The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-13
THE BURSTING OF 4 sAxD COX.
The Danger That Lurksd In IN Inneesn'
Pod.

Bolten had spent the winter wandering
among the West India islands. and when
ne got back had medley Of curionties
which he had picked up In bis travels.
Among them were all sorts Of beans ana
pods OF tropical trees. and Of the former
were John Crow beans. the wary. the
horse eye, Jobs tears and many others,
says the New York Tribune. There were
the long. scabbard-like pods OF the GRIM
son-fowered acassia; cocoa pods, which
ratified with the dry chocolate seeds tn-
side them, and he also had two pods Of
the sand-box tree, curious circular store-
houses for the seeds, deeply ribbed, each
rib running from top to bottom OF the
nod. These two latter received places OF
honor In lacquer trays, the smaller beans
finding room around them. Bolten Is a
natty man, and on his mantelshelf In his
bedroom were arranged these treasures,
presided over by four statuettes or nude
goddesses
were the most innocent-looking things
Imaginable, and he never dreamed for
moment that nature was still busy bring
ing to perfection those sand boxes. He
had gone to bed after hard days work
and was sleeping the sleep OF the just
when he was awakened by what ne
thought was pistol shot in his room. Az
the same time missiles were flying all
around AS he jumped out OF bed to
light the gas there was a second explo-
sion. and this time he was peppered
with all sorts OF missiles.
The carpet was strewn with objects
which were not pleasant to tread on, and
In his anxiety TO escape them and get at
the Jet he nearly broke the small toe
of his right foot by tamming IL against
a chair leg. He nursed IL affectionately,
but sadly, for some time, swearing In
undertones, but afraid to give loud ex-
preston to his pent-up feelings lest there
might be another fusillade.
AT last like a cat walking over hot
bricks he reached the jet and lighted the
gas The treasures OF the mantelpiece
were scattered about the room. The god
desses had been hurled from their high
places and looked like Roman remains,
headless and armless. The lacquer trays
were in small pieces, while the pods ana
beans were scattered all over the room.
rba goblet had even been broken. and
the water was standing in puddes about
the Garnet. The sand box had vanished.
He searched around carefully. There was
no trace. so far as he could see or the
cause of the explosions. He gathered up
his broken and scattered treasures, mo
ing among them segmentS OF the Sdhu
boxes, and then, leaving the gas ahght'
tried to sleep. OF the strange occurrences
he said not a word to his friends.
The other day a friend was in his rooms
and looking over the collected remnants
remarked: Hello! Here are pieces OK
a sand box"
what is that?'
"Weu it's the fruit of a tree that
crows in the West Indies, and got its name
owing 10 the planters using IL In the days
before blotting paper was invented ior
sand boxes The seeds were cut our OF
the centre and the pod was then fllied
with sand 1t was rather an unsatisfac.
tory box, however. as 1t often exploded
exploded! What do you mean
"This Is the fruit of Hura crepitans,
large tree something like the tulip tree
of this country. AS soon as the SEED IL
ripe IL explodes with report IKE gun,
the seeds and shell of the pod being
scattered in all directions. So great Is
the force of the explosion that the broken
pieces are thrown forty and hfty rect
Fowls. as soon as they hear an explosion
RIM toward the tree and are soon busy
looking for the seeds, which they greediiy
swallow" - -
"That explains it," said the other, ana
he told the story Of his shattered works
of art. -