The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-30
THE HUMAN PROCESSION

The first of Blondins foolhe- 1y feats at Niagara was performed f1fty-four years ago today, when he walked a rope stretched across the gorge be- tween the falls and tfae whirlpool rap ids. He carried a balancing pole forty feet long and weighing forty-fve pounds. Several times thereafter he repeated the performance, once trund- ling a barrow across, and on another occasion carrying a man, Harry Col cord. his manager. In 1860 B1ondin walked across on stiIts, and this per- 9ormance was witnessed by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward. Many tight and slack rope performers have since emulated Blondin, among them a woman Maria SpeIterina, who crossed with baskets on her feet. The first at tempt to swim the whirlpool rapids S,sesss made thirty years ago this month 8E Capt Webb. who lost his life in the EooAardy venture. Five years later 8 Philadelphia cooper, named Graham, went safely through the whirlpool rap- dds in barrel. A Mrs. Taylor was the first to go over the falls themselves, which she accomplished a dozen years ago. strapped to specially made bar rel
 John Sharp Williams of Mississippi, United States senator and former leader Of the Democratic minority in the House at Washington, will pass his hfty-ninth milestone today. Age and long experience in politics have given him wisdom and wit, and his ability as a tongue-1asher has won for him the respect and fear of the oppo- sition- Senatorial dignity has never weighed heavily on John Sharp. and in a fight he prefers rough and tumble to the Marquis of Queensberry code. Not that he is lacking in science, for he had a card index to the most sen Nawt+ rNE atorial opponents, and knows exactly where to land a. blow to make it most effective.
 Tn his hours Of ease, and under the soporiac influence of Lady Nicotine, the fighter becomes the idealist, and Niftiest of all of John Sharp's dreams, and one which he describes as happy and by no means impossible is the iAnglo-Saxon republic of the future, when Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, klAustralia, South Africa and the United Estates will live together in one large happy family. Senator Williams mod Iest1y dsscIaims that this idea is orig l9nal, and declares 1t was held by Pitt, Jefferson and Franklin
 This great republic would have a federal system like that of the United fStates,'' says the Mississippi senator, s+And it would have a. real system of lparliaTnentary government by the cab l5net systAxn, which would give real tparty responsibility to the national rwin and would make every action of the parliament plain to every citizen Iof the great nation"
 "In that blessed day war will end, ,'' lsays Senator Williams. flor what na- Ltion would dare to attack the Anglo Saxon repubIic2 The answer is fairly obvious.
 Tt would be a strong government and would need no army but a police force and nc navy but a police force for the sea- asserts the Sena tor
 Senator williams was born in Mem phisa Tenn, July 30, 1s54.s and -fvsCs ed-el |ucated at Kentucky Military Institute, the Univeneity of the South, the Uni versity off Virginia, and the Univer- sity of Heidelberg, Germany. Before he went to Washington as a congress- man twenty years ago he was a cotton planter as we'll as a lawyer, and he is still actively interested in agriculture.
 Francis Dudley, third Baron Leigh, ,a@ recent American visitor, was born dfry eight years ago today at Stone leigh Abbey, in Wentworth. He mar ried Frances-Helene Bechwith of New York, who died in 1909, leaving him prominent in England. Sir Piers Leigh bore the standard of the Black Prince at Crecy, and his son. Sir Peter, was slain at Agincourt in 1415.
 
 It is not safe for anyone to black his own boots any longer, as it may he thought you have to work for a living.