The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-04
Some of the ironies of Life.

| At Berne Switzerland, one may see every
weekday morning at so'ciock an old man.
bent by age and dressed in thread-bear
gaFb. entering the general Offices of the
Jura-Simpton railway from the Spi,ai street
entrance He appears very glad when now
and then some one gives him = Ia; or an
Cd coat. AMI imagines himself lucky when
he Is invited TO have q glass OF wine This
old man as now copyiss in the railroad Of
fee mentioned, and draws a salary OF one
hundred francs SA.oc) month. upon which
he Is Juet able TO exist. StilI this old
mans fate should be q matter OF nc little
concern 20 any Swiss patriot, for he was
from lSS7 to 1857 President of the Swiss Coz
fsderacy. Constant Fornerod OF Arenches
IS known by very few. and when he goes
through the streets OF Berne or drinks his
cup Of coffee at the ''Baesenhoefi.'' the
masses pass on without paying any atten-
ton 10 him VIVA; thoughts mus, M the
mind OF the poor old man. who. happily. IS
sun comparatively strong and healthy.
when he considers that once he was honor
ed anc greeted by every body when ne hiled
the highest place in the land. and tina, now
he - unknown and hardly earns enough TO
supply the necessities OF Efe
Something happened In Milan the other
day wlrieh one would believe Amos, I'm
possible IN this age OF science and iea-n-.
Ing.
A young man about % years old, we'll
dressed and apparently OF good family was
found wandering about the city alone and
without means. He spoke apparently con-
nected sentences. bat in language which
no one could comprehend. He finally wac
given a temporary asylum in a charitable
institution intended for children. The
young man is Of small build. very sympa-
thetic and Of pleasing manners. He speaks
few French words. but net enough to
make himself understood in that language.
From what 1t has been possible 10 learn
from him and others Il seems that he came
TO France five months ago from Chrstisnia.
Norway, and the language he speaks Is
not Norwegian, but a peculiar dialect spo-
ken only in Northern Lapland. He knows
the words Lyons and Genoa. and II appears
from his sign language he wanted to take
vessel at the latter port. but his trunk.
containing all he had. was stolen In Genoa,
and he was placed on a train going through
TO Milan. with q ticket TO that city. The
poor boy finds much sympathy. and is In
such sorry distress that It IS feared he will
succumb 10 the nervous strain on his sys-
tenn
A living doll dwells in the village of Hart
ley. England. where she attracts thousands
or curious people. The diminutive woman
Is called Marguerite Suddaby Born In York
shire. Of parents OF normal statue, she was
hardly seven inches long when entering this
world. Today. although apparently fun
grow. she is not quite ~ inches high, and
her weight Is less than two pounds. She
has the dimensions OF small doll and
her parents can only dress her with cloth
ing originally intended for dolls. She sleeps
In dolls bed. and Is covered with bed
clothes of the size OF an ordinary handker-
chief. her pillow being about the size OF an
ordinary letter envelope. The Living Doll
OF Hartley" as she IS commonly called. Is
a blonde. with pretty, clear blue eyes and
rather intelligent Up 10 the present her
health has never given any cause for ap-
prehension. and nothing Is more surprising
than to see her dance and run like a mar
velous little automaton.
During their recent sojourn IN venince the !
italian crown prince and his wife. Princess
Elena. were pestered with begging letters. |
requesting aims and assistance Not less /
than LOO OF these epistles found their way .
TO the princely couple. Several crippies 4
laid in wait in gondolas on the Canal Grand. 4
which the crown prince was TO pass. and /
some followed the princes gondola 10 throw
begging letters in his lap Six of the beg /
sars fell into the lagoon in an attempt 10 !
come near the barge. and one particularly i
persistent petitioner followed the gondola /
by swimming, and threw his, letter. which /
he held with his teeth. into the gondola. l
returning TO the shore the same way he had /
come. The crown prince and his wife l
were much amused when the comic appear
ance of the fellow whsn he drew himself
out OF the water 10 throw the wet letter /
at the feet Of the prince.