New-York tribune., 1902-07-26
THE TALK OF THE DAY.

Lord Salsbury's retirement has once more
raised the interesting question whether he did
actually dig for gold when ne was In Australia
in lS52." says The London Chronicle" His latest
biographer +. ID. How. gives the most complete
account OF Lord salisburys Australian experiences
that has far appeared in print. According TO
Mr.. How. who apparently gathered his informa-
ton at Hatfield. young Lord Robert Cecil was a
member OF a party that pegged out claim on the
Mount Alexander gold field. which was twenty
three miles the Melbourne side OF Bendigo and
is now the town OF Castlema!ne Mr.. How cites
the statement OF still living miner. who remem-
bers seeing Lord Robert Cecil working the claim
and the kindness OF the future Prime Minister to n
sick digger I'm neighboring tent is also mentioned
But Lord Robert was not among the lucky ones
at Mount Alexander. where fabulous fortunes were
made by a few. and he afterward proceeded to
BendigO. where his interest in auriferous opera
tons scientific than personal. There Is a
speech OF Lord Salisbury. In which he made iu-
cidental and humorous reference to a time when
circumstances constrained him to become his own
cook and laundress."
Some time ago H. E. Jung. the Governor of this
and the Dragons OF the e ' akas aSd UI
four seas" and prayed them for rain But his
prayer not granted the Governor was thus made
dragon to be constructed representing the d4ason
OF drouth." Yesterday afternoon procession took
dragon to the outside Of the south Gate. Where he
Informed the high heaven that he was going to
should be given to the people OF shanse AT about
guns executioner. clad in red csine up to the
dragon of drouth," and with long and shining
sword he cut the dragon into seven pieces. After
reading another prayer to the high heaven and the
dragon to be burned; when this was done he re-
turned to his yamen.-(Shanghai Mercury.
A Bangkok correspondent OF '"The Straits Bud
get, of Singapore. tells lively story to illustrate
the strict seclusion of the harem OF the King of
Slam. so far as 1 am aware" he says. "onIy one
was a 'parachutist,' who I'm 1888 made ascent
from the adjoining open space He landed fairly
in the middle OF the harem. forcibly elected by
the female guards and emerged into the less Sc
cuded portion of the Palace nearly naked"
A Change of Heroes--A soldier in one of our
IN who e 9ae lost Sad Sne bS Of his re-
father lost leg in the Revolutionary War, and
That story is an old one, and now am going to be
the hero OF the family" -(The Military Common
wealth.
'The German officer is nothing IL not practical
there may be element Of truth in the follow
ing amusing incident, which comes from Berlin"
says "The London Express:
"a sergeant was perplexed how to deal with a
bowlegged recruit At last he bethought himself
Of a plan. Taking mark piece about the
size OF shilling, he ordered the recruit TO put e
between his knees and said Woe betide you IL
you let the money fall before como back In five
minutes
1.-THE unhappy recruit, with knees pressed to-
gether, remained in that uncomfortable position for
a minute, and at last, struck by a happy idea he
took the coin from between his knees and put in
his pocket
when the sergeant hove In sight he hurriedly
replaced what he thought to be the same coin
1t was however. a two mark piece. about as large
horin. The sergeant smiled as he compli-
mented the bowlegged recruit the great pressure
he must have exerted the coin between his
knees"