The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-06-26

ter ball. Within, the rooms corner in
the center of the house, but the outer
walls are round and persons who have
inhabited it always find trouble in Sc
curing carpets that can be placed in
the rooms and with finding suitable
places to locate their various articles
OF furniture. 1t has porches and YER
andas that run around the entire
house.
When Charles Babcock came to
Guthrie at the opening of "Old" Okla
homa in 1889, there were but few resi-
dences in that portion of the city
where he purchased a lot. 1t so hap
pened, too, that what few residences
were in that vicinity surrounded his
place-houses to the east and west,
north and south of him.
Naturally, when the town was still
young. there was much speculation
among the other residents regarding
the manner of architecture Mr.. Bah
cock would adopt in building his new
home, and each of his immediate
neighbors made the demand that,
whatever the architecture, the house
should face In his particular direc-
ton.
'They were all mighty nice people,"
said Babcock recently in explaining
why he had built the round house,
and not desiring to disappoint any
of my neighbors, just concluded to
build it round, so that it would face
in all directions. They were all so de-
termined about what direction it
should face that afterward l had the
laugh on them all by making it face
in all directions. I found it very
comfortable to live in, for it made no
difference during the summer time
from what direction the wind was
blowing l always got the benefit, while
oftentimes my neighbors were suffer-
ing with heat
Mr.. Babcock denied the report, cur
rent here for some time, that in his
earlier years he had been in the navy
and that he had designed his resi-
dence after the coming tower of some
ship he had served on. He is a ma
tive of Wisconsin and learned the
blacksmith trade in Milwaukee a good
many years ago. Later he resided in
both St. Louis and Kansas City prior
to coming to Guthrie.
While resident here Mr.. Babcock
served several terms in the city coun-
Gil and resigned in 1901 to take
claim in the Kiowa and Comanche In
dian country, then opening for settle
ment. He still owns his "round house"
in Guthrie.
Encroaching on English.
A party of foreigners who are max.
ing tour of. this country called re-
Gently at the state department and
were received by Secretary. Root.
They had a very limited knowledge of
English and the conversation was con-
Quoted mostly in the sign language.
Finally the spokesman of the party
arose, and, with profound bow, said:
"Mr. Secretaire, we will not further
cockroach on your time"
Secretary Root is known in Wash
ington as the polite man. He did not
crack a smile, but in diplomatic terms
explained to his visitor that encroach
was the proper English word to ex-
plain his meaning.
"Ah," exclaimed the caller, with an
other bow, Il understand. Cock
roach am re male and henroach am re
female"
Mr.. Root nodded his head. Fur
Their explanation seemed to be useless
Washington Times.
Saved!
At last the entire visible stock of
lumber had been used up.
whats the matter" asked the
father of a large family, with using
the old wooden bedsteads piled up in
the attics?" -: + f.. ~
Here was practically exhaustless
source of supply that nobody had