The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-23
&C,
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title "Six Months Among Mace
donian Brigands." Miss Stones
narrative emphasizes the fact that
the kidnapping Of herself and Of
Nine. Tsilka was purely a political
move, and In no sense private enter
prise. Although the missionary was
subjected to constant hardship and eX-
posure to the elements, and was frank
ly told that she and her companion
would be killed IL capture by the Turks
seemed imminent, she philosophically
bears witness to the fact that she was
treated with all the consideration pos
sible under the circumstances, and that
her kidnappers were actuated by mo-
tlves of patriotism and not of self-inter-
est. Their one object was to obtain
money to buy arms for the Macedonian
cause. Although Miss Stone and Nine.
Tsilka were compelled to travel twelve
hours or more a day, underwent almost
incredible hardships and were in con-
slant expectation of death, the missiOn-
ary returns unbroken in health and
spirit. Her book will probably appear
in the fall.
1t is Just possible that the noble army
of novel reauers Is growing a little
tired of the ]luguenot romance. the CO.
lonial romance, the homeiy narrative
of quaint American character,
and all the other varieties that
have flourished so freely In recent
years. At any rate, the notable
success achieved by Miss Liliencrantzs s
Viking romance, 1.-The Thrall Of Left
the Lucky" is an indication that a
story in an entirely new field is likely
to be gratefully received. This period
in history has been so far neglected by
the seekers after promising material,
but it is quite possible that the popu-
larity of 1.-THE Thrall' will bring on an
extensive line Of Viking romances. 1t
will be difficult. however. to come up
to the standard that Miss Liljencrantz
has set, especially as she has the adj
vantage of long line of Morse ances-
tors. This is her first book, yet the
first edition Of 10000 was gone and an
other of like size was necessary within
a month of publication.
In Conan Doyle's latest Sherlock
Holmes story, the plot hinges upon the
mysterious dongs Of an enormous
hound made to resemble a demon by
daubs of PHOSPHORUS luminous at
night. Where he got the idea nobody
knows, but in the Quarterly Review for
April, 1894, appears this narrative of
stronge appartiOn which disturbed the
quiet life of South Devon some forty
years ago; possibly it supplied the
starting point for "The Hound of the
Baskervilles":
'The scene is laid at the little fishing village
Of Topsham, but in reality it covered much
wider area on either side Of the Exc. There
had been wild and snowy night in March; and
when, morning broke the snow was found to he
marked with the footprints of Il large animal
so unfamiliar that the popular mind at once
assumed them to be supernatural. The oanic
grew apace, people feared to leave their houses
by night and the clergy from their mIlpits
found it necessary to allay their alarm. Mean
time the tale Travelled, and the clumsy cucsses
Of the savants did little but heightcn the lnys-
terry. Some great bird. various animals cspc.
cially cats were said to be the authors 10y the
ingenious and unbelieving None, however, of
the solutions proved satisfactory to cycwitnesscs.
The footprints were of the size of calfs, and
travelled in straight line like a biped's, and
behind them the snow at times was rutfled as
by tail. They approached close to high walls
and reappcaved again at the distance On
tho other side without disturbing the snow,
feat impossible for cat. Again. they traversed
culverts too low to admit a large bird or beast.
In spite of all efforts to disabuse it, the popular
mind settled down to the conviction that the
Evil One had been abroad that night
! One of the books of the season which
has ''caught on" is Red Saunders,
a story Of the plains by Henry Wallace
Phillips. the cowboy novelist Phillips
own biography, however, is more in
teresting than any novel. This is part
Of it. told by himself:
'E3orn in New York city. In carly youth gave
promise of future il | grew up. Wanted TO be
railroad engineer, chemist, electrician, micros.
copist, artist, or anything TO avoid work. Was
never known to answer directly direct uucs.
ton. Once maiden aunt thought she had me
sure. Said she. DO you want TO GO to the
circus? Said I, "Wlmt circus: Then friends
and neighbors gave il up. This -i-Ncaies some.
thing. Please fine out what
"Iater at Nyack had an unused laundry for
laboratory Made nitrogen ioxide in quantity to
furnish cook some delightful surprises. Neigh.
boring small hoy whom ! dislked used to
monkey with my experiments. On this occasion
he was promptly blown into an apple tree via
the window, which went with him. His father
terribly indignant. Said it was plot, which 1t
wasn't. Pursuit Of chemistry peaceful from that
on, barring the smell.
"Went West at fourteen. North Dakota. did
Ihost everything there anu nave HhisHcu TIC list
SINCE
"Watchman on boat for government Then
worked for transportation company Oh Missouri
river. One incident there real buzz.saw drama
style. Used TO walk over bridge and treste to
go home. II train caught you on a trestle it
was your turn to take barrel-stand and hold
on till the cars rolled by. Just room for foot
on each corner Of stand, beside the barrel. One
night came back TO river landing middle OF the
night. Freight train came nmblinG along and
I stepped on barrel'stand. Headlight of loco.
motive disclosed rattlesnake coiled up on other
side of barrclstand, ninety feet to rocks below.
air line Held oh to barrel and perspired freely,
and coolly, while 81 miles OF freight train went
by Then leap'frosged the barrel, regardless OF
landing place. Hit the ties all right and gal
loped up the bridge. Fell into the box at
span.end, and thought while travelling feet To
the bottom, that was booked for the Missouri.
"Took my rest that night sitting up with the
lamp lighted. Next ,ay found out the rattle.
snake was dead rattesnake, put there by one
bridge.tender to the other and forgotten.
II would have been easy enough to have figured
out that rattlcsnake wouldn't squirm over four
or five hundred feet OF ties, II had been in a
thoughtful mood when I saw him. However.
Next job was business enterprise Paper
stand; tobacco cigars, stationery, etc. BY
strict inattention to business got that finished up
In short order Id years old at this time end
prefered out Of doors Next furniture business.
Next hour-mil business, then ranching in its
various branches from shoveng out corrals to
chasing lost horses. Drove mules for government.
Did all kinds Of odd icbs and am doing them
yet"
An address delivered before the stud