The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-21


Mid a cultureless mob,
For laborless Job.
New Orleans Picayune.
A Child of Mystery.
The little village of Mount Horeb.
WIS, OF which few persons outside of
| the state probably had heard until
| recently has attained distinct posi-
| ton On the map through the uncanny
| attributes accredited to an 11-year-
ola boy. He is James Henry Brophy,
the grandson of Mr.. and Mrs. Knut
Lund, of Mount Horeb, pioneer Nor
wegian settlers in the town of
Springdale, where they had lived for
| 90 years until they moved to Mount
Horeb year ago.
The boy is known variously as 1.-THE
wonderful child medium and the
| Mount Horeb child of mystery" ac-
cording as the narrator is believer
in or is skeptical of the cult of spirit
ualism.
The first uncanny happening occur
red on March 8. when, as the boy en-
tered the kitchen of his home, a
SNOWFALL came flying out of space,
struck him in the middle of the back
and knocked him fiat on the floor.
There is wide open lot on that side
OF the house, and there was not a
soul IN sight outside. Precisely the
same thing happened the following
day. when the hoy came from school.
The next evening a series of events
put the household in a panic. Cups
new from the table and broke; lamp
chimney was shattered and the
} spool of thread on the sewing ma
chine began to unreel rapidly of its
own yclition. The boys grandfather
became distracted with terror, and
news OF the strange events spread
rapidly.
The next day there was a funeral
IN the village, which the boys moth
er attended, afterward spending the
night at the home of her parents.
nhat n1ght things We're particularly
nlmble, and some of the neighbors
We're sent for to compose grandfather
: Lund, who was on the verge of col
lapse. The Rev. Mr.. Mostrom, with
sam thompson, another respected
citizen, responded to the call but as
soon Mr.. Mostrom entered the sit
ting room a Bible, which was on the
table, Topped over twice and fell to
the floor at his feet. There" ex-
claimed the old couple, you see how
1t isl"
The manifestations never appear
! when the boy is asleep. One we'll
!. known clairvoyant says that when he
saw the boy he was conscious him
self of three spirits, two women and
,, a man, lowering about the boy. Such
! stories have recalled all manner Of
: superstitions among the old Norwe.
gian settlers, and brought out the al
legged fact that a grandfather of one
of Mount Horebs oldest citizens as.
serted he had seen the last survivor
: of the hill folk, before that interest
? ing people disappeared from Norway
sitting on greensward playing or
: his fairy oboe. Memories of wise
; Knut" (Wise Knut), the hero OF
Bjornson's story of that title, are al
: so recalled.
!, !, The case is attracting the attention
: of scientists and societies of psychi,
- research from far and near. but tn,
:, boy is becoming shy of visitors ane
, Superior (Wis.) dispatch to the New
= | York Times.
a Useful Notes.
= The late Rev. Henry Goldman Pot
ter greatly objected to the use o
h notes At one time he was address
a ing number of young theologian
n on the Importance of not being to
e closely confined to a manuscript. B
is way of illustration he told the fol
e lowing anecdote about a c1ergyma
l. who was called upon to off1ciate at
funeral.
when the minister arrived at tn
II town where the deceased had live
II he had just time to make few in
II quiries about his traits and achieve
] ments, the results of which he note
on memorandum. His eulogy 8
as follows:
l. "'Our dear brother. whom W
1t mourn today, was man of rar
is character and ability. He had tn
. his notes-'Daniel Webster. the tax
of again consulting his mem
n n oranda-'Henry Clay, the pertinacit
y of a another reference-'U lysse
II S. Grant. We can only mourn hin
with profound and sorrowful regrt
| IN at hn Ia
: another reference to his notes
God Judge.
re- Nfexico's Valuable Bells.
l. MANY of the church bells in TIL
At Republic of Mexico are of coppe
". which also carries a large quota of 81
le yer and gold, and consequently the
y are worth a great deal of money,
n. said Mr.. Peter J Thrasher. mimi
4 engineer of st. Louis, at the Renner
g mot long since while in the stat
~ of Guadalajara I was present at tf
1. sale of a bell of one of the historl
l. Catholic churches for $4,000. TT
- good fathers did not wish to part wit
t g it, as it had summoned their Poop
"a to mass and vespers for generation
.e but the church was poor and til
- money sadly needed. The bell will
,n cal smelter and no doubt the buye
"a will realize good profit on their il
vestment, for it is big affair and hs
much precious metal. 1t may be tn;
| this will set a precedent and tn;
ne many similar sales will occur. fl
n there are hundreds of ancient copp'
es bells in the towers of the churches
Tn the land of God and Liberty 1t wi
en- be a good way to relieve deplete
n treasures. and iron bells will answ
sy every purpose. Amer
~, can.