The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-24
When PIainheld
Doomed
BY M QUAD
Copyright 1910. BY Associated Lit
erary Press.

q
habltants Of the village Of Plaindeld
mad spoken OF Simeon Jones az Simple
simeon. He was an old bachelor and
lived alone. He had no opinions on
politics Of religion: he made bis living
by working for other folks BY the
day and by raising crops on bis two
acres Of land When any one asked
why Simeon was simple the only rea.
son given was that be bad once been
offered $500 for his place and refused
to take it,
All Of d sudden al particular date
II was discovered that Plainheld had a
mineral spring. pirates cave and q
BIN from which an Indian maiden had
leaped 10 her death Result-a boom;
result-th organization Of the Plain
field Hotel and Land syndicate. II
purchased the crest Of Indian Maiden
hin one day and set about the erection
Of summer hotel the next OF course
property went up-all but Simple Sim
cons fwo acres The land company
expected TO ger that at the same old
price when II got around 70 make the
offer The MOTEL land and Simple Sim
cons Joined for a distance When the
hotel was completed its southern We
randa was within ten feet Of the line
10 due time. which was when che
syndicate got good and ready. II offer-
ed Simple Simeon 800 for the land
He shook his head Then $500 was
offered. and when be refused 4 he was
called an idiot. The hotel opened with
another boom Among its FIRST guests
were Professor Chlselhurst and Mrs.
Ripton. He was a naturalist and she
poet. He was a bachelor and she a
wdower They took to each other.
one July day. when there were sixty
lYe guests in the hotel and the syndi-
cate WIS expecting every minute that
Simple simeon would call aud accept
their ofIer. that individual appeared IN
front Of the south veranda and erected
rude bench. When be bad finished
the lob and departed the professor and
the poet descended the steps and sat
90 the bench 70 COO. They thought
very kindly 81 simple Simeon for put
ting il there. Next morning It was no
ticed that the bench was occupied by
two beehives. and the industrious In
sects could De seen dying IN and out as
they earned heir wages
Professor Chselhursf had been anx-
Ions to deliver 4 lecture 90 natural his
tory Here was his opportunity. He
onered the widow bis arm. and the
couple walked down the steps and
over to the hives. The professor clear
ga ats throat and began 10 talk. He
bad q cane III his hand aud aourlshed
1t AZ he talked. he stated chat the
houeybee bad been known for 10000
years Egypt used TO be fairly swim
ming IN milk and honey until the trust
got 10 and raised the price
The bee must not Be mistaken for
the bumblehee. The latter was only
q big loafer of a bee. content % SO 90
the fence alt summer aud Die off at the
coming Of freezing weather
land now, Indies aud gentlemen"
said the professor as he stepped back.
1--WE come 10 the hive itself The bee
hive Il an emblem Of Industry
Here the professor. carried away
With bis enthusiasm. tapped % one q
the hives with bis cane The bees re-
sponded uobly They had been inter
rupted III their industry Hnd now
poured forth 10 see what was Up. The
Hrst half dozen lighted On she natu
falist. ana as be began 10 execute q
barn dance there was hearty applause
from the veranda TIE next assert I
ment hit the widow and everybody
was prepared to applaud her when the
insects began to come thicker and 70
look higher. and the circus began.
There we're shrieks, yells, oaths and a
rush Tor shelter but bee can follow
where a human being can squeeze
through. They followed. They buzzed.
They were embiems Of industry as
we'll as the hives. hardly person In
the hotel, from manager down TO dish
washer. escaped It took half day I
OF smudging and smoking and using I
brooms aud busters 90 clear tile house. 4
and the guests began to depart with |
the bees. inside Of two days the last
had vanished The poetess and the
naturalist we're among the last, and I
she faced him with swollen eyes and I
said
Professor. what fool you were to
rap on thar beehive"
Widow, what silly thing you were
to write poem on beesg be retorted \
as be got bis mouth open for the first
time for hours
Ard meanwhile what about Simple 4
Simeon? Men had rushed to him and
threatened him, but the bees were his
ana on bis land He did not propose
to remove them. and they did not so
untn bis two acres bad been sold for
II thousand dollars ard the cash was
in his hand. lie just grinned and
looked simple and they hurried up 70
give hlm bis money When the prop
cry was transferred aud the indus
trlons bees and their emblems had
been pitched into The pond the hotel
began advertising for guests No one
responded Il was closed to reopen
another season, bur Il still stood emp
ty Il is untenanted today. The boom
came and doomed, and then the bot
tom dropped out To-day the mineral
spring still bubbles and they win point
you ont the spot where the Indian
maiden leaped to her death and where
the Pirate made his murderous lair
but plalnaeld hooms no more Now