New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
HICE DINE WITH Mn.
COLONEL COLES COMPANY ~ TIE MEMPHIS
COURTHOUSE LIBRARY.

COLONEL COLES COMPANY ~ TIE MEMPHIS
COURTHOUSE LIBRARY.
From The Memphis Commercial Appeal
Colonel Cole who is the presiding genius Of
the Courthouse Library. is "A remarkable man.
Colonel Cole has fought Indians in thc cahons
OF the West ne has followed mario" trails over
the Rockies has hunted the bison and buffalo
the broad and rolling plains Of Colorado.
has pannci gold in Montana mountain streams.
and has led command in the land OF the
MonteZumas.
The Courthouse Library Is located the
top floor, 1t is an old ramshacklf apartment.
with the ceiling cracked in sections and gen
eral air OF dcsuetudc and dcSolation about H.
1t is here amid several thousand volumes Of
musty and calf bound lore that COlon" cole
sits through The long hot summer DAYS No
brcczc ever finds its way into the COURTEOUS"
Library. and at all hours Of the day stiffness
hangs over the place like a pail on" IN a
while. perhaps. some lawyer may Wander IN L"
look UP legal question or refresh his memory
with a glance at the shelves. but beyond this
the silence remains unbrokcn
Eut Colonel cole is not lonesome. : OF does he
mind the gloomy surroundings and their ac-
company ing mold IL has friends small in
teresting vivacioIs. pi1u1nt pets They know
him and h has fathcrly regard for their wei
fare Thcs, friends ar the mice. Thcs" mic"
have taken advantage Of tho cracks ana Gran
nics in the courthouse. and haze established
we'll Jopuated colonies which seer; I" flourish.
though on what they subsIst Is mystery. The
family which has made its home In the library
is more fortunate than the other tribes OF ro-
dents which have been populaiing tn building.
It is this family that Colonel cole has taken
under his fitherly protection. They possess "A
rare quality Of intelligence and know the hours
Of the dav as we'll as the clock in tho Mctho-
the flooring has been cut. leaving small holes.
and to and from thcsc tho mice pass al dLy,
walking and running about with ~ seeming
fear when Colonel Cole first arrives ~ IA"
n orning he gives these mic" their breakfast
He has 4 peculiar way Of calling them. ana ~
the first sound OF his voice they scaHfrr 1" M
small openings in the nurr. pr"trud" their
smooth neat looking heads in an inpriring way
and then sauntcr out and gather IN a circle
about his feet.
Aflcr this their preccptor breaks biscuit and
divides il among them. They eat with nicc as
elimination and with much more regard ior
etiquette than great many peopIe ana a,'rr
finishing a meal brush the crumbs OUT OF t'''r
delicate whiskers with grace p'ah'"t u
watch Colonel Cole fccds these mic" AT regu-
lar intervals during the day. ana 'hry kho"
lust when the feeding time comes When al
noon The librarian eats his lunch the members
Of his family are given an elaborate repast
Sometimes it is not convenient to eat thIs luhch
AT noon and Colonel Cole dciers the important
duty ON such occasions inc mice pe'"H'r TO-
lcss and climb up the table legs ana upon the
coat aud shoulders Of the man wh" Nithho',S
their dinner Colonel CoIe docs ,pt "p 'j' -
this and they climb up his legs and he VIII push
them off in a good -naturcd way an" "P'" NE
lunch. ,.,..,a . ,i,,,i
d,tnd dictionarv holder Of antiquated pattern
, dncronit undcrpnnings. Taking a small
C,arnrnt Of biscuit Colonel Cole ties about 1t a
niece OF ordinary wrapping cora ana "u'p ,1,
,. ,.,,t tb,oo inches above the GOOr, attaching
thc other end to tho stand above mentioned.
This is a signal Of play. and inc trihr MAKE
running Jumps for the bread II !" "'", ~
,t, at>d tLc b,qhcst Jumper can just tpGch the
broad with his rosc. They run about me s'ahn'
Grht each other. and roll over like kittens en-,
loving a rornp, and 10 end II an a hl"tnc'S oi'
mouse climbs to the top or the s,Hili r any
t,kir, the string between her TWO rom IcrN
1cftIy draws the bread W. much aiicT t.r Itsm ,
ion 81 drawing a bucket of water rom u wen.
Vivian tbn hrrad is reached she breaks 1t from
,bc etrirg and lots /: fall. The hungry fanny
below soon dispose OF it, and again relIre 10 '"e
eience OF their homes beneath the moor.