Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-07-08
BY NJ QUAD

utN clFVhtH VI 0ithNOn NOhto as 'iAhUAt
Simeon. He was an old bachelor and
lived alone. He had no opinions on
politics or religion: he made his living
by working for other folks by tho
day and by raising crops on his two
acres OF land When any one asked
why Simeon was simple the only rea-
son given was that lie had once been
offered $500 for his place and refused
TO take It.
All Of a sudden at a particular date
Il was discovered that Plalnfeld had
mineral spring. a pirates cave and
bill from which an Indian maiden had |
leaped TO her death Result--a boom;
result-the organization OF the Plain
field Hotel and Land syndicate. 1t /
purchased the crest OF Indian Maiden |
hill one day and set about the erection
OF a summer hotel the next. or course
property went up-all but Simple Sim
cons two acres. The land company
expected 10 get that at the same old
price when II got around 10 make the
offer The hotel land and Simple Sim
cons joined for a distance. When the
hotel was completed its southern ve-
randa was within ten feet OF the line.
In due time. which was when the
syndicate got good and ready, It ofrer-
ed Simple Simeon $500 for the land.
He shook his head. Then $500 was
offered. and when be refused Il he was
called an idiot. The hotel opened with
another boom. Among its FIRST guests
were Professor Chiselhurst aud a Mrs.
Ripton. He was a naturalist aud she
a poet He was bachelor and she
wldower. They took to each other.
One July day. when there were sixty
} Eve guests In the hotel and the syndi-
: cate was expecting every minute that
Simple Simeon would call and accept
their offer, that individual appeared I'm
front of the south veranda and erected
rude bench. When he had finished
! the job and departed the professor and
the poet descended the steps and sat
! on the bench TO coo. They thought
r very kindly OF Simple Simeon for put
ting il there. Next morning It was no
ticed that the bench was occupied, by
, two beehives. aud the industrious In
. sects could be seen flying In and out as
n they earned their wages.
G Professor Chiselhurst had been anx-
E ious to deliver a lecture on natural his
c tory. Here was his opportunity He
b offered the widow his arm. and the
couple walked down the steps and
over TO the hives. The professor clear
! ed his throat and began 70 talk. He
n had cane in his hand and fiourished
it as be talked. lie stated that the
J. honeybee had been known for 10000
y years Egypt used TO be fairly swim
n ming In milk and honey until the trust
I, GOT 10 and raised the price.
The bee must not be mistaken for
rs the bumbebee. The latter was only
s. a bic}oafer Of bee content 10 sit or
ln the fence all summer and die or sc th'
rs coming OF freezing weather
in And now. ladies' and gentlemen.
said the professor as he stepped back
m I'VE come 10 the hive itself The bee
err hive Is an emblem OF industry"
* Here the professor. carried ava,
I'D with his enthusiasm. tapped on one O.
lie the hives with his cane. The bees re
sponded nobly. They had been inter
rupted IN their industry and nov
I poured forth 20 see what was up. Th'
first half dozen lighted on the natu
rallst. and as be began 10 execute q
barn dance there was hearty applause
from the veranda. The next assert
ment hit the widow and everybody
was prepared to applaud her when the
insects began 10 come thicker and &c
look higher, and the circus began
There we're shrieks. yells. oaths and q
rush for shelter. but bee can follow
where human being can squeeze
N through They followed They buzzed
h. They were emblems OF industry az
we'll as the hives, Hardly a person in
the hotel from manager down TO dish
IS washer. escaped. 1t took half a day
o. OF smudging and smoking and using
ID brooms and busters 10 clear the house
III and the guests began TO depart with
I'd the bees Inside Of two days the last
had vanished. The poetess and the
naturalist were among the last. and
e. she faced him with swollen eyes and
re said.
al Professor. what fool you were q
Id rap on that beehivew
widow. what silly thing you were
to write a poem on beesT' be retorted
r. as be got his mouth open for the frs
time for hours.
n And meanwhile what about Simple
he Simeon? Men bad rushed to him and
ST threatened him. but the bees were bis
and on his land He did not propose
Re TO remove them. and they did not g
IT. until his two acres had been sold fol-
nd a thousand dollars and the cash wai
ds I'm his hand. He just grinned anc
b. looked simple, and they hurried up C
give him his money. When the prop
Id erty was transferred and the indus
OF trious bees and their emblems haC
m been pitched into the pond the hote
began advertising for guests. No ont
h. responded It was closed 10 reopeI
OF another season. but Il still stood emp
al ty. IL is untenanted today. The boon
came and doomed. and then the bot
lie tom dropped out. Today the minera
u. spring still bubbles. and they will poin
III you out the spot where the IndiaI
maiden leaped to her death and wher'
the pirate made his murderous lair
but Plainfeld booms no more. Nov
IS and then an inhabitant will wake NJ
ed TO say that Simple Simeon was tn
be only fool who made a dollar out Of tn