The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-16
WISE OR OTHERWISE.


who is employed at general carpenter
work by the Waterbury Brass company,
has just completed table containing S0O.-
900 pieces of wood. He started in 1891 and
has worked on 1t at odd times, in all 1854
hours. 1t Is yard square. In the center
of the revolving top Is picture of the
white house at Washington, surrounded
by the Stars and Stripes. Along the sides
are shown Washington's birthplace in Vir-
ginia, his familiar Mount Vernon home,
the birthplace of Grant in Ohio and the
house where he attended school as a boy.
interviewer with these are many quaint
designs. The support consists of two
pieces of oak placed together in the form
of a letter X. on these oak supports are
sixteen panels on which are shown trees.
birds and leaves on the lower part are
shown the American eagle, with spread
wings and a cluster of arrows in its talons,
a deer's head, n stork, a sparrow, and
two roosters, Washingtons Valley Forge
headquarters, the birthplace of Lincoln in
kentucky, Ford's theater, where Lincoln
was shot, and the place nearby where he
died; the birthplace of Columbus at
Genoa, cloister in Spain visited by Co.
lumbus, the ship Constitution, Libby
prison, a cluster Of daisies, lilies, n Scotch
thistle, and twenty-siX varieties of leaves,
with ferns and fruits. The Masonic
temple at Waterbury is given, as are sew
eral private residences. There is nothing
in the nature Of dye, paint or stain in the
whole work The various effects are
brought out solely by the natural colors
of the different woods, of which there are
seventy-three varieties in the table.
80
Joseph jefferson was once asked why,
although as rip Van Wrinkle" he con-
tinually speaks of his dog Schneider, no
dog ever appears. Mr.. jefferson replied
that he disliked realism in art, and real
ism alive with a tail to wag at the wrong
time would be abominable. But don't
you think the public would like to see
Schneider" he was asked. "The public
could not pay him a higher compliment,
for it shows how great an interest they
take in an animal that has never been ex-
hibited. No, no; hold the mirror up to ma
ture If you like, but don't hold nature up
a. reflection of the thing, but not the thing
itself. How badly would a drunken man
give an exhibition of intoxication on the
stage! Who shall act the madman but
one who is perfectly sane? We must not
be natural, but appear to be So" zone
question more, and l have DONE" said his
why do you not refuse the
cup that Gretchen offers you at the end of
the play?" "Should Rip refuse the cup"
replied Mr.. jefferson. "the drama would
become at once a temperance play. I
should as soon expect to hear of Cinderella
striking for high wages or a speech on
woman's rights from old Mother Hubbard,
as to listen to a temperance lecture from
Rip Van Winkle."
Who has not met the train bore? Evil
IDENTIFY the Detroit Free Press man had,
for this is how he sketches him: The
man on the train was cured up in the
corner of the seat thinking his own
thoughts and attending to his own busi-
ness, when one of those men who don't do
either as a rule, sat down behind him and
began to converse with him. 1t was in In
diana, and the talker was native.
"Air you from Indianapolis?" was his |
question. NO." answered
the man so promptly that the Hoosier was |
back-set bit, but he came up to the
scratch again. "Frum Louisville, mebbe?" |
he ventured. NO. "Cincinnatl?" mo"
''Chicago?" mo" "Detrolt?" 'No
"Cleveland, I'll bet?" said the native, not |
Mt all abashed. On the contrary he seemed |
to be more interested, the harder the chase |
became.
The man uncurled and sat up in his seat. |
mo, sir" he fairly shouted at his tor |
mentor. I'm not from Indianapolis, or
Louisville, or Cincinnati, or Chicago, or
Detroit. or Cleveland" The native fell
back In astonishment, and threw up his |
hands.
well, mister" he said, "you needn't cit |
excited about 1t. Ef you amt frum none
Of them towns I amt pertlckaler about
yittin' acquainted with yoiI
49,
The proverbial pol!teness of the Irish
people Is well illustrated in two anecdotes
cited by a contributor to the Youths Com
pa nion. A clerical traveller in Cavan not
ong ago asked a peasant how far 1t was
10 a certain village, and was answered,
Two miles" what! Only two mlles?,'
said the traveller. who had before ira
yersed the distance and found II a long
'oad. well, your riverence," answered
he peasant, ut Is two miles strong and
'ich so to spakev' A somewhat similar
story Is told by one Of Lord Zetland's
)arty who were making inquiries into the
Of a distressed district. They
we're crossing a lake. A gale was blow
ng. and waves were lashing over the boat.
rhe gentleman referred to had been as
'ured that an Irish peasant, II treated
we'll. will always agree with what Is said
% him, rather than appear disagreeable.
It struck the gentleman that here was q
rood chance to put the assertion to the
proof. There is very little wind, Pat" he
'aid to one Of the boatmen. The answer
,ame through the bowling of the elements,
Very little, indade, yer Honor, but fhwat
here Is Is moighty sthrongv
-"
An engineer has pointed out that one
nch Of rain falling upon an area of one
'quare mile is equivalent to nearly 17,50O,-
100 gallons. Weighing l5,2Oo,oO0 pounds, or