The morning call., 1894-02-11
HERE AND THERE.

at that team aud Its tiny driver, ana all butcher
town, too, issues a standing challenge that no
one OF his age aud size can perform some 1eatS
which he regards as minor details OF the busi-
ness.
This distinguished driver is Willie Barr, Lad
of IA years OF age. He manages four splendid
horses with perfect ease, but how the lines
ever get between his small fingers Is puzzle.
When Willie climbs 10 his box seat and draws
a cover around his knees very little Is seen OF
the driver. The back and sides OF The seat hide
him half way up 10 the shoulders. But then
you hear piping childish voice accustomed 10
command: "Gt up there, Dandy! hi up, JIM"
The leaders prance and start away with the
others alter them. Whatever impression was
given by Wlie's dmnutive stature is now dis
PEELED Willie is a man In his way.
"Cracki cTacki" goes his long whip, the
lines sway an instant in INDIGESTION, followed Dy
4 sharp jerk, which sets The horses heads
snaking DANDY! JIm!" and away the team
flies with only this extraordinary youth at the
helm. But Willie can steer as well as the best
OF them, and that over the treaeherous road
ways from the abatt0irs to Pine street. 10 see
him swing his horses at brisk trot from
Kearny street into either Pine or California Is
astonishing. He never thinks Of slackenlng
the speed, nor even when turning into the
market through narrow alley.
acne 100 young to driver" he exclaimed, as
remark was made about his age. "My father
used TO drive for years. Dut lie Is not aDle 10
any more and It's all The same who drives, so
that the meats in. l drive for my father, and
amt that all right? L geriup az 2:3o IN the
morning and get into the market between and
3. Then drive my team home again. Some
times l don't go 10 bed long. but come back
with second load IN the evenings. But my
father can't do it no more and can"
In the show window OF drugstore on one OF
the cty's thOrOUghfares STANDS small tree, or
bush, little more than foot high, aud several
slender branches supporting few leaves are
shooting out from the parent stem. AT a casual
glance the tree might appear 10 be thickly
studded with long, slender leaves, but a closer
investigation would reveal fully dozen little
reptiles OF every size ana color, not snakes,
though almost as Tepulsive TO many of sensitive
nerves. The little creatures look for ali the
world like lizards, the only apparent difference
being their aptitude 10 change from their color
OF leafy green TO all the coOrs of the rainbow
and a Jew more. Pretty little things They are
10 those who may have fancy that way, as
they run up and down the tree, stopping to nib
bic at leaf here and there, or walking over
the branches and hanging win their bodies
down. fly might walk tile ceiling. A placard
at the foot OF the tree says they are perfectly
harmless, but the thought of having one of them
crawling over ones hand neck is liable
10 give one touch Of the " creeps."
Sometimes the littleianimals are green. some
times blue, purple or PINK, passing Through the
different shades OF all these cOlOrs in less time
than il takes to buy them. These are chame-
Icons and they for sale 10 those who are
always ready 10 adopt new fadS. Live Brazil
ian beetles have had their DAY as necessary
parts of lady's bTeastpiD, ana now it Is the
turn of the chameleon. This latest tad was in-
troduced with the past month and now 1t seems
10 be quite the proper thing for lady 10 adOrn
her cOTsage with chameleon. The reptiles
are held captive by little threads of gold fast
ened around their necks and attached 10 gold
pins in the dress. which are placed high enough
to allow them 10 rove at will over the fair
throats OF their owners.
The ingenuity displayed by confidence men
TO fleece their victims is worthy a better cause.
Charles Mason, who was arrested few days
ago at the Nidwinter Fair grounds, may be
cited as an Illustration. During the smallpox
scare on the northwest coast, about eighteen
months ago. Mason and John Russell, a con-
federate. were In Tacoma. One day Mason
approached a stranger from British Columbia
and represented himself as "A health Inspector.
He stored him 10 a room where Russell was
waiting ana introduced Russell 10 the stranger
as a medical health officer. Russell felt his
pulse. examined his tongue and told him In a
professional way that he thought that lie was
al shall soon satisfy myself by rubbing this
lotion over your face. IL l am correct IN
my diagnosis of your case your face will break
out in eruptiOns." He took some crotou
oil and rubbed it vigorously on the
strangers cheeks, and, of course, blotches very
quickly appeared. "Ah !" said Russell, tits
bad case; you Will have to go TO the quarantine
station" The stranger begged piteousy not
to be sent there and limited thai he would make
it worth their while TO permit him TO leave the
city. Russell demurred, and Mason reminded
him that il was as much as his position was
worth to accept bribe but finally they agreed
TO keep silent on payment OF 500. The
money was paid over. When the stranger
afterward found that he did not have the
smallpox 1t dawned upon him that he had been
duped, and he wrote to the police authorities at
Tacoma giving a description OF the two men,
and the detectives compelled Mason and Rus
sell 10 refund the money on pain Of being pros
ecuted.
The literary men of San Francisco who knew
Fred Somers years ago when he made his fame
recall many interesting stories in connection
with his earlier work. While he was engaged
on the ArgOnaut he In conjunction with other
journalists conceived the idea of publishing
monthly magazine racy OF Californian style.
The thought assumed definite shape and event.
ually crystillized In the Californian. Shortly
White submitted his poem, 1.-The Midnight
Mass" 10 Somers for publication in The Argo-
naut. 1t was MIR. Whites first pretentious
effort. and as lie got no reply he naturally
believed his poem had gone the way OF the ma.
jority. After all hope of seeing the picturesque
lines In print among good literary productions.
The author was agreeably surprised TO receive
a Call from Somers, who had The manuscript in
his pocket.
II have since thought the meter did not suit
the subject" said the writer. alphabetically.
II will change it and submit the poem again."
Nothing OF the s0rI," replied SOmers. ~
want 1t as IL Is for the new Californian"
The poem was given tue place Of honor, and
long after 1t appeared in Current Literature.
and then In the Argonaut.
Last Friday morning shortly before the bell
Of the Whittier School on Harrison street rang
its note of warning TO the pupils TO file in for
their daily studies an impromptu fight was be-
ing INDUCED in by two Of the smallest scholars
neither of them being apparently over 10
years OF age. Quite a ring was formed nv
their admitting mates while they began to pum.
mel each other, and blows. as hot and heavy as
each puny little pugiist could rain them, were