St. Landry democrat., 1893-12-30

hAI oledllnS Is salu " Je one Ol Tie
favorite occupations Of the footpads in
the City of Mexico. The scoundre
marks his victim, often in the most pub
lie streets and in broad daylight comes
up behind him, grabs his hat and makes
off at the top of his speed; and from his
knowledge Of the byways and hiding
places Of the city usually succeeds in
making his escape. An ordinary Ameri-
can reader will wonder why anyone
would want TO steal hat, but perhaps
he does not know that the hat, or som
brero, affected by the average Mexican
is the most expensive part of his apparel.
These hats are very large, made of the
best Of felt, and often deliberately dec
Grated with gold and silver embroidery.
A Mexican cowboy will wear the biggest
and costliest hat that he can afford to
buy, and it is not uncommon to see them
with hats worth from $50 to $50, when
all the rest Of their garments would not
be worth s..
MISSIONARIES which strike separated
friends at the same time and make each
sit down and write to the other after six
mon enough. But the case of two
brothers living in the South GENES a
little nearer the rarity of cases placed
high in the investigations of the PSYCHE
cal Research Society. 1t appears that
recently Mr.. McCrory of OSIethorpc
decided at certain hour on IL certain
night to visit his LrDthcr, who lived in
Florida. 1t had been long time since
the two brothers had seen each other,
and the strange part Of it is at the very
hour on the same night the Florida man
had decided to visit his brother in
Georgia. They both started about the
same time and were both cmincutly sue
cessful, for each reached the home Of
the other about the same time and was
much surprised to find the other gone.
One of the most curious applications
of the phonograph to practical use was
made by an American student Of Ian
guages. Being DESTROYS of studying
Chinese SO that he might speak it, he
asked an acquaintance to send him an
instructor When the latter arrived he
proved to be Chiuaman of unpromis
ing exterior but fair English. Teacher
and pupil got on well the first day, bat
the latter found his instructor so often
sive in personal characteristics that he
decided to avail himself of his knowl
edge without enduring his presence. So
the Chinaman was set to work to talk
his lesson into a photograph, and at
night the pupil, having gone to bed
with the lights out, turned on the phono-
graph and memorized the lesson. He
gave up the experiment, however, for
the whimsical reason that he dreamed OF
Chinese dragons and other hidaous pro.
ducts of Oriental art.
AN amusing story comes from the
South Sea islands. A missionary there
not long ago concluded that his house
would look better for coat of white
wash, and to get the lime burnt some
coral. This operation the nativcs
watched with good deal of interest,
thinking that the coral was being cooked
for the purpose of being eaten. They
were greatly disappointed when they
found that this was not the case, but
when in a short time they bchcld the
missionary's cottage cleaning in the
sunlight as white as Stow, their delight
knew no bounds They Danced they
sang, they screamed with joy. The
whole island was in confusion White
wash became the rage. Happy was the
coquettc who could enhance her charms
by Il daub Of the white brush. Conten.
tons arose. One party urged theiI
superior rank; another obtained posses
sion of the brush and valiantly held ID
against all corners A third tried to up
set the tub TO obtain some of the pre-
cious cosmetic. To quiet the hubhub.
more whitewash was made, and in Il
week not hut, a domestic utensil, q
war club or garment but was as white
as snow; not an inhabitant but had his
skin painted with grotcsque figures; not
q pig thai was not whitencd; and
mothers might be seen in every direction
capering joyfully and yelling with de-
light in the contemplation of the
beauty of their whitewashed
babies.
A correspondent witnessed strange
duel ON one Of President Crcspo's big
cattle ranches in the interior of
Venezuela. Two vanqueros, or cowboys,
were enamored cf the same dark eyed
little Indian girl of the great Orinoco
plains, and they decided to settle by a
duel with the lasso which of them should
take her to wife. \ dozen fellow
assembled to witness the fray.
The lovers soon appeared mounted on
mettlesome mustangs, each with q long
powerful lariat OF tough COW hide.
They were both experts with the lasso,
and their horsemanship was a marvel.
They approached to within forty and
fifty yards'of each other and then began
to mannuvre fer deciding cast. After
several feints the lariat of the younger
Of the rivals, handsome, sun bronzed
fellow from Carabobo, went whizzing
through the air so swiftly that the eye
could scarcely follow it. The other
sank his spurs deep into his mustang.
The animal sprang forward just in time
to save his master from the moose. and
as he did SO the second lasso rose in the
air and settled round the shoulders of
the man who missed, pinuing his arms
to his sides as in vice. He was ierked
hepdlong out of the saddle. His success
full rival drew him along hand over hand,
half lifting him from the ground by the
tenacious thong, and put a bullet SO uare
between his eyes. He then turned and
ode directly to the amp where Lived
he cause of this Fa7baric scene. She
mounted behind him and he came gal
oping back swinging his sombrero.