The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01

| that no butter could be had IN 'vN"' "'
| he nut In the advertisement. ~
That reporter Is now minister 10 To-
| sla from the United States
|
"Have you completed that ske'ch
asked the City Editor with uat easp-
| ,,o,pe way Of his. ak II | ham Det"
Working on the thing for four days. lie
| was one Of those COMPOUNDED newspaper
| men who never exhibits the slightest De
cree Of emotion. and, judging from ms
manner. you would have thought ne
! looked upon an ambulance call IN inc
same rnatter-of-fact uay that ne VleNeu
a sensational double tragedy.
Not quite" l replied.
Better get your copy In at once ineH'
he's going to die tonight sure.
shall never forget the experience
The time I'm writing about was M'rcn
n 1850 at T. NJ. yet the details are
as vivid i'm my memory as though IL were
Yesterday The subject of the Shel'h
above mentioned was one of the most
vyiaclv-known citizens OF Richmond Nv
erybody knew him. He had held prom
inent fnacial social, and religious posi-
ton for years. and he had u nls'o'n
wprth reading. He had fought all
tbrough the civil war. was a well-known
writer and politician. a brilliant orator
ana a familiar figure In all public gain
erings Of note When his physician pro
nounced him i'll, ] was commissioner 10
nrenare a complete sketch OF his me-
For several days l had worked IKE
slave. gathering dates and facts III CON
nection with the man. and on the hl-h'
referred TO. information was received az
the editorial rooms that the paueht oooiu
not possibly live through the hish'' az
last the copy was complete-neariy three
..ttt4 md d..
the hour of death left to be hlled IN.
THAT night at Y 80 o'clock the City En-
tor left the Office after reminding me
TO stay on till the paper went 10 press Al
. NJ a 'phone message said the pa
,ient was sinking rapidly. FIFTEEN MN
utes later another message sald ne
couldn't possibly live an hour. Al o''o
bv the clock the phone bell rang violent
".
Hello said l.
Hes dying came the answer NJ
risk: let her so"
win This / decided to settle the matter,
and the story was ordered released.
In few minutes the office boy ]
had in front Of the house returned 10
The editorial rooms. Have just seen the
doctor" said he.
ssyVhat did he say2' | asked.
"Be dead in ten minutes at most
| heaved sigh of relief, and hurried
from the office.
The death Of the prominent citlzen rs
published in the paper was discussed far
and wide When the afternoon papers
came out. however. it was stated much 10
NV horror that the patient had rallied
SLIGHTLY. and then they went ON to an
initiate my report. The man got We'll
and is frequently seen on the streets now
a-davs. Ever since that Aprn fool, I've
steered clear Of advance obituaries on
the night Of March Slst.
Ny first experience at a house parry
was rather unique. 1t was in the Soulh-
eastern part of Virginia, not very lar
from Norfolk The people IN that seCuon
are known far and wide Tor tnelr nos
pitality, and when six OF us We're IN
yited to spend a week at that typical old
Virginia homestead we knew We were
going to be given a royal time. Besldes
the half a dozen young men there were
as many young ladies invited, ana the
latter feature made matters douby IN
teresting. one night there was to be
genuine all-around dance at the house.
Some twenty persons from the city were
invited out and string band engaged
to give the dancers inspiration. Ihat
afternoon all six of us young men went
down TO the fish pond to try our LUCK
Among other things we caught two cells
and upon reaching the house decided 10
keep these members Of the fnny tribe I'D
a bucket of water. by way Of interesting
our fair companions the next day
The music and dancers from the city
were expected about o'clock. Nhen we
left the tea table at Z. however, l noticed
that the young ladies were especially
anxious for us TO don our dress suits
in ample time to receive the visitors. We
finally yielded to their persuasive powers,
and every man had disrobed himself be-
fore ANYTHING unusual was discovered.
"Confound the luck!" said one Of the
sextet1e. upon reaching for his dress
trousers in the wardrobe. II wish you
would look what they've done" holding
ND a pair of trousers with the legs stitch
ed together
Rather serious April fool laughed one
Of his companions; but his merriment
toned down wonderfully when he found
his own trousers in a similar condition.
Investigation proved that every man was
In the same box, and few minutes
later the sight of half dozen scantily-
clad young fellows, each picking the
stitches from the legs Of his trousers, was
novel one.
We determined 10 retaliate. When the
| guests were preparing 10 leave one of the
| young men bribed the house maid ano
| gained access to the young ladies' apart
ments The cells were snugly quartered
i'm the snowy couches. and a few min
utes later the fair ones repaired TO their
room. The usual chatter ensued We
could catch a word now and then from
across the hall. but only inferred that the
ordinary comparison of notes was in pro-
gress. Finally silence prevailed Then
it was that half dozen unearthy shrieks
were Immediately followed by as many
fair maidens in strictly evening costume
tumbling pell nell over one another down
| the steps.
| The joke was on them.
Poisonous Snake rom India.