The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-02
HnlEGD0TE
NND
INCIDENT

SOue uIue dlIer Cue cOuST0SS VI oOA
lin a deputy at one Of the Chancellor's
parliamentary soirees asked Bismarck
which of the European plenipoten-
tiaries who had attended the historic
congress he regarded as the first d1plo-
mat. "Ah, that can not tell you" an
swered the prince, with a smile; but
certainly the second was Lord Beacons-
field"
Colonel Smith, of tho First Califor-
MIA, tells q story of one Of the recruits
at the Preside. This Is an Irishman,
and he was doing guard duty. DO you
know your orders, sentry?" asked tho
Colonel. "Yis, sor." "If you face the
rising sun, your left hand would be on
the north Of you and your right hand
to the south Of you. What would be be-
hind your "Me canteen, sor.'
DR.. Parr is credited with having an
swered Cheeky" youth in most ehec-
tive fashion. The latter, wishing to
take a rise" out of Parr, who was a
man Of much dignity Of aspect, before
some frivolous acquaintances, observ-
ed that If the doctor and himself were
to collaborate they could write very
big book. IAN enormous one," said
Parr, dryly, 'if we put in all that L
know and all that you do not"
The late W. G. Wills, the play wright,
though lavish of money when he had it,
hated parting with 1t in any formal
way. When friend, to whom he owed
five pounds, took advantage Of his just
having received check for a play to
ask for payment the debtor declined
on account Of "the claims" upon him.
The friend, who knew his ways, came
back few hours later and asked him
for five pounds to hep him out of diff
f1cu1ty. Certainly, my boy" said Wills,
entirely forgetting what had gone be-
fore; take what you want" And he
offered him handful of sovereigns.
Thomas Coffin, brother Of Lucretia
Mott, the eminent Quaker minister and
anti-s1avery apostle, was not in the
least entitled to any claims to personal
beauty. He was once asked by friend
for his picture, but extended little hope
that the inquirer would ever get what
he asked for. 'eWell, Thomas" said the
other, "if thee Will not get one taken
for me, Will thee let me have a copy
of an old one?' IT am afraid can not
do that either" replied Thomas; 'the
fact Is that I once did have a picture
taken Of myself, and 1t was SO good
that destroyed it."
On the occasion, when Mr.. Glad
stone was beginning to give up the
lead in the House Of Commons to Sir
William Vernon Harcourt It was no
ticed by the members that he left the
House at the dinner hour, and Sir Will
lam Harcourt led for the rest of the sit
ting. Mr.. Darling, recently appointed
justice, one evening drove Sir William
to fury, on failing to elicit definite
answer to an inquiry, by casually OBJ
serving In the course Of his speech: 81
have noticed that lately the party op-
posite, adopting an ancient precedent,
have set up a greater light to rule the
day, and a lesser light to rule the
night
The Right Hon. Cecil John Rhodes
refused to enlist with Gordon in the
disastrous expedition to Khartum. Cor
don had, q year or SO previously, been
at the Cape and became very friendly
with the future Premier. 1t was at this
period that Gordon told Rhodes tie
story Of the offer Of a roomful Of gold
made to him by the Chinese Govern
ment. "What did you do?" asked
Rhodes. Refused 1t, Of course" was
the reply; what would you have
done?' Taken it." was Rhodes brief
but characteristic reply, land as many
more as could get, You can't carry
out big ideas unless you've enough
money to do 1t with
On the night Of the 'rHarbor Fete" at
Newport John Kendrick Bangs and his
little boy stood near group Of army
officers and ladies. One Of the torches
Illuminating the parapet went out dur
Ing the evening. A girl in the group
said the light next the darkened one
should be put out, too, as it looked lone
" without its mate One Of the young
officers at once acted upon her sugges-
ton, but in extinguishing the torch
burned his finger. He bit his lips and
said nothing. Mr.. Bangs small son
looked on in astonishment- Papa" he
said, isn't that man an of1cer?' "Yes."
Then, papa, why didn't he swearT'
because, my son." said the father, che
is either a chaplain or a second lieu
tenant II chaplain, 1t would not be
proper forshim to do SO, and If second
lieutenant he does not know how"
Josef Holman. the famous young
pianist, is fond Of all sorts Of sports, es-
pecia1y Of skating, In which, as boy,
he excelled. When visiting st. Peters
burg a year or two ago Josef was sum
moned to play before the ex-Empress,
the hour named being from 8 to in the
afternoon. It was a perfect day. The
Neva was frozen over, Of course, and
the skating was at its height. Immedi-
ately after luncheon Josef's father
found his son dressing as II to go to the
palace. where are you going?" he de-
manded. ITO play for the Empress"
"But you are not to 60 until o'clock"
Three o'clock! II wait until then It
Will be too late to go skating. I'm going
nowp He went And 1t Is not sur
prise to any one who knows Hofmann
to learn that ne played for the ex-Em-
press as soon as he reached the palace,
and that he then went off and skated
the rest Of the afternoon.
The Queens Private Secretary.
Sir Arthur Bigge, the Queens private
secretary, assists the Queen daily in
her work Of transacting business. He
reads the ministerial dispatches to her,
drafts her replies, and gives her his
advice when asked for. He writes the
court news which is sent daily to the
papers, and when great fire, or ship