The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-04-06
Fifty Years Change
tOriginal.l

University OF Bonn WAS engaged upan
different methods for an indefinite pro
iongation of life in comatose state.
There ives at tie time student in the
university, an American, Madison Cur
experiments. Curtice never returned
to America; indeed he disappeared COM
pieteiy from the world.
After Professor Gottliab's death his
descendants continued to occupy Ills
chair and the paternal mansion as well.
In tile cellar OF the mansion was a
door marked. ..Open in 1S9S." When
that date came round Professor Her.
man Gottlieb, a grandson of Carl Gott-
Eeb. was in possession Of both the chair
and the house. He opened the door.
found an oblong box. took out num-
my and proceeded, under written in
structions long kept in the family. to
res,lscitate it, This is all that ever
leaked out about the matter, and the
Gottliebs never would acknowledge
any truth in it at ALL
One summer evening in 1893 q young
man arrived at an American city and
made his way to his former home, He
found it a beer saloon. With sigh
he sank into chair at one of the
tables and called for mug of ale.
When the proprietor handed it to him
the young man begged him to bring one
for himself. This he did and the
stranger questioned him.
did you ever hear of the Curtice
family, once leaders in this placer
"Nein."
"Who are leaders now?"
"De pig men:"
"Yes, the leaders,
mike Finegan is de piggest?''
Mike Finegan? Our family butcher
was Mike Finegan."
Yah. De grandfather vas butcher.
pig let of hogs. Dat made him ferry
pig nlaa. Won vat kills twenty hogs
is not much. Won vat kills 100000
hogs is Il pig man.
The stranger. wondering. slipped in
silence.
DE Finegans are pig people now
| continued the proprietor. ..UdGer pao-
| pie can't touch 'em. Got blenty coun-
try places. yachts und such dings.''
| An hour later the stranger appeared
| before the palatial residence Of the
| Finegans in the center of Il great pri-
| yate park. Dinner had just been tin
ished and several men in evening dress
We're smoking on the piazza. A group
of women were sitting near. The
stranger mounted the steps, hat in
| hand. and addressed the men.
''Sirs.' he said. "after many years
absence have returned to my native
land. When left here my father,
Munroe Curtice. occupied the position
which is now occupied by your family
| the Finegans. would fain take my
position in society and humbly crave
/ the boon of an Introduction. | can as
| sure you of my responsibility by stat.
/ ing that am related to two presi.
dents. my father having been named
for one. FOR another"
The ladies' held fans before thei!
faces to conceal their smiles. One OF
i the gentlemen invited the stranger tC
take seat on the veranda.
"You must excuse me- he said. ''fol
not remembering your family since
they have not been known here since
came into the world You must have
been born abroad or you would know
that marked changes have come ove1
this country. 1t now requires wealth
TO keep up position"
Il have all that bachelor Of good
family requires. Though my pater
nal estates have been lost to me. hall
century ;l.so a small sum WIS in
vested fer me in Germany and it now
produces .s33.Eo0 year."
There was an audible litter from thu
ladies'. The gentlemen turned theil
heads away.
"The incomes of the bachelors Of on
4 acquaintance" said the host. war,
from $4,000 to $1o.000.OOo year.
The stranger looked disconnected.
MAY ask he said presently, i
any of the old families are now Leaders
in society?"
1--WE are as old rs any. You mus
know that the leaders of the time yol
speak were not SO influential as thos'
who lead today At that time few /
any noble foreign alliances had beel
made. Now there are many. My sis
ter is Duchess of Donemonegal."
Again Mr.. Curtice was thrown 'fat
a-back." He was too well bred to SHOW
his astonishment and pushed on +
avoid doing 50.
Perhaps l misunderstood the Gus
toms Of these times" he said. Half |
century ago a Curtice had but to men
ton his name and all doors wer
opened to him, or where he needed in
PRODUCTION it was given to him. De
string to see something of those VIII
have taken the places Of the leaders o
that day. would humbly beg you +
present me- First would pay my re
spects to your lady,
At this the women arose and wen
into the house, screening their faces a
they did SO.
THE term lady" said the host. i
now used in America for saleswomel
and lauudresses. In society we ar
men and women. at least to each Other
But you must excuse me. sir We ar