Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-23

leg, and, recognizing MS irlehu vi WY
battlefield. insisted on enthusiastically
shaking him by the hand and making
him known to his comrades standing |
around. DR.. SussdorG says that it was
like running gauntlet Of beer, aud II
ne had been drinking man, he could
have carried away barrel. Incidents
of similar kind that occurred during
the day might be multiplied by the
score.
DON'T BE TOO POLITE.
The danger of miscellaneous courtesy
has All illustration in the recent expe-
rience Of one Of our city physicians.
Among his patients is gentleman who
will probably lcse his arm from poison
which be is supposed to have taken IN
his system by handling cigar after it
had been returned to him by stranger
who had asked for light. 1t is be-
lieved that the latter was engaged IN
some business in which poisonous sub
stances are used, and neglecting to wash
his fingers had thus unconsciously LETT
trace Of the poison on the cigar he
had borrowed, which, being absorbed
in an abraided surface, had produced
the disastrous result referred to. II
smokers could see the filth that sur
rounds nine tenths Of the men and
women who manipulate the weed, or
observe the nasty fingers, and some
times lips, that put on the finishing
touches of a so.called "Regalia,"
there would be large demand for
cigar. holders, and instead Of biting
before lighting they would use knife
to clip the folded end. In the matter
OF cigarettes, too. people are begin
ming TO learn that in the long run
a heavy penalty must be paid by
those addicted to the habit. As doc
tor aptly puts it, if the nicotine which
is so often seen on the fingers of a
cigarette-smoker can so easily discolor
the outside, what must be the effect on
the more delicate membranes Of the
throat, lung, and blood-vessels? There
is about as much insidious harm done
to the system by indiscriminate and
babitual smoking as by the use Of bad
liquor.
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
The marriage Of a well-known judge
in New Orleans is another illustration
Of the saying that d" truth is sometimes
stranger than fiction" In his youth he
was student in Yale College, and
while there fell in love with a pretty
maiden whom he had reason to believe
reciprocated his affection. The latter
was never declared, however, for he was
too honorable to ask her to'share in
the struggle Of poor man until his
prospects were fully defined. After
finishing his course correspond
ence was kept up between the two for
number of months, when it finally
ceased. A few years later she became
engaged to another, and in due time
was married. On the night Of the
ceremony her brother received a letter
from the first sweetheart, who was now
a prosperous young lawyer, enclosing
another to his sister, which contained a
formal profer of marriage. The young
man. probably thinking that bird in
hand was worth two in bush, answered
by enclosing the wedding-cardS, and
threw the letter to his sister in the fire.
More than twenty years elapsed, during
which the couple moved to South
America. Both were there taken i'll,
and the husband died. When conya-
descent the widow returned to her home
in Connecticut, and last winter, by the
advice of her physician, went to Flori-
da. As the season approached for re-
turning home friends suggested that
they should do so by way of New Or
leans. On reaching that city they
went to one Of the large hotels,
and were assigned table in the
diniDg-room. by mere accident
the widow was given seat next
the head Of the same. In a few mo-
ments the vacant place by her side was
occupied 10y handsome gentleman in
middle life, and she observed that du-
ring the meal his eyes were resting on
her whenever he could indulge his
curiosity without offence. Before she
left the table he respectfully inquired
whether her name was not Mrs. -,
and she had not in early life lived in
New Haven. Being answered in the af-
firmatiye, he introduced himselfas Judge
-, and thereupon the old acquaint-
ance was renewed. He had remained
true to his first love, and was still sin
gle. Mutual explanations followed, a
brief courtship was conducted in COM
nonsense way, as becomes old lovers,
and few weeks saw the accident re-
paired that had been committed on the
night of the original wedding by that
everlasting intermeddling brother. The
twain are still living in New Orleans as
happy as pair of turtle doves.