Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-08
PERILS ALONG EVERY PATH
Danger, Like Bill Collector,
is Always Hanging
Around

When we look back over our more or less
misspent lives we are led to wonder how
we have been able to aviod all the dangers
that beset our pathways, as we are pleased
to designate the rocky roads over which
we have dragged our feet. These dangers
were so many and so varied that we marvel
at our agility in doging them all.
We need not shudder now over the dam
gers that have passed but 1t IS good
thing for those OF us who are stiAslVing to
reflect that Providence has had us firmly,
by the hand all through life. We have been
jerked" by Providence from In front of
automobiles that were exceeding the speed
limit The same capable guardian has
plucked us time and again from beneath
the wheels of freight cars that were being
backed noiselessly over crossings, seeking
whom they might crush into an unrecog-
nizable pulp TO mystify the coroner
Speaking of these dangers recalls to my
mind one James Jordan, who could nearly
always scent danger from afar, even in his
early youth. He never stumbled upon a
hest OF bumblebees as we walked barefoot
through the meadow. Never in his life did
he subscribe to the belief that he could
throw a stone against a hornets nest and
then escape before the insects could land
on him.
l recall that once when a big circus was
coming James Jordan turned 1t down, so to
speak, and went instead to visit his uncle
In the country. He had a premonition that
IL he went to the circus one of the wild
animals would reach through the bars of
the cage, snatch him up and proceed to
eat him. without conjunction or any other
seasoning.
On the farm there didn't appear to be
hi yaxr N,aA ID ha fa nP
James Jordan, 50 he proceeded to turn him
self loose to a limited extent. He ran
frolicsomely though cautiously across the
rear lawn in pursuit OF a butterfly, I'M
aware that q clothes line was stretched be-
tween two of the trees.
But II was there. all right 1t caught
James Jordan beneath the chin swung him
maliciousy into the air, turned him over
three times and slammed his head against
the ground with q thud that nearly broke
his neck. 1t taught him at the same time
the great truth that danger turks every
where precisely as 90 bill collectors.
After he had regained consciousness his
uncle, who was a stern man, came out and
| reprovsd him for swinging on the clothes
line He said the line was there to hang
clothes upon, not to be used for acrobatie
practice, The knowledge no impaired was
| hupcTllupuss JhllGS hlltN u pbAOle
his uncle told him and the knowledge did
not come by intuition. lie said as much to
his uncle. coupling with the remark a word
Of criticism about the lines being left
hanging so low, His uncle then united one
end OF the rope and called the youths at
tention to 1t In way that left a lasting
| impression,
| Unseen dangers hover around us as we SO
on through life. Even the multimillionaire.
guarded as he Is from; the world ana from
those who would like to borrow money
from him, many have generous spell at
intervals and buy his chauffeur a drink.
Such generosity may be the means Of in
oreaains the danger that forever is menao-
ing rich man, The chauffeur may speed
up the machine or steer careessly after
taking the drink thereby causing a break
age that will cost 80 cents or even more.
We cannot always know when danger Is
impending 1t may take a notion to do its
| impending In the dark, or at least, in the
twilight l remember that once 1 leaned
over the fence In my own dooryard at such
an hour and mentioned casually to a neigh
Dor that l had just made 800 by a lucky
deal The remark vas overheard by my
wife, who at that moment felt the need Of
u new hat and another gown.
A man may think he Is safe in his office
on the first OF the month with the door
locked and a chair braced against Il, but
before he is aware 81 the peril a bill col
lector climbs over the partition