Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-01

JOpIln Is thrifty town IN the midst
OF this fruit, grain and mineral belt 1t
is good town, but the hall where we
obliged" was not very pleasant one in
| some respects 1t was "a partially re-
! formed rink, with an overshot stage en-
trance. We entered by means Of a little
| side door, about eight feet above the
street grade. IN a burglarious way. |
| stood on Mr.. Burbank's shoulders. and
| after saving off the bolt of the door we
managed to break in. Anybody who
can get into the stage entrance OF a
theater will generally have very little
trouble IN getting into most any secret
| society.
Carthage is a very handsome and
thrifty town, with almost every indus
try contributing TO it, from the seden-
| tary methods OF agriculture to the
healthful toll OF life insurance. The
rock ribbed earth is filed with marble
and beautiful building stone to which
there seems to be no limit. The quarries
are not even able to fill their orders for
st. Louis alone, and every farmer has a
zinc or lead mine back of his barn. |
have been told that half the lead and
more than half the zinc output of the
United States comes from this region.
and yet above it all the earth is rich in
waving grain, the sky sheds health and
vigor, the climate is cooler in summer
than Minnesota and in winter warmer
than many southern localities. This
opinion Is given without hope Of stock
In zinc mine or a choice corner near
the postoftice at Carthage Carthage is
the most versatile town | have seen for
many a day. | also showed there The
popcorn privilege was sold at this point
for good price, and when the lecture
was over the floor was white with this
cheering but Notwithstanding vegetable
1t was also at this place that we had the
singular stage escape, which consisted of
scuttle hole at the back of the dais
One had to bow pleasantly to the audi
ence, dodge a rafter over the door. and
scoot down a chute behind the American
flag, which served as dressing room.
If you have never tried to look pleasant
at an audience while you had a lump on
the back of your head as big as the
bump Of self esteem on the brow of a
bantam, you cannot we'll understand the
effort required at such a time in order
to ''obhge."
Yesterday | met thrifty travelling
man with a silver trimmed sample case.
! thought | had seen him before, and so
! had. He spoke TO me. Yes" he said
you and met in Cleveland last month"
] remembered it then. was sitting in
the reading room Of the Weddell House.
and this man was there. He was writ
ing letter. Finally he raised his head
and said, How do you spell chcir-a
church choir
| knocked the ashes from my fragrant
cigar and said, "C-h-o-i-r"
Thanks" be said; "but is it not also
spelled q-u-i-r-e:'
"Oh, no You are thinking of quire
Of PAPER" | said, as | wiped my nice
new high hat with my elbow.
Possibly; but, you know, | had the
idea IN my blame fool head that q-u-i-r-e !
was also correct for church choir. Are |
you sure that q-u-ire is not admissible |
for church choir"
Oh, yes, sir, l said, as wrote few |
autographs for a delegation waiting in |
the anteroom. Il would stake my ex- !
istence on it.
We'll, sir, am probably wrong, but |
/ am headstrong and | don't mind |
losing twenty dollars-fcr am Stand
ard Oh man-just to find out, and we
will leave it to Webster.
"All right said /, wishing TO buy
spring overcoat, Of which | was greatly
III need, twenty dollars goes" | did
not notice the grammatical construc-
ton, however, at the time.
We got a Webster, and then | saw
what had not saw before-that "quire"
was correct. wish that could sell the
knowledge | have got for what il has
cost me. | would take much needed
rest in Europe for eighty-tive years. and
live well all the time.
Well, this man Is now in the business
he told me He has omit the road and