The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-03-07
GOOD
Short Stories

While James Russell Lowell was edi-
tor of the Atlantic Monthly, Mrs. Har-
riet Prescott Spofford enjoyed a warm
personal friendship with him, and he
frequently accepted her stories. Mrs.
SpoffOrd feared that he might be TAX
ing them because of his interest in her,
and not for the merit Of her work. She
resolved to put the matter to a test.
Her handwriting was peculiar. One
Of the most characteristic letters was
her d, to the end Of which she gave
a queer little crook toward the left.
In order to disguise her work she had
her sister copy one Of her stories before
she sent 1t to the editor. Mr.. Lowell
accepted 1t in letter in which he
wrote: 1.-THE DIS may not be yours, but
there is no installing the fdees.'"
The Westminster Gazette gives some
interesting information concerning the
use of tobacco by the clergy In different
religious bodies. "John Wesley" 1t
says, forbade his preachers to smoke
or chew tobacco, or take snuff This
rule still obtains In the Wesleyan min
istry. Thackeray hoped the day would
come when he would see a bishop loll-
ing out the Athenaeum with a cigar in
his mouth, or at least a pipe stuck in
his shOvel-hat. He did not live to see
this, but the Bishop of Manchester has
publicly proclaimed the virtues of to-
bacco as bond Of sympathy between
man and man. AT your idol again, Mr..
Hail. exclaimed lady once on discov-
ering Robert Hall, the celebrated d.
vine, with pipe In his mouth. Yes
said the preacher. burning 1t,
ma'am.'"
The late Prof. Max Muller was orig
,nally just Muller, but he added one of
his Christian names, Max, to his sur.
name, and became Max Muller. His
change Of surname and Of nationality
did not add to his popularity in Ger
many, where his former cOmpatriots
used to say that ''but for his settling in
England he might have become
scholar" Considerable amusement was
caused at Oxford few years ago by
the Kaiser telegraphing the professor,
upon the occasion Of some aquatic vic
tory: "My best wishes to you and your
gallant crew." "Great Scottw or Its
Sanscrit equivalent. the professor is
said to have exclaimed, "just as If
were coach running along the en-
bankment with trumpet" The point
Of the joke is that Max Muller disliked
every form Of exercise. and used to say
that There Is only one act of folly
more egregious than looking at foot
ball game, and that is taking part In
one"
Early In his career at the bar Daniel
O'Connell was counsel at the Kerry as
sizes in an action against a relative
named Mr.. SiggersOn, and. having oc-
casion to refer to that person in some
what strong terms in his speech to
the jury. Siggerson jumped up in court
and called him "a purse-proud block
head" O'COnnell said: ''In the first
place, l have got no purse to be proud
of, and, secondly, If be a blockhead,
1t is the better for you, as am counsel
against you. However. just to save
you the trouble Of saying so again, I'll
administer slight rebuke," whereup-
on he struck Siggerson soundly on the
back with a cane, which the tipstaff
accommodatingly lent him for the pur-
pose. That evening Siggerson sent
him challenge. but next morning he
wrote stating that he had discovered
that O'Connell's life was inserted In a
very valuable lease of portion of his
lands. "Under these circumstances"
he continued, 81 cannot afford to shoot
you, unless. as precautionary meas
ure, you first insure your life for my
benefit. II you do, then heigh for pow
der and ball. I'm your man."