Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-03-12

lnVltatlon OF Juuge jOnn IOWnSenu W
celebrate his reelection as judge for
the supreme court of Illinois; and wish
ing to make 1t memorable occasion
he had not only entertained them roy
ally through the day and with boxes
for the opera in the evening. but a
midnight banquet had been arrangd
in their honor.
Judge Townsend seated his guests at
round table, the appointments OF
which We're dainty and elegant in the
extreme; rare china, cut glass and sill
yer, choice fruits and fragrant flowers
adorned the board. the whole softened
and mellowed by electric lights in rich
glass bulbs which studded the ceiling.
in the distant corners electric fans
gently stirred the perfumed air. and
skilled walters in pure white suits
glided noiselessly over the Persian rugs
politely anticipating the wants of each
guest.
As Judge Townsend took his position
and glanced around at the intelligent
and refined faces Of his coterie of
friends, his heart swelled with pride.
every man present was a judge and
several had attained to higher honors.
One was an associate justice of the
United States supreme court. One
served his country as secretary OF
state; several of them were judges of
the supreme courts. and all were men
OF marked ability. group which any
man might be proud to call friends.
Th. har ha
small hours, and wit and humor
flashed from the brains Of these elo-
quent warriors of the bench-all the
more enjoyable because entirely i'm
promptu.
The Hon. U. s. Justice had the repu-
tation OF being famous story teller.
and during lull in the conversation
was urged by his friend, Judge D..
to give one Of his characteristic west
ern sketches. to which he responded
with his usual bon-homie, calling forth
rousing encore.
AS he rose to bow in response to the
encore, he paused a moment before re-
seating himself and, raising his hand
to request silence. said, in humorous
ly impressive manner:
Fellow judges ad friends, our es-
teemed host has put up job on u.s.
we shall one of us be a spook before
the end of the year-there are thirteen
at this table. We call upon Judge
Townsend to explain himself and tell
US how he dares defy the laws of super
stition and thus publicly declare his
unbelief In spooks and their vista
TONS"
A chorus Of voices arose for an ex-
PLANTATION from their host, and Judge
Townsend, rising to his feet, glanced
round the table at the smiling faces Of
his guests, then bowling to his accuser,
said, In reply:
Your honor, In giving my invita-
tons have evidently forgotten TO in
clude myself. therefore / am number
thirteen; but In response to the accu-
sation which you have seen fit to make
against me ! will relate few incidents
in my own life history, which, trust,
win sufficiently explain my present in
difference to all danger of ghostly visi-
tations.
II have friend who is more to me
even than brother; we were born In
the same town, the estates Of our faith
ers joined. and not day Of our boy
hood was passed that we did not see
each other; between us existed the
most perfect harmony OF mind, al
though we differed widely in person.
Horace was dark, strong, powerfully
built, full OF life and vigor. while was
blonde, delicate, by no means physical
ly strong and somewhat timid.
II owe my present physical strength
to Horace, for he encouraged me in
athletic sports and laughed me out of
my timidity. and when we went away
to college together, was almost IL not
quite his peer.
Il will pass over our college life by
simply saying that, as usual, we aided
and assisted each other and graduated
In the same class.
Together we discussed almost every
theme which was presented for argu-
ment, and among other things the su-
pernatural was often touched upon by
US.
"One day Horace astonished me by
asserting that he believed in some rare
instances God In his goodness and
mercy allowed the souls OF his earthly
children who were to be taken away
suddenly, with some duty unperformed
or some warning unsaid, to wander at
will over the earth and finish that
work before they were translated to
heaven, whence he thought there was
no return.
Il pooh-hoocd at him, as I always
did when our conversation touched
upon the powers Of the soul, but Hor-
ace was In earnest and said to me, very
impressively: John, fully believe II
| knew ! must die and earnestly prayed
TO see you once more should be grant
ed permission to annihiIate space and
be visible to you, at least
Don't talk to me about dying, when
both Of us are about as healthy speci-
mems Of young manhood as there are
to be found replied, and the con-
versation was dropped, never to be re-
called to my mind until long years
afterwards.