The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-06-21
INHABITED THATCH.
Cobras in a Deserted Indian Bungalow at
Bhangalpore.

bndnSalpore'
The town of Bhangalpore. in India,
lies in a low. moist valley. There the
conservator of forests took up his resi-
dence when he was reporting on the
state of some woods in Bengal. He
found the bungalow in a very dilapi-
dated condition. The ''chut'-a white
washed ceiling cloth stretched horizon
tally at the height of the walls, and
hiding unseemly beams and rafters-
was full of holes. So also was the
thatch, as he knew from the patches of
blue sky to be seen here and there.
| sent for the owner Of the house, and
ordered him to make the building thor
oughly inhabitable.
Sir. he replied, lit is the dry sea-
son. You only want the house for a
month or so, and during that time there
will not be drop of rain. What need
/ there for repairs?'
He was plausible, but still | insisted
on having the place put to rights. The
next day when reached the bungalow
found four or five thatchers and some
servants lettering outside, but not d
hands turn of work had been done.
Moreover, it was evident that they had
not the slightest intention of begin
ming. for one of the thatchers APP
preached me with joined hands and
said:
You may hang me If you like, sahih,
but cannot work Il, that house.
"Why. what is the matter with it?' [
asked. wonderingly.
Come and see
Calling the other workmen. who had
tied their hooked iron tools to the e1
tremities of long bamboos, we APP
preached the house, and then. standing
by the doorways, began cautiously and
apprehensively to pull down the chut,
or ceiling cloth.
The sight that met our eyes absolute
ly beggared description. The whole
roof, thatch. rafters and beams, seemed
literally alive with cObras. They
swarmed in hundreds: hooded crests
and angry heads Kissed at us from every
nook and corner. On examining the
house further we found that the walls,
made of sun-dried bricks. We're COM
pletely honeycombed with holes and
snake channels: and it was evident that
the cobras had used the spot for years
as a sort of nursery for bringing up
their young. | am glad to add that,
next day, the bungalow was burned to
the grOund.-Gouth's Companion.
Uncle Allen Expresses Himself Strongly.
''All things are useful in their proper
place" observed Uncle Allen Sparks.
| Now there's the fish horn. Considered
as fish horn. when used sparingly and
for legitimate advertising purposes
only, it is objectionable, But when
it goes into politics, assumes gregar-
ious character, and shows a tendency
| to late hours and riotous dissipation -
and here Uncle Allen drew his breath
hard and brought his fist down on the
table with a rcsounding thump-"when
| it does all this. then | say" But it
has been thought best, on due consid.
| Grafton. to omit what he did say. -
| Chicago Tribune.
Marriage La Mode.
Jack Goldby-That's the rich old Mr.
| Mum with Miss Bronston. They say
she's going to marry him for his money.
Mrs. Upperten enthusiastically.
| Well, it's positively refreshing to hear
of at least one sensible girl making a
| good old-fashioned love match, instead
of throwing herself at peniless
foreign nobleman!-PuclI.
| Manners Had Departed.
| Little Johnny--Whoop! The girl