Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-17
AROUND THE EVENING LAMP.


A Pupil in one of the public schools
was trying to d,cw, but his lines we're
bad, owing, as the teacher pointed out,
time later, the lesson had to do with
the chief executive of nation, and
the teacher asked the question:
why wasn't he good ruler;"
And the boy previously mentioned
answered:
because he wasn't straight. t."
The other day Every Evening printed
story showing that telephone facii.
ties are abused by persons who call up
others simply "to test the WIRE" Even
greater nuisance, perhaps, as that OF
being called up by the people all over
town who want you to get So-and So to-
the telephone. If So and So were con.
yeniently at call you would not object
to extending courtesy and calling
him, but suppose this to be the situa-
ton: Your office is on the second floor
Of a large Office building. and you have
telephone on each systemp you and
pay rent for each instrument. In the
absence of your stenographer, who has
gone to the bank, and while you are
deeply engrossed in business, one Of
tho telephones rings, and you drop your
work to answer 1t. This conversation
From the other end-"Hello; is that
II, a63?" ,arU. a' 49, 3,
You--"Yes." .n
lis that Mr.. Jones, Mr.. William I.
Jonos?"
Eyes"
"Mr. Jones, this is 1876. I wanted
to ask you II you cou d call Mr.. John
Henry Smith to the phone. Gan you
do that?''
Smith? / don't know him."
"Oh, isn't that the Granite Office
Building!"
"Yes,m
there. I"
u can't help it If no has," you say.
II don't know him.
Although distracted, you suggest that
possibly Mr.. Smith has telephone.
What system?n comes the question.
+" j don I know: | only suggested that
he might have one.
Cant you tell inc his numter?"
Look here, whoever you are, | don't
put my. time out as bureau of in
formation, and you'll have to consult
your own telephone list. Good day."
After such an experience is it any
wonder some men dread TO put in o
telephone! -
In responding to the toast "J.itsfa.
ture' at recent banquet in London.
Mark Twain said:
am now on my way to my own
country to run for the Presidency be-
cause there are not Jet enough candi-
dates 10 the field and those who hnvo
entered are too much hampered by their
own PRINCIPLES which were prejudices.
II propose to 20 there to purify the
political atmosphere. l am in favor of
everything everybody is In favor Of.
What you should do is TO satisfy tho
whole nation, not half Of il, for you
would only be half a Pre,ident.I
There could not he a broader plat
form than mine. ! am in favor of any
thing and everything -of temperance
and intemperance, morality and quail
silver
II have tried all sorts Of things, and
that 10 Why want to try the great
position of ruler of a country. have
been editor, publisher, author, lawyer,
burglar, | have worked my way up,
and wish TO do so.
Speaking of the origin of the word
'deadhead, Frederick Stanley says:
In the. Museum at Naples was much
interested Id case of theatrical tickets
found in a tragic theatre in Pompeii.
They were made variously in bono,
ivory and metal, You are aware, per-
haps, that to this day the gallery OF an
Italian theatre is called the pigeon loft.
We'll, the little tickets for this part of
t9e auditorium were in the shape of
pigeons, while varying devices were
used for other parts ofNthe house. What
attracted my attention most ouriously,
however, was set of diminutive SKULLS
modelled in ivory. These were used
solely by those having the right of free
admission. Now, does this not suggest
sne very possible derivation of the
term?"