The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-03

fully ripened fruit. and very welcome 1t was to me after my long sleep.
 By the way, while I was in London saw the royal coachnan do rather amusing thing. Whenever he snapped his whip he did it in such a way that tThe lash formed perfect monogram c. R. (Georgius Rex) in the air. It was rather skillful.
 However, I was going to mention another little episode connected with the artillery. When I was in the Prussian army. we besieged a little fort, the name of which I have for gotten. The commander was anxious to get information as to the affairs in the beleagued garrison. but the enemy guarded all the approaches so well that it was impossible to send in a spy.
 An idea struck me. I placed myself alongside of the muzZle of our largest cannon. and as 1t fired l sprans on the ball. The moment l was under way I began to consider; and. I saw many difficulties. It is true that l was cer- tain to enter the fort. But how could get out again? They might hang me as a spy. That would never do.
 Just then a cannon ball come from the fort With quick decision l leaped from my own to that of the enemy and returned to my men with whole skin, though I had failed in my mis- l SlOn. COnSlueT ny Seil ANi ate. The cannon balls were extremely smooth, and 1t was somewhat difficult to maintain a seat on them However, alrs we'll that ends well.
 | During this campaign we fought | constantly until my right arm become so accustomed to smiting with the sword that for eight days after our final battle it continued the motion Invo1untarily had to tie 1t down to my side and leave it that way for the | habit to wear off.
 | Habit is a queer matter, anyway. For instance. gentlemen. we are all in 1 the habit of seeing the moon wane monthly and finally disappear, and then we think that the so-called new moon is arriving Well. I can tell you diff | ferently. At least once the entire | world was misled by It's habit or thlnk- l ing that way.
 q was on a visit to the Shah of Per. eia, and one evening he entertained me | with his fine Reclamation of Persian | moonlight poetry. when he groansd suddenly and said Alas! there are spots on the moon again. That Is rust from the dampness of the season Of course, I smiled within myself at the shah's ignorance; but he was impas- stoned about the moon. so to do him | A favor I decided on a feat that I do hesitate to characterize as immensely difncult.
 Not to annoy you with dull details. 1 I succeeded in devising a machine which enabled us to lower the moon to the earth. When the Shah saw it coming he ordered all the soldiers to fetch sand; and while the civilized world, with you gentlemen among it, was not at all surprised at the tempo rary absence of the moon, your friend, who Is talking to you now. was su- perintending the polishing of it; for when the moon came down we found that there really were great rust spots on it. Before we raised it again. how ever, 1t was as bright as it ever was.
 q do not often tell of this experi- mCnt, for the average mind cannot grasp the simple truth. while it snaps sreedily at the silly and disagreeable lies told by travellers and others who have no sense of either honor or mod. esty. For this reasvn hesitate to tell many of my most interesting experi- ences, unless I am. sure of my com- pany. Among friends like yourselves 1t is another matter. I am minded therefore. to tell you of another rather Ingenious expedient that I used not sc far away as Persia, but right at home here.
 "I was out hunting with Pikas and had used up all my shot. though Istill had some poWuel ieit, when tHs uoE pointed a fine covey. I had only a mo- ment to. decide. Quickly I loaded with powder. sharpened my ramrod. thrust if in, flushed the birds, waited till they were in line and fired. There were seven birds in the covey, When I went to see what execution I had done l found the entire seven neatly spitted or the ramrod. ] carried my game home that way and had 1t put right over the l Ara and served en brochette.
 Shortly after that I had another experience that demanded sudden in- genuity4 came unexpectedly on s