The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-07-07
STORIES OF CONDOLENCES.


oAOAAE0 VI
A Number That ccoun for some
Thiu=s That seem TO BE En-
urely IneNpIicahle,
Luck and coincidence explain away
many a mystery. said ono of a group
of late workers In a Royal street cafe
the other night, relates the New Or
leans Times Democrat. 81 remember
a queer story along that line he con-
tinued, (which ! once heard FROM the
elder Hrrrmaun. In his earlier per-
formanccs. as you may recall, he made
a great feature o. a very c'ever sec
oud call or miud-reading act. lie
would request people in the audience
10 select small articles, which would
then be described by a blindfolded
assistant Oh the stage. As a MATES
Of fact, Hermann really gave the cue
to the descriptions in the way be
framed his questions, but 1t was very
dexterously done and not one person
out of q thousand caught on
"One evening. as he told me the
story. he was giving an entertain
ment in an Ohio city and was just
returning to the stage after the mind
reading speciality, when an elderly
man suddenly jumped up at the other
end OF the house. II this thing is
genuine. be called out in q loud voice
4 want YOU to tell me what card ]
am thinking about at this moment
The man was a wealthy merchant and
known as somewhat Of a crank on
spiritualism. OF course, Hermann
had no idea what he was thinking
about, but be replied without hesita-
tom: 1t is the deuce Of clubs his
intention being to turn the laugh
on the old fellow by some bit Of repair
tee when he declared that the guess
was wrong. But, to the magician
intense amazement, the man raised
both hands in the air and beloved:
Correct by thunder!' This miracu-
lously lucky and wholly unexpected
hit made a profound impression or
the audience and no doubt converted
many people to a belief in the re.
ality Of mind-reading. hermann told
me that the proprietor OF the theater,
who was an old personal friend, was
very curious TO know how the thing
was done, and when he was finally
informed in confidence that II was
mere luck he declined to credit The
explanation. 1t was too simple to suit
him"
"Coiucidences certainly do play an
important role in everyday life" com
mented another in the party, "and D
dare say they have been the pivot 81
which many an event Of the first mag
nitude has turned. One ease Of tn,
kind came under my personal Observa
ton when | first went into bushes,
In New Orleans. At that time Their,
was a large mercantile house, locate,
on the same block. that did an eN
tensive business with planters up IN,
river. As usual In that trade, the,
operated on a credit basis, and oc
sasionally they carried some formid
able accounts. The largest Of thes.
at the period Of which ! speak wa
against a planter who had formerl,
been very prompt pay, but who haj
latterly pleaded bad luck and allowef
the majority Of his bills to run owe
for several seasons. The firm belieyct
him to be good, and although tn
amount involved mounted away NJ
into the thousands they decided no
to press him, IN full confidence tina
the money would ultimately he paid.
zone day the planter came to New
Orleans on some business. and Will
he was still in town a member Of tn,
firm CHANGED 10 90 over 10 a notary
Office to get an acknowledgement o.
some legal papers. As he entered m
office he overheard one OF the clerk
in an adjoining room ask anothe
whether he had completed tina
plantation transfer to Col. -
mother. = on know he wants to tax
il with him when he goes home 70
night he added. Col. - was tn.
delinquent debtor. aud the accidentg
remark was like the revelation Of
flash of lightning on a dark night
The merchant said nothing, but trans
acted his own business as speedily q
possible and hurried back. Then h
wired his local attorney to institut
proceedings, and when the planter ar
rived home he found everything tie.
up with an attachment. He Wa
, forced to make a settlement IN full
and doesn't know TO this day no,
his plans were so suddenly checkmai
ed. Five seconds sooner or later j.
that visit to the notary's would hav
made a difference Of many thousand
of dollars to the firm"
81 think / can tie that story my
self" said one Of the party. DO 70
remember the recent death Of Lew.
Redwine, a noted bank defaulter q
Atlanta, Ca, whose case created a
immense sensation some years ago
Well. when he was placed on iris
Redwlne maintained % stubborn 5
lence. and be was convicted and ser
fenced to five years in the feder,
penitentiary at Columbus, O. 1t wa
generally believed that he woul
break down when he actually starte
for prison and implicate some peopl
who stood high socially, and the p,
pers decided TO send reporters wit
him to the train. For some reas0
the authorities didn't approve Of n
plan and arranged to slip him out ,
town n day iu advance Of the tin
officially given out. The train va
TO leave at noon. and about 20 mil
utes before that hour a reporter. OF
on other business, happened TO use
telephone in a downtown store. Wit
he was taiEiug the wires becau
crossed and he heard a voice say
We have arranged for the train
stop at the outskirts OF town to-da
TO take on Redwine.' He recognize
the voice as that Of a deputy marsh.
talking to the iailer, and realized
% a fash that a scheme was on foot
get the noted prisoner out Of the cit
} - hours ahead Of time. He dash,
| away from the store, got to his Off,
in time TO draw some money ar
o. caught the train. Redwine didn't co.
, feSs, after all.
r WASTEFULNESS OF WAR.