Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-28
as rou Ilxs n.
Some Stray Leaves from Fseportes's
 Note Book. e,., 5a ,s',., j,

During the latter part or next Wceh
 some of the Christmas shopping will in all probability begin to show itself. The merchants as usual are urging
 the people to buy early, as It Will please the business men, and the GUS
 toners will be more satisfied. The Consumers league naa signs in the
 trolley cars asking the people to buy early in the season, early in the week and early in the day. For the bens-
 fit of the clerks also the shopping should be done as soon as possible,
 They indeed have had a laborlous
 time of 1t the past couple of weeks. Plain John Smith Is a good honest
 name. Transferred to other lan- guages 1t Is significant. Thus, in Latin, 1t is Johanneus Sminhus; the
 Italian smooths 1t oif into Giovanna l Smithi; the Spaniards render It Schmidt, the French flatten it out into Jean Sheet, and the Russian sneezes and barks of Jenloff Shit towski. When John Smith gets into the tea trade in Canton he becomes Jovan Shimmitt; if he chambers about Mount Hecla, the Icelanders say he is Johne Smithson; if he trades among the Tuscaroras he be- comes Ton Ca Smittis; in Poland he is known as Ivan Schmittiweiskf; should he wander among the Welsh mountains, they talk of Jihon Schmidt; when he goes to Mexico he is booked as Jontil FSuitti; if of classic turn he fingers among Greek ruins, he turns to Ion Smikton; and in Turkey he is utterly extinguished as Toe Seef
 Although this city is badly in need of rain and some good showers are eagerly awaited, nevertheless there were many people in town greatly vexed because there was little rain on Thanksgiving day. One man so expressed himself among group the following morning and it nettled a second member of the party. He de- clared that he was glad 1t had rained and hoped that 1t would rain for about two weeks steadily. Man No 1 stated he cared not whit whether the weather was rainy for the next two weeks, or even if it poured until Christmas, If it would be fine on that day. "I like my holidays fine," is the way he put it, "and whether there is need of rain or not, like to see it hold off for a day" He undoubtedly voiced the sentiment of large num- Der of people who look forward to holidays weeks ahead and whose plans are wholly upset when the sun fails to shine. It seems only natural.
 The most costly wardrobe in the world belongs, without doubt, to the pope. Etiquette compels him to wear different garments each day of the year, and as nearly all of them are ornamented with rich and rare gems, no millionaire could hope to purchase them, even if a value could be placed on them. The pope's little skull caps are of the finest silk, while his embroidered slippers of velvet are gorgeous to look at. Still more cost ly are his gloves, made of white wool, embroidered with fine pearls in the shape of cross. A special herd of fifty sheep is kept from which all the papai woolen garments are manufac- tured. The surplices are of the most valuable and beautiful lace, while one long cape, the ''cappa magma which is rarely worn, hangs straight from the shoulders and literally gleams from top to bottom with gold and precious stones. The rings, too, which the pope wears are priceless. containing as they do many stones of matchless quality.