The morning news., 1899-11-18
STORIES OF THE STARS.
One of the Shower of stars of 1888
md Another of Like Kind.

The threatened passage of the Leonids
through the atmosphere of the earth has
suggested to the old residents some of the
experiences that are said to have happened
to them In the old days Of 1888 or that
they heard, some years after that date,
had happened to their friends.
Mai. G. M. Ryals has good story to
tell in This connection, that carries him
back to the days of his boyhood. The
Major says that when he was boy there
lived at Cumberland Court House, in Vir-
giuIa. an old gentleman by the name of
Ben Taylor who was known and loved
throughout the country side His distin-
gushing trait was an exceeding tondness
for perfect freedom of speech, that he was
accustomed TO advocate in others and use
himself upon the very slightest provoca-
tion Neither was he very tolerant OF
what he chose to term the weak and alb
surd opinions of those with whom he did
not agree.
1,he story that Mai. Ryals says they
were fond of telling of the old gentleman
was to this effect: During the night of
Nov. 70. 1898, when the sters were falling
on every side in showers and the whole
slxv was ablaze with their brilliant light
an excited neighbor raped Justify on Mr..
sTaylors door. Other than a deep and
profound snore there was no response, ana
the rappings were repeated AT the end
Of nerhaps five minutes of this perform
ance. a nght-capped head emerged from
ON MINER window of the dwelling and
s,eenIIv and testify inquired what was the
matter. that his repose should be SO rude
ly disturbed. .,
was the excited rejoinder IAN the stars
are falling and the judgment day has
Con,e0 There was a grunt of disgust
fror, the window aud then the retort: go
10 he'd YOU - fool Don't you know
that the Judgment day won't come in the
nighttime?" A few moments afterward
the iugtv snores were being repeated at
regular intervals
Another star story that Is told Is equally
good. 1t has reference to a party of ma
rooners and their faithful darkey, Scipio.
The latter was left one night to steer the
boat, while his masters slept, and was in
structed by the captain. Mr. James Blank,
that he should steer by a star that was
pointed out to him. After giving these in
struetlons all of the party retired below
and were soon in the land of Nod.
The star toward which he had been In
structed TO steer beamed clear and bright
ahead Of the bow of the boat and for n
time Scipio watched Il intently, and, wi n
a favoring breeze, the little craft moved
steadily In the desired direction. The
night was a beautiful one, everything
| seemed to be going all right and after an
! hour or two the faithful negro fell asleep.
| AS he nodded with his hand on the rud-
der the boat veered from its course. and
after drifting Idly around, pointed finally
in exactly the opposite direction from that
| which mad been intended.
A fresh puff of wind aWoke Scipio from
his slumbers and he started to fis feet.
| Staring ahead he could not see the red
| light Of the star he had been told to make
his beacon and his eye wandered around
tfle horizon. Looking over the stern of
the boat he at last discovered the object
of his search. apparently far in the dis
tance. Overcome with the fear that he
had not been as attentive to iis duties as
the situation demanded Scipio rushed to
the companionway and excltedly exclaim-
ed: ''Marse Jeems! Marse Jeems! Come
up and show me anudder star. We done
passed dat one you showed me hefo'."