New-York tribune., 1892-01-08
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.

Some one hit upon n book Of cross-quota'lons the
other day. and to show how different nations adapted
the same idea TO similar forms OF expression III
proverbs gave some Illustrations one striking case
which he had found was that where n man takes u
great deal OF trouble for nothing OF course, every one
Is familiar with the English form OF expressing inc
idea: Carrying Goals to Newcastle HAT same
idea goes back to the Latin. where the Romans said
Carrying fng-o;s to the woods Go further back
and Plato has the same idea put in form which would
appeal to the Greek most unnecessary operation
I'm "Talng owls to Athens" OF course the local vaF-
tons are many. instance there Is Swimming across
Il river to get drink of water" There IS one version
which Is extremely coarse and vulgar but 1t Is such
good example Of the local turning that the writer
ventures TO dve it. 1t was used in the West at the
time when there good deal OF bear hunting ana
here It became Carrying CUTS to bear"
newspaper man who lives in Brooklyn gets home
late in tho morning There have been several high
way robbcrles over there lately, and the newspaper
man recently took the precauton 10 prepare himself
against being held up His turn came few night
later. lie was walking rapidly. with his overcoat
open. when n man stepped ont from tho shadows and
coolly reached for the newspaper mans watch. But
he changed his mind almost instantly, for he was
looking right Into the muzzle Of revolver.
lie turned and ran like deer and the newspaper
man. to give the robber n scare fired after him. 1he
point Of this story Is that the man would have I'M
dOubtedly been robbed and perhaps killed II he had
not been armed and had offered resistance, for cries
would not have brought policemen. since none OF them
were attracted by the pistol shots. So the moral to
Brooklyn men who get home late Is not to carry re
vorcrS (at least without permit but not TO trust 10
policemen for protection from highwaymen.
The writer has had two eyasperatlng experiences
with the elevated railroad recently. In each Instance
his train was blocked by accident between two
stations The first time he able to get to the
track and walk 60 tho nearest station, continuing his
Journey on surface But the second time lonly
few days ater) he was caught part Of the track
where il was not possible to walk. there being 10 room
for foot passengers lie wondered then why no pro
vision had been made for such cases It's OF no use
to say that the elevated railroad people do not expect
such accidents to occur often They do occur ana
will continue to occur and II a were hurrying to
catch 4 train at the Grand Central Station to 60 to
Chicago TO sign contract delay like this would cost
somebody cgeat deal of money. Women who are on
blocked elevated trains particularly unfortunate,
for il is next to impossible for them 10 climb to the
track and II Is very dangerous for them To do so. as
their gown, brush against the even when there is
a walk on the track, and Il movement OF inc triili
might easily drag them by their skirts under the
wheels They a. a rule sit in the cars TIL the trouble
f. over but they DO not find the waiting over pleasant
To man or woman who has an ungratlfed wish.
the many columns OF short advertisements on the
ninth page Of The Tribune viii be found brmful OF In