Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12

dynamite cartridge, such as is used in blast
ing for mining and excavating, and went
one dark night, accompanied by his hopeful
son Zeb, to blow Jim and his family up as
they slept. thus probably setting new
style among the bloods of Egypt.
HE lit the fuse, and was just in the act OF
throwing the cartridge, or bomb, under
Jim's cabin, when it burst prematurely,
shattering his arm clear to the shoulder, and
putting out Zeb's eyes. He was very much
impressed by the accident, accepted it as an
intimation from the Almighty that he was
to let Jim Broddy alone, and has been pecu-
liar and pronounced in his religious views
ever since"
These people-the Egyptians-difer from
their neighbors very materially in one re-
spect; they have a strong sense OF humor,
and are inveterate perpetrators and retailers
of jokes. This sense OF humor is rather
savage and archaic, more robust than fine;
city club man might not see the point OF
their jokes, and few bloody noses, black
eyes and broken heads are not rare concom-
itants. '''
A QUESTION OF ENDURANCE.
Little Johnny, as I Leiore stated, is the
hero Of several exploits heard related, and
of which shall have space but for one.
1t was Christmas frolic. Bitter cold it
often is up in these mountains at Christmas,
the thermometer lingering in depressed
frame of mind. in the small numbers below
zero. Little Johnny was not an illicit dis
tiller but was always dealer in the noon
shine. With him at his house were John
Garland and Huts Fletcher. After telling
big yarns awhile, Little Johnny offered to
bet that neither of the men would follow
they would, and it was agreed that either
one that failed to do SO should pay i've gal
Ions of whisky, Johnny to pay the same
to each if be succeeded.
Out sailed Johnny through the deep snow
to the river, running about 80 yards in front
of the house, and now covered with ice
about an inch thick; and into it he plunged,
closely followed by John and Huts. Down
stream he walked and walked, crashing
through the thin ice at every step, and wad
ing the marrow-congealing water often up
to his thighs. Still the men followed
though their teeth ratified.
LIKE OLD MORSE HEROES.
This cheerful sport was kept up for two
miles-no one being willing to turn tail
when the pond above the mill dam was
reached. Here, from there being very little
current, the ice was thick enough to bear,
and johnnie stalked across it toward the
dam, reached a thin place and went souzing
and crashing through, followed by Huts,
who was close at his heels. They could
both swim like fish, and, in spite of the Icy
water, and the long chilling they had un-
dergone, scrambled out all right and went
home yelling hootine gibes at the more eau
tious John, who held back at the pond and
shirked ducking at a temperature several
degrees below zero.
Johnny and Huts both had whisky there,
but wouldn't sell any to John. and started
him out peremptorily to walk three miles
after his five gallon forfeit, which being
procured and little Johnny having paid
John his, they all proceeded to get gloriously
drunk.
Now, doesn't it remind you of a Morse
saga? The splendid physical vigor and en-
durance, the contempt OF suffering and dis
comfort, the impatlence of ordinary bounds
and restraints, the delights In hardship, and
the elephantine iun and horse play, like
the amusements Of aboriginal giants?
1t certainly, to me, has u favor of the
O-whoopee-O- yow-yow, big bow-wow style
of Amatric and Wulf and Aluoe, and other
Morse and Scandinavian worthless, whose
doings alternately tickled snd offended
Odin. ALICE MACGowAN.