The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-09
Police Clerk and His Splen-
did Army Record.
Does a Horse Hair Become a
Snake When Put in Water?
Something About Old and Often
Exposed Popular Delusi0n.

Nnen the ihle BtuiuIs Bchtio nho : 'b"N
tic Seth Horton passed away there was
doubt in the minds OF many persons In
the police department as o'the possible
fly OF filing his place as clerk at head
quarters satisfactorily. Mr.. Horton was
a met hodicai. persevering and indeiati'
gable worker aud unquestionably the
most efficient man the department had
ever had in that important position
which involves the trying and trouble
some work of keeping The departmental
books. The .doubters, however, long
ago came to the conclusion that in Mr..
William Gardner the department had Sc
cured worthy successor 10 ar. Horton
ana one equally efficient and competent.
indeed Mr.. Gardner is one OF the bright
sst men OIL the force and those who know
his capabilities say he could fill even
higher and more eyacting position tnan
that of clerk with entire satisfaction.
moreover Mr.. Gardner is a veteran OF the
war. in which he made an honorable and
enviable record.
Although born I'm Connecticut he came
20 hhode Island in early youth and re-
ceived his education here. When tue War
OF tho Rebellion broke out he was
among the ii rst 10 hurry TO the defence
OF national integrity ana he enlisted III
what was then called the First New Eng
land Cavalry, but later known as the
First Rhode Island Cavalry. lie won
lromotiCn from private TO the grades OF
corporal, sergeant and finally first SER
geant, and Inc served in many of the most
noted battles OF tbe war. He fought at
Cedar Mountain, at Groveton, Second Bull
Kun, Chsniiily, Autietam, Fredericks-
burg, Kcliey's Ford, Brandy Station and
at Middleburg. 1t was ut the latter place
ne was taken prisoner and sent first To
Libby and later 10 Bell Isle prison. Ex-
changed after some days confinement
as q prisoner of war he reported for duty
with his Regiment again and took part
in the fight at Rapidan Station In Sep
TEN Der, 1868. MIR. Gardner had the dis
tinction OF being in the battle OF Win
chester under Sheridan aad can point TO
z6 engagements in which he participated.
How old notions and exploded SUPER
Btitions maintain their hold oil the peo-
pie. Last evening, for instance, the Cos
siper heard two men well advanced in
years discussing most seriously the
question as to whether horse hair
in the water. This is question
that probably every boy and girl dis
cnsses during their adolesoent stage, but
1t is seldom that they give IL thought
in later life. The fact is that the idea a
horse hair will be metamorphosed into
snake by placing it III wHter Is mt least as
old, and.probably older, than PIiny, who
makes mention of ii as common belief
among the peasantry OF Italy in his day.
The origin of such notion is, however,
probably due to the presence In the stag
nant ponds of Southern Europe of an
aquatic animal which is sometimes from
10 to IL inches long and which bears
striking resemblance 10 horse hair.
The Gossiper has been asked this Ques.
tiSn: 81 came to this country when /
was ~ years old aud i have lived here
ever since. My father was never natural
ized. Am citizen?' No. The miner
children OF aliens who come here and
take out naturalization papers become
citizens on coming CT age without further
formaIity, but when an alien remains
such. however long his residence may be
or that of lie children, both he and they
are, in the eve OF the law, foreigners, and
cannot exercise the rights of citizenship.
The minor CHILDREN of aliens are them
selves aliens, even though they attain
their majority in this country, and they
must be naturalized in order TO become
citizens.
You frequently sec on articles you buy
and ON others that you don't buy the in
scription. "Patsnt applied for" Just
what that means is conundrum TO
many people, and the question Is often
asked whether..it Is an. infraction Of the
law TO stamp articles'in that way when
no patent has actually been applied for.
A lawyer who makes specially Of patent
cases answers the question in this way:
For any ono bat tho patentee or somo
person 10 wnom he has given perm ission
to make patented article, is an offense
against the patent laws which guarantee
TO every inventor the sole right TO manu-
facture and sell his invention. The
'spatent applied for" inscription which
sometimes appears on manufactured
articles exposed for sale, is notice 10
al persons that II they make or sell the
article thus Inscribed, they do so at their
own peril. for IL the patent Is granted,
the patentee may sue for damages. OF
course, the ratent applied for may not be
granted, as many are not, but II is never
safe 10 take the risk.