departure for Flanders on State
business he had an audience OF the
Queen, when he was informed that he
was to receive daily allowance OF
twenty shillings for expenses. Dale,
however, thought this sum very insult
ficient, and was not at all satisfied with
the amount. He was not slow in adopt
ING a method whereby his mistress
should be made acquainted With the
fact. He replied that he should spend
nineteen shillings day. and in answer
to question as to what would be done
with the other shilling, said: THAT l
shall keep for my Kate. and my boys,
Tom and Dick" The hint was taken
and the allowance increased.
Every one has heard the story OF how
q. = how ont fstf a
button from the waistcoat of his school
fellow, and by thus depriving him OF
twirling the button when he was asked
question "a peculiar habit he had got
into) Sir Walter reached the top of his
class.
But the story of the clever physician
and the obstinate patient is not SO well
known. The latter, who was West
of-Enrland Bishop, and VIGOROUSLY
stanch Conservative, had for some time
been very ill, and with other prescrip-
tons the doctor advised that at regular
intervals small dose of brandy should
be administered. To this, however,
the prelate had decided objection; he
obstinately refused to taste drop OF
the intoxicating liquor. The physician
insisted. nay, even implored his patient
to take small quantity. but the Bishop
as firmly and politely declined: Here
was a dilemma. The probability was
that his obstinacy would be the cause
of his death. Few, in the same posi-
ton. would have been struck with the
same idea as the doctor. Quickly
walking to the bedside of the sick man.
he said: you are aware that Russell
is in office, and Wing will be your
successor to the bishopric." That
touched him in weak point. Slowly
raising himself in the bed, he said:
Fetch the brandy, doctor; if necessary
will drink quart. ;
But by far the most singular method
Of obtaining desired end was that
which is accredited to Gretry. If he
happened to be walking with any one
who went too quick. or too slow, he
regulated their steps to his own by soft
Nv singing or whistling tune, the time
OF which was in accordance with the
time he wished to be kept. He would
argue: s.'ro say you walk too fast, OF
too Slow is impolite, but to sing softly
an air to the time of the walk of your
companion, and then by slow degree:
either to quicken the time or to make i
slower, is a strategem as innocent as Il
is convenient"
Stage robberies in Mexico were ever
until lately very frequent, but at thu
time of the French occupation OF thu
State they were of almost daily occur
renee. To put stop to these confirm
al robberies the French commander hi
upon a capital idea. Half dozen Zou
ayes were dressed in ladies' attire
closely yelled, and sent as passenger
in the next stage. They carried thei
carbines beneath the folds of their dress
As we expected, the mail was stopped
and the '.ladies," leaving with tn
other passengers, drew up IN line, a
was the custom, few PAGES from tn
vehicle. while the searching was goins
on. Suddenly the ..ladies" raised thei
carbines and performed the strangel,.
unfeminine act of shooting stone dea'
some dozen robbers. 1t is perhap
needless to add that this served as
warning to the stage robbers on tina
route at least, it being only necessar.
from thenceforth to display shaw
and bonnet to secure comfortable
passage.
A device somewhat similar to tn
foregoing. but in which the robbers, Q
robber, reaped the benefit. was that
Hounslow Heath highwayman
This ingenious rascal procured larg
quantity of straw. old clothes, and hal
a dozen pistols. His next step was t
stuff the old clothes with the straw
fastening the pistols in the outstretche
hands of his mock companions, an
then rear them against tree. Pres
emily a carriage came rafting along
and the usual cry of ..Halt!' rang out
The coachman, with the cold muzzl
of pistol to his forehead, of cours
complied. The inmates of the coach
being shown the figures of the men
which in the dark could only be imper
fectly distinguished, yielded to wha
they thought to be superior forces
and the coach being robbed it was a
lowed to proceed on its journey.
Very cleverly. too. were q compan
of Uhlans outwitted during the Franco
Prussian war. A farmer who wa
warned that these unwelcome visitor
might be expected at any moment an
make raid on his property. set t
work in the following adroit manner
II, ,lotboI hsS o>x.rc rhoo,, n -