Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-29
Our Kaleidoscope.

As far back as mans knowledge OF
the human race extends, IL seems that
the two great questions his origin and
his destiny, have ever claimed prom
inent consideration.
Herodotus, who lived 480 years be-
fore Christ and who was the greatest
traveller and writer of his time, relates
that when he visited Egypt, he found
the wise men there discussing and dis
putting over the origin OF man. A GER
tain Phrygian king. in dispute with the
Egyptians, claimed that his race was OF
the greatest antiquity. This. Egyptian
scholars denied. and the dispute waxed
warm until it was finally settled in the
following manner: The Phrygian king
took two infant children from among
his people. and placed them where they
were brought up without hearing hui
man speech Of any kind until they had
reached the age, that had they been
taught, they would have been speaking
their mother tongue fluently.
AS it was, their first articulate utter
ance was the word beboS. which turned
out to be the Egyptian word for bread.
This settled the controversy and estab-
lished the fact, to the satisfaction OF the
disputants, at least, that the Egyptians
were the oldest people, in fact the faith
ers Of the human race.
This little dispute occurred it must
be remembered, nearly $500 years ago.
and yet the people OF that remote
period knew no more concerning
III. 4 l., Il Il
we OF to-day. Savants may write, the
ologians may preach, and all OF us may
dream and speculate; but from whence
man came, and whittier his final des-
tination, are still and doubtless
ever will be, enshrouded in impenetra-
BILE mystery.
A notable event in art circles is the
exhibition of the collection of paint
ings by Vassili Nerestchagin, the fa-
nous Russian painter, soldier and trav-
Ter. The handsome and spacious
galleries OF the Chicago Art Institute,
always interesting and attractive, have
been joubly SO since this collection
has been placed upon exhibition. The
collection is large and embraces a.
great variety of subjects. The prin-
| ClDtl pieces are. nOhGNoE, lliOSt rep
resenting the artists Impressions OF
OF his travels in India; in which are in
cluded some splendidly executed inte-
riors. He has also made a study OF
war in its various phases and these he
has transferred to canvas with wonder
full skill. As am not an art critic it
would hardly be proper for me to at
tempt criticism of the works of
; Il,
| only know that they are beautiful and
interesting; and any who love art can
not fail to inioy an afternoon spent in
looking at them.
Crime is often committed under ex-
tenuating circumstances. Perhaps it is
not best to condone such offenses, but
sometimes simple justice compels the
sympathy which is generally withheld
from the ordinary criminal. Not long
since prominent Chicago detective
told me the following, which is case
in point.
THE other day." he said, II was sent
for by the proprietor OF u large store in
this city He told me he had reasons to
suspect one OF his clerks of systemati-
cally robbing him, by making false
and OF pocieting the differen &c between
the actual purchase and the amount he
returned as sold. or course. his sale
tickets Tailed with the cash receipts.
and it was pretty hard TO detect him.
/ went to work, however, and in few
days | had caught him doing just what
his employer had suspected him OF.
arrested the young fellow, he was put
| in ha how
all. Briefly, his story was that his sal
airy would not keep him. He had TO
steal to hold his position
'How?" | asked.
I'm tell you. The young man was
bright and ambitious. He was paid for
his services in the store, the munificent
salary of six dollars week. AS the
establishment was one patronized by
the best people, he was of course ex-
pected to be we'll dressed, and to be
scrupulously neat and clean in the mat
ter of shirts, collars and ties He was
also expected to board at a decent
boarding house. Had his employer
known of his stopping at a cheap lodg-
ing-house, he would have discharged
him instantly. Inherently, the boy
was honest, industrious, intelligent and
ambitious, but he was literally forced
TO steal, or be discharged from his posi-
tion. am glad to say, though" con-
cluded the detective. that the mer-
chant, when the matter was explained
TO him, seemed TO feel sorry for the boy
q say boy, the fellow was perhaps
twenty-five years of age), and took him
back into his employ at salary just
double what he had been paying him
before"
thought this case that we'll illus
trated the fact that tho responsibility
OF a criminal act does not always rest
wholly upon him who commits it.
Starvation wages tend TO make dis
honest employees. Ed r Pritchard. in
Arkansaw Traveller.
lawmakers Lion.
A dead mountain lion has been on ex-
hibition during the week before Daw-