New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-24
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH


breal would have sent them down the mountain.
They did not dare to sleep. and so they taIheu-
I'VE discussed many subjects" said DIT COOK
but so far as | remember only agreed on
one-we both solemnly declared that from thaI
night we would give up mountain climbing ana
lead a better life"
In the morning the sun cheered them. and
they decided to try again to reach the mountain
toD-makug the second picture possible. II
presented footprints leading along marrow
edge Of snow. with precipitous slopes leaulhS
down on either side. and beyond the hgure OF
a man holding aloft the American flag on the
mountain top 2OS9O feet above the sea-where
no man had ever stood before
Dwight L. Elmcndorf has discovered the
reason why the word 'starboard" is applied TO
the right side Of boats In his lecture on Nor
wav" before the Brooklyn Institute he told of a
visit that he paid TO an anchorage Of old boats
on the Norwegian coast. The small boats par
ticularly. he said, gave evidence by thelr hlsh
bows and sternS and by other details OF their
construction that they were descendants IN a
straight line from the war vessels OF the ancient
vikings 4 portion ~ the starboard sides OF
the boats near their sterns attracted MS atteh-
ton and he asked for explanation
THAT is the steerboard.' said his ooatnnah-
THE man who steers places his oar IN the
water there and directs the course OF the boat-
From that custom Of steering the boats ana
using steerboards on the right sides or their
vessels the lecturer thinks the Nlkines nave ,
sent down through generations OF seamen the
designation which has been corrupted into the
modern "starbodrd
Frederick Warde in his lecture on Shake
speare's testers before the Stratford Shakespeare
Society at Historical Hall the other evening told
a story Of the origin of the Jester. Once upon
time said he the gods were moping about
CIynpus simply bored To death. In distant
valley they could the Greeks disportihg on
Inc Green turf i'm gala attire, and the sounds or
their mirth foatsd up family 10 the sods IN a
manner that was altogether offensive 10 theh.
Finally one Of the lesser dlvinites had an m
spiration -, ct bara =,
idea for dispeng our ennui-
So" replied Zeus dispassiouately
4 propose continued the lesser divlnlty'
that YOU send shower down on uose people
and drench them 10 the skin
II want To amend his notion interrupted
another Before you send the rain have your
priest tell the people that only the Iools VIII
be drenChed.
Zeus set his thunders rolling. His priest came
forth and declared 10 the people In the valley
that there was 10 he a storm, hut that only the
fools would be drenched. Only one of the Greeks
took the precautlon to go into his house. When
the rain came every person was soaked. The
man who had run home came out Of doors and
laughed at the disconnected and drenched
throng until his fellows turned on him and
nummelled him severely. The gods watched the
excitement with amusement. but they soon saw
that something had TO be done quickly 10 save
the lie of the dry man.
I will send another shower and let it fall
on him alone" said Zeus
You'll drown him., eXpostulated the immOr-
tails
not permit him to be drowned and with the
shower ! will send on him the qualities of wit
and wisdom.
So the man who had enough to GO In
when il rained became the first jester and won
fame for his fun throughout the land.