Arizona republican., 1900-08-01
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!; TOPICS OF THE HOUR :

The most prosperous boot black in New York has long ago given up active share in the work that made him a wealthy man, but he began in the customary way and worked for some years before the tide of fortune set so strongly in his favor that he became the owner of racing stable. He is an Italian, who conducts half a dozen es- tablishments in various parts of the city, but direct supervision of them has rece ntly been handed over to a super intendent and the visits of the boss in these days are rare. His earnings last week on one race won by a horse from his stable, was $40, 900, and, as it would take a good many shines to make up that amount. his greater interest in the racing stable may be easily under, stood. His wealth has made this young Italian a figure regarded almost with superstition by his poorer compatri- ots in this city. They have come to believe he cannot fail. and are pre- pared to see him accumulate millions.
 
 A year ago the school principals of Stockholm, Sweden were instructed to encourage the gathering of pupils in the public parks after school hours for the purpose of playing outdoor games. and several of the larger boys in each school were officially selected to lead the games. The innovation proved popular, and many boys who formerly were in the habit of spending their late afternoos in smoking cigarettes and learning bad habits on the street corners, may now be seen each even ing playing base ball, foot ball and oth- CT athletic games. The board of edu- cation of Stockholm thinks so well of the experiment that it has recently ap- pointed three men teachers to the place es of superintendents of outdoor exer- cises. It will hereafter be their duty to get together all pupils who are willing at the close of school and lead them to the parks, where, under the auspices of the board, games will be provided daily during the season from 4 to p. m.
 $#*
 John Woodson, of Philadelphia who enjoys the distinction of being one of the only two colored diamond experts in the United States, is receiving con- gratula tions upon an unexpected piece of good luck. Years ago he was in the service of Col. Charles McArthur, gallant officer of the regular army, who for years was a great traveller. In May last McArthur died and under the terms of his will which has recently been probated, 1t appears that he left $1S,O00 to John Woodson. my faithful body servant and companion for many years" After leaving Col. McArthur's employ Woodson got into the diamond business, and, with the possible excep- tion of man employed by a New York diamond house, he is now known throughout the trade as the best post ed man of his race in the country on the value of precious stones.
 The London Spectator, in the course of a tribute to Tom" Hughes, speak ing of his service to schoolboys says: He took away from good counsel its flavor of priggishness, from piety its taint of sanctimoniousness, from the virtues their coloring of separateness and self-righteousness. He convinced schoolboys that it was possible to be manly and truthful and pure and even religious. and yet remain healthy schoolboys still with muscles in their frames longing for exercise, and fer ment in their hearts and vague aspir- ations in their brains, all leading to confused and over-rapid conduct"
 
 ''The supply of asphalt at Trinidad will be exhausted some day. said an expert in that line recently, but that needn't prevent our continuing to lay asphalt pavements. Out in Utah there are beds of asphalt of many times the magnitude of the Trinidad deposit A1r Fort Duchesne, on government land that is now cut up into Indian reser- vations. The demand of civilization for that asphalt will some day cause Poor To to move again. The man who gets there first when the territory is open to settlement will find fortune waiting for him.
 An officer of the treasury department estimates that more than $15 OOO,O GOO worth of the old fashioned fractional paper currency is still outstanding. and though some of it has doubtless been destroyed, the bulk of 1t is held by col lectors and private individuals. Every now and then some old person dies. and the heirs. finding a quantity of the 'shinplasters" in disused pocketbook or some other hiding place, send them to Washington to be redeemed.
 
 Secretary of War Elihu Root is an expert chess player, and he generally amuses himself during his unoccupied evenings either by a game with a friend or in solving some particularly difficult problem.
 
 Uncle Sam sold about 52,OOOOOO sepc- ial delivery stamps in 1899, and the dis tance traveled by the messengers who delivered the letters upon which the miles.