New-York tribune., 1908-03-17
THE TALK OF THE Day.

For many years. down TO 1872 the wooden spoon
the most coveted honor of a Yale course. 1t
did not necessarily indicate the highest scholar
ship. but 1t voted by the graduating class TO
the most popular man. The spoon man of a
class its hero. according to The Hartford
Courant The other boys loved him and he was
almost invariably person who justified that af-
fection The list of spoon men would include some
OF the most eminent of Yale graduates There
nine members of each class selected by their
classmates and these were known as cocks -
which is short and English for ''cochleaureati.' -
To of these nine awarded the spoon, and
they all joined in a public performance called the
wooden spoon exhibition. at which the ceremony
of presentation gone through with all the wit
that college class could master. The last spoon
man was Robert B. Lea of Nashville, Tenn. of
the class of II. He died some years ago in Paris.
Curate-I haven't your husband at church
recently, Mrs. Bloggs What is he doing?
Mrs. Bloggs-'E be a dOin six months. sir-Lon-
don opinion.
A provision merchant in Oldham, England has
invented ingenious contrivance by which he is
able to feed his horses without personal attend
ance. through the medium of American alarm
clock, In a small office adjoining the stable the
clock is placed on shelf. Attached to the wind
ing key is a piece of copper wire, and this is fas-
tened TO small brass roller that runs over a
wooden rod. At the end of the rod is a heavy
weight When the clock goes off the wheel is
drawn the rod and releases the weight which
falls the floor. The box filled over
night and when the weight is released a small door
the bottom of the box flies open and the corn
falls into the maVger. The horses never fail to
rise at the sound the alarm, knowing what is
to follow. and when the drivers up the ami
mails ready to be harnessed Another advan-
tage is that the horses need never be put to work
before the brea kfast has had time to digest
The Bachelor-I wonder why they call the boys
about hotel Buttons? 30 you know?
The Benedict suppose 1t is because you can
find EN- in the places where they should be.
-IonkerS Statesman.
A German commercial traveller recently won a
bet which he made with American sportsman"
by taking a continuous railroad trip of one year.
The story is vouched for by the 'Sazburger
Eoksbatt" while In the United States to look
after an Inheritance the German had discussion
with the American and accepted a wager of $40 600
that he could not ride train for year The
line chosen by the German from Vienna to
Innsbruck via Linz and SaZburg by express
trains took all his meals the train and
slept every night on board. Twice every day he
alighted to change Occasionally he would be
met at of these points by his wife. with whom
he would exchange few words. and then be off
asain The monotony of 1t all threatened his rea-
son and toward the end of the year he had a severe
attack of influenza. This overcome and the
last trip in the year successfully made. Ex-
cept for a slight nervousness, from which he will
recover the winner of the bet is perfectly well af-
ter his one-year trip In commenting on the story
another German paper says From Sazburg-
must be taken with salt
visitor-How long you in-for, my poor man?
Prisoner-Dunno.
Visitor-How can that be:
Prisoner-It'S "a life Sentence.-The Pathfinder