Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-05-09
STORY OF A oRocopILE.
How a Student Made Use OF One
to Pay a Lodging Debt,

down IN Paris, to make way tor a new
boulevard, was well,known wine.
shop, more celebrated, however, for
a large crocodile, which was suspended
from the ceiling OF the shop, than for
the wine that was retailed. This ami
mai was stuffed, and was remarkable
Tor its large proportions, formidable
rows OF glistening teeth, and for seven
arrows which pierced its scaly sides
Such a beast could not be without a
history. Here it is.
The wine-house was occupied form
erly by medical students. The land
lord was an amiable, easy-going man,
and though not precisely willing to al
low the students to live rent-free, was
never very exacting, and always ready
to give his dodgers time to pay their
dues. 1t happened, however, that one
OF the students was not only far be-
hind IN his payments for rent. but al
so owed the landlord a considerable
sum for board For long time the
latter did not press for payment, but
when the sum owing amounted to
Sl6O, he began to get impatient for
his money. Under these circum.
stances, the student cudgelled his
brains to devise means to satisfy his
landlord, but all his attempts TO earn
money honestly were Ruthless, and lie
begin to despair, when u fortunate
chance relieved him OF his difficulty.
Being so far reduced as to sell his
clothes, he saw in the shop where he
had parted with his garments large
crocodile wretchedly stuffed. GLOW
much do you want for that beasty"
he inquired from the old clothesman.
Ten francs" replied the latter
"Oh, you are joking" reioined thestu-
dent; ''ten francs for such a villanous
beast as that! Come, now, | will give
you three. Done" exclaimed the
old clothes merchant; and away went
the student with his purchase, taking
care to bring it into his lodgings at
nightfall, in order that his landlord
should not see it.
He now set to work to re-stuff the
crocodile, and by dint OF hot water
and paint, varnish, false teeth, and
glass eyes, succeeded in restoring the
animal to lifelike similitude, and
making it a very formidable looking
crocodile. When he had completed
his task, he Purchased seven arrows.
attached feathers to them OF the
most brilliant and SNOWY plumage
and thrust the points into
the sides OF the crocodile. This
done, he placed the beast in
closet IN his room, disposiugit in such
a manner, that by leaving the door
open it might easily be seen.
Many days had not elapsed before
the landlord paid his lodger an early
visit. The student who had not yet
risen, hearing his landlords voice
outside his door, and conscious OF the
object OF being waited on, opened the
closet door, requested the landlord to
enter and then jumped into bed again.
The students apprehensions were
true, the landlord had come for a por-
ton at least OF his rent. He was at
first disposed to deal leniently with
his lodger, until the latter declared
that he was penniless, and, moreover,
did not think it at all probable that
he should be able to discharge his
lodging debt. On hearing this the
landlord became furious, and was
proceeding to threaten the student
with legal proceedings when, turning
round, his eyes fell on the magnificent
crocodile within the closet His
curiosity being aroused, ne requested
to know how his lodger became pos
sessed of the animal, and whether any
history was attached to il. On
this, the student who desired
nothing better, and who had
laid his plans to entrap his land
lord, proceeded to inform him that
the crocodile in question was on the
point oil devouring one OF his uncles in
South America when it was pierced by
the arrows still in its sides, discharged
by savages, who appeared on the
scene at the criticaLtime.
During the recital OF the story, the
landlord regarded the animal with
great admiration, and when the stu.
dent had finished, he exclaimed, ado
you know that the crocodile would
make an excellent shop-sim2-com
what will you sell it to me for?" The
student declared that to part with so
interesting family relic was out OF
the question; but when his landlords
offers ran high, he at length gave way,
and the crocodile finally became his
property for the sum of $40 and the
further understanding that the stu
dents debt was to be cancelled.
The Still Existing Need of a Good
Insulating Material.
An English journal recalls attention
to the oft-repeated statement that
rich reward awaits the inventor Of
an insulating material that will fulfil
all the exacting requirements to which
perfect medium is likely to be sub
jected. Such material must be,
above all, heat and darnp proof, and
amenable to moulding. Porcelain is
brittle, and warps a great deal in fir
ing. 1t cannot be worked, and is nc
curate in it's dimensions. Ebonite,
besides being too dear, Warps or soft
ems under heat, and NO cement will
stick to it. Wood does not insulate
well for high pressure and warps easily.
Celluloid warps and ID inhamfnable.
Marble is useless and slate is treach-
erous. An attempt is being made to
utilize pure silica; although accurate
aa tn size III must he moulded befora