Holbrook argus., 1902-12-06
ECCENTRIC METHUDS.
Why Alexnndre Dumas Did Not suo.
 ceeI Qs Publfsher

AAN HAOcoIdStdhS, q lODis nal founded by Alexandr, Dumas. grew and flourished for short time and then became extinct. It was car ried on during brilliant existence with an astonishing disregard of bust. ness methods commonly in vogue. It's staff was the largest and most varied ever known. Persons would walk into the office, propose working for the pa. per and find themselves at once ec. cepted
 What will you allow me" a new man would ask.
 "Whatever you like, my boy" Du. mas would return. By the way" he would explain to every new aspirant. we must understand one thing. mean You to be handsomely paid. You must have 1000 francs a month, and If you should want months pay in i.."
 Everybody was dazzled. and Dumas himself more than all the rest. No business enterprise, however, could cx. ist on such q basis, and the journal be gan to languish. Then man named Boule proposed taking the speculation out of Dumas hands. He offered the great man 100 francs a day, which meant more than $7,000 year.
 "Here." said Boule. is q checkbook full of those little tinted leaves you are 80 fond of. Every morning you have only to write your name at the foot of one, send 1t into the office and touch your 100 francs.
 Dumas loved money. and his face beamed with delight. But suppose" said he, that some day should want 300 or 400 francsY"
 "Well. all you have to do is to send in three or four of your checks. Noti, ing Is more simple"
 The book lay on the authors desk. q delightful and ready resource. Did q creditor call? A slip of paper, and he was paid. A poor woman was about to be turned out into the street. A few more slips. and she was relieved. Al the end of the week nothing was lert of the book but the cover. Then Boule changed his mode of procedure Youths Companion.
 The Seven Golden Cities.
 The Seven Golden Cities" one of the most popular legends of the latter part of the dark ages, were said to be situated on an island west of the Afri- can coast. The island is represented as abounding in gold, with magnificent houses and temples, "the high towers of which shown at great distance" The legend also relates that at the time of the conquest of Spain and Portugal by the Moors, when the in- habitants fled in every direction to es. cape slavery, seven bishops. followed by great number of people, took to ships and put boldly out on the high seas. After tossing about for some time they landed on an unknown is- land, the famous spot which in after years became the seat of the "Sevcn Golden Cities"
 'This island," Heylyn says, twas ex- actly in midocean." After all had landed safely the wise old bishops burned the ships to prevent their fol- lowers from deserting and founded the cities which have become so famous in song and story. This mysterious is. land was often sought by the early Those who went in search of 1t and never returned were popular ly believed to have been detained by tts inhabitants
 The old Lady and the Incubator.
 An old lady visiting an exhibition went to see some incubators which were on show and, complaining of the expense of keeping fowls, said that If they were cheaper she would buy an egg matching machine. After she had