The Lafayette advertiser. [volume], April 04, 1896, Morning, Image 2

About The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??

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The Lafayette Advertiser
PU SHUD E.VERY SATURDAY.
LAFAYETTE, - LOUISIANA..
HER GOWNS.
BY VIRGINIA NILES LEEDS.
ER graduation
gown! Yec here I
hang, limp, forlorn.
neglected. I wayl
her first "made
out" gown, and
how proud she weu i
of me, as she
opened the box
which held me and
gazed upon my white ruffles and silk
linings! White muslin seemed the
most splendid thing in the world to her
just then, and she fastened a hunch of
white rosebuds very carefully into me,
lest she might tear or wound me. Let
me see, how long ago was that? Oh! I
forgot, I mustn't mention it. She
mightn't like it. She never was good at
dates, you know. Anyway, it v as long
enough for me to have become quite
yellow, and to have lost all my stiffness.
Alas! This is what we all come to!
We serve our time, and then are cast
aside. It is the fate of all things ani
mate and inanimate She was so des
perately proud of me at first, yet, r
short time ago she started to rip some o.
my lace off to trim a German favor. A
German favor, forsooth! Such a paltry.
trashy thing. and she never even fin
ished it, either, but, after tearing great
gashes in my side, she left a long strip
hanging, heedlejs of my humiiiatioun
and pain, and there it is yet, bedraggle'd.
crumpled, untidy, and I have not the
power to adjust it.
Do you know, I heard her use· an ex
pression the other day, which seemed
to fit me perfectly. She was t.Lking o'
some one-a lady, probably, who had.
also, outlived her usefulness. She said
she was "on the shelf."
White silk, white gauze, festoons of
daisies and doubled-edged ribbon!
Does it seem possible that anymne
could ever tire of such dainties? Ex
quisitely pinked dust-ruffles a tute lit
tle train four inches in length. starro"l
all around with marguerites, a bertha
of gauze dotted with spang!es, and
worthy in design of Empress Josephine
herself. Does it seem possible I say?
And how she looked forward to my
coming! How her heart beat as her
maid fastened me across her young
breast, and what festivities the family
ordered in my honor! The gas all
lighted at five o'clock in the afternoon.
canvas laid down over the beautiful car
pets, the Hungarian band, in their gray
coats, stationed behind palms and rub
ber plants, the most wonderful shields
and banks of blushing roses, and such
Selicacies to feast upon at terrapinm, and
r.,. r
HER h18UT BALL GOWN.
eanvasbacks, and lobster, and sabdt,
and oysters, and jellies and ices! My!
Wasn't it Ine? And ht the wkole o
Gotham turned out to congratulate the
debutante and to send her flowers! Per
haps she thinks thesyall came to see her,
but I know better. N1ine out of ten of
them came to see me, to observe my cut.
to take note of my garn';ute and qopy
me if they could. At least o0 of tbef
whispered to her: "Your comingeoit
frock is perfect, my dear:" Bhe thought
so herself then, for she kissed me very,
tenderly afl4. tA.ing ;.ma of in the
evening and said to she, ever so gently:
"You dear thing! You are a beauty,
and I will never love any other half sa
well!"
And did the maiden spftk the truth?
Ah, well! You may judge for yoer
self. That wks only five years ago,
and here I am, to-day, in the darkest,
stuffest corner of her wardrobe. Ml
silk petticoat with its lovely piked
rules wen to dess a doll for her lit.
te sister tree Christmaue ago; my
spangled bhei. is naw a lamp shads,
and my bunches of daisies were given to
different addle-pated young men, leiig
It's a ruel world!
Her first ball gownl Pink silk, mots.
seline de sole, little rosebuds and seed
pearls. What a yrfn of lbvelines I
was, when I e hsme,. with
pink velise' . tah,
teather boa, ittle pink satin slippers
and long delicate glovesd And wasn't
she excited, tlg)gh, n dte tpvq
slipped me on and laced me up the
hbeek I declare, 1 trembled for some
of my pearls.
Talk about admiration-I don't be.
lieve anyone was ever admired as I was
that evening. People fairly raved over
me. They took oat opera glasses and
leveled them at am from opposite boxes,
sand when I went upon the floor they
limply all walked round and round me,
and stared in the most undisguised
manner. Young men held me fondly
in their embrace, whirling dizzily
.around the room with me, and one of
them (wreteh! his gloves must have
b,, een horribly soiled) left an ugly stain
on my back, just abo waist.
I was flled with d hopes for my
future, and s ining a.d
dazzling, night fIght, through
out the season.
Were my expectations realized?
.The third time I went out-it was at
a ball at Delmonico'--a Patriarch, I
think, they called it---one of those who
had admired me most, that first even
ing, walked away from me contemp
tuously, and said, in perfectly audible
tones:
"Humph! that old pink thing egaint
Has she no other, I wonder?"
Ivory satin, ten dollars of American
money per yard, point lace 50 years old,
a network of gold and silver embroid
ery laid on with brilliants and iri
descents, a train eight yards long
'prayed with orange blossoms and a
veil of finest web and texture.
In short, her wedding gown.
What a thrill the woris send through
one, and wl-at a thrill I found her in
when, after my trans-Atlantic voyage,
they took me out of my .issue papers
and laid me on her bed! How she bent
over me and Laid he.- lips on my damask
surface, anI told .r.e all her hopes and
aspirations! Before the ,lay set for
il
BER WEDDING GOWN.
my appearance in public, she dres-rd
up in me, eil an,' all complete, and
let three or four inquisitive individuals
with pads aid pencils come in and gaze
me over, afterward turning we inside
out to chow my brocade lining, and
telling them all about me and what I
cost.
And when the fatal day came hcw
reverent-y she to'!ched mae! There
were three maids that time, and they
laid a white cloth down so that not a
grain of dust sho'ld mar the perf-ct
whiteness of me. The lace veil was
hung gracefully over me, a diamond
sunburst clasped me together at the
throat, a great bauquet, all of valley
lilies and white hyacinths, were sent
to set me off, and finally, when all was
complete, I was sent to church in a car
riage, with one of the maids to hold
my train across the curb.
I tried net to flutter as I paced up
the aisle, between rows and rows of
human eyes, to the most inspiriting
march I have eve: heard, but it was
hard not to, especially as [ fully real
ized that every one of those eyes was
upon me. A gooii-looking fellow was
awainting us at the altar, and I was
!n agony lest he should tread upon me.
It was all over, that which we had
been preparing fo" for weeks, in a few
minutes, and I tri:d my best not to roll
over as we started to come down the
altar steps, but I am afraid in my agi.
tation I must have done so--just a little
-for the maid of honor bobbed down
suddenly and gave me a vicious jerk.
After we went back to the house we
had an elegant time. We stood in a
bower of roses, and people by the score
came up and wished us joy. I was just
beginning to enjoy it thoroughly and
to hate a splend;d time when, sud
denly, I ws. whisked upstairs, pulled
off hurriedly and thrown over a chair.
I couldn't th fhe least understand it
amd was even more bewildered when
saw my place be;ring taken by a gray
claoth affair with far. That was my
first indign:ty-the second was when
she came and leaned over me before
leaving the room:
"Good-bye, my wedding gown," she
murmured; "I shall probably never
eed you apain!l" No, I asppose notl
Ciee,. aeerdiag'i the books, every'
i6 ends with me.
L't VOI.
I ara plain, po doabt, much plai,.e
than all toae twhite satias, and plbf
silkI and gauzes and things, but that
1'r of very great importance I am sure
from the way she has looked forwai.d
to me. I am only blue serge, and there
is very httle trimming on me indeed,
and the bonnet that gese with me ii
also aovery simple little affair, but we
At pelfectly, and we were pelected with
uqugh .a. and thought.
What am I? you ask; and what an
I good for?
Why, blss your heart! Im her trav
Wifg costume to Oklahoma.-N. Y.
Truth.
wbe. Men aswed MufInr.
".Then the frost king stalks abroad,l
nipping toes .1 noses, the lady
plunges her prety fingers deeper inte
her muff, whib her attendant cavalier,
aek1g thit comfortablMF crsstuare
s his into his side rbEkets. A
couple of centuries back, and he, too
iould have sported a muff. and a caps
plous one into the bargaij a fact that
woul, probably much surprise him
we'n a told of it Yet there was a
time when a 8eau would an soon have
ventured abroad without has wig as
minus his cecrishcd muff. In summer,
when he took the fir in all the glory of
powdered hair, aced coat, ruffles,
high-heeled shoes and the rest, on our
gentleman nnng his clouded cane upon
the thid button of his powJered waist.
boat. In wiiter this place of honor was
itten occupied by his muff. Sometimes
however, he carried both articles, like
& barrister described in an 18th one
pry ballad about the great fair held
- the Thaues: "A spark of the
#tAh hs cane and his mcat."- -oe
Wan.b
A BRAVE GIRL.
Who Plies the Oare Equal to a
Stalwart Man.
She Has a Mall Contraet, and Carries the
Pouches Out to Passing Boats
Arp Visits the Orange
Groves.
It was raining hard and the wind was
driving it at an angle of 45 degreeswhen
I was aroused from my reverie by the
steamer's signal that we were going to
stop for something. Looking out from
the open door I saw the same female
mail boy of Palmarosa that I wrote
about last time. She was some dis
tance up the coast and had just pushed
her little boat from shore and was row
ing with all her strength against the
wind and waves and the drifting rain so
as to meet the boat that was slowing
up in the middle of the channel. Up
end down over the heavy billows she
plied her oars. Her back was to us,
her head was bare, her hair hung loose
ly to her shoulders. She was clad in a
loose shirtwaist, with sleeves that fitted
closely to her shapely arms. Ever and
anon she glanced behind to see that
her course was right and shook the wa
ter from her tresses. Grace Darling
could not have rowed more swiftly,
and in a few minutes she had neared
alongside where the mate stood at the
gangway, with his long, hooked pole in
hand to catch the prow and hold it
fast until she had exchanged Uncle
Sam's pouches. I lookid at her witi
anxious interest as she stepped up
lightly on the plank seat, and, with a
pleasant smile, tossed the mail into the
open way. The mate threw another
pouch down to her, and said: "Why
didn't you wear a hat and put on some
clothes, Miss (;race? You will catch
your death with cold." "Oh, no," she
sai(l, "I like it; it is splendid fun," and
she shook the raindrops from her hair
again. I had a good look at her nut
brown face as she receded from us, and
would have thrown her a kiss if I could
have called back 40 or 50 years. "She
is a good, brave girl," said the captain,
"and is not ashamed to earn her $25 a
month and help the family. Rain or
shine she never fails to meet the daily
boat just at the right time and in the
right place."
I had been down to Manatee and
Bradentown to see what the great
freeze of last -winter had done to the
oranges. I found that most of the crop
had been gathered and marketed, but
the boats still take on a few more boxes
every day. The crop was not a full one,
but brought about five times as much
per box as it did the year before. The
fruit was never finer in size or more
luxurious in flavor. One orange was
given me that measured 18 inches in
circumference, and it was not puffy
or overly thick in the rind. The grow
ers icalized about $2.75 per box, and
those that have been held back are now
bringing three dollars. As a rule the
best groves belong to residents. Non
residents got discouraged last year at
50 cents a box and quit fertilizing and
quit paying a man to look after their
I property. Consequently you will see
many groves that have been practically
abandoned, but right alongside you will
see a grove in perfect and vigorous con
I dition. "An orange grove," said Sher
iff Watson, "requires as much nursing
as a baby, but it will reward you if you
care for it." The clever sheriff took
me out to see the Royal Palm nurseries
that are conducted by Mr. Reasoner
and son. The young man was kind
and courteous, and I wondered at hisr
enthusiasm as he explained everything
and discoursed on the beautiful tropical
plants, and talked botany and floricul
ture, much of which was all Greek to
me. lie gave me clippings of coffee
and tea and rubber and camphor and
cinnamon and other exotics, and
showed me oiders from the north and
west and from across the water. If I
was a young man I would pursue this
business for one reason if for no other.
I have observed that all florists are en
thusiasts about their calling. They
love it and are happy. Look at Mr.
Berekmans, of Augusta-whata noble,
earnest man he is. Just think how
much pleasure his fruits and flowers
have given the people, especially the
wives and daughters, all over this south
land of ours. How intensely he studies
nature and how extensively he diffuses
Jknowledge over his adopted country!
He has neither time nor inclination for
politics. He hankers after no office,
he has no quarrels with mankind, but
is happy in communing with nature
and nature's God. I would rather
know what he knows than to be learned
in any other profession. Besides all
this, horticulture is a profitable busi
ness and brings its sure rewards. These
Reasoners began on a small scale, and
from year to year have enlarged their
plant and now are financially indepen
dent. I looked into the depot at Braden
town and saw boxes of their trees and
plants waiting for the boat, and some of
them were marked to Nebraska and
Michigan. Their palms and ferns alnd
acacias go to Boston and New York,
where they are wanted for funerals and
fetes and weddings. They can get $5.
for. the leaves of a single plant.
na company with Judge Cornwell I
v;lited Manatee, which is only three
miles from Bradentown and is the oldest
town on the river. The country be
tween the two is thickly settled and is
ornamented with orange groves and
date palms and other tropical trees. At
the beautiful home of Mr. Adams, of
loston, I saw more beautiful birds than
I have ever seen in all my life. The
veranda was full of cages-large cages,
six feet square and six feet high, and in
them he had pairs of most every fancy
kind to be found in the world. Strange
to say they were a happy family from
the tiniest linnets to the paroquets. In
other cages he had rabbits and guinea
pigs, and there were doves and quails
and pigeons and pheasants from South
America and Honolulu and the isles
of the sea. He has been a great traveler 1
and has brought treasures from every
country. I never saw at any fair such l
beautiful fowls, nor so many of them
as those that grace his grounds. There
was only one thing lacking to make his
home complete, and that was children
--4ittle girls and boys to brighten up
the picture. Not far away from Mana
tee is the old castle, the tumbling walls
of a once stately mansion that was built
of concrete away back in the 40s.
Spacious halls and spacious rooms up
stairs and down, broad verandas with
out floors and windows without sash,
wild orange trees and palmettos crowd
ing the walls and a wilderness almost
impenetrable around. Surely this
r.aust be the place where Hood wrote
"The Haunted House"-"O'er all there
hung a shadow and a fear." Mr. Braden,
for whom the town and a river is
named, lived in it like a prince until the
Indians drove him from it. For a long
time he and his family and the slaves
successfully defended it by firing from
every window, but they carried off
everything he had outside, and he was
forced to abandon his beautiful and
costly homestead. How little do we
know of the brave deeds, the sufferings
and perils of the pioneers of Florida!
If tradition is to be believed, there is
not a county or a township in all this
region, from Pensacola to Charlotte
harbor, that is not consecrated by the
blood of the early settlers. It took $30,
(,0C,000 of money and 20.000 soldiers
first and last to subdue 6,000 Indians,
under the hlad of Osceola and other
chiefs.
But I must leave fair Florida for a
time and go heine to comfort the better
half of the famnily. It is hard on us old
I.O, e to haie to run after the children,
but it won't last much lner--ourtiime
is almost out. our journeys will soni be
Sndedl, and u e x\ ill Ihave to trust them to
the keeping of a parent who doctl'all
t!hings well.--Bill Arp, in Atlanta Con
stitution.
SCIPIO'S STRATAGEM.
The Sly Rascal Got the Kind of Coat lie
Wanted.
Slavery in :Mlassachiusetts had been
virtually abolished many years beforo
it was formally done away with, ael in
Bloston the slaves were generally house
servants who led an easy life. ribey
wn ere a careless, laughing race, faiihful,
impudent and affectionate, and often
t'ok great liberties A story is tolJ
of Dr. (hauncy's Scipio, which proves
him to have been a privileged character,
to say the least.
Dr. Chauncy was a clergyman, a clot
student, and very absent-minded and
irritable. Dr. Cooper, on the contrary,
another clergyman, was a man of eas'er
habits, an accomplished and social per
sonage, who was able, with the aid af
his talents, to dispense with much cf
the mental research in which his col
leagues engaged.
IHe did not escape the malice of the
world, however, and it was said, in al,
surd exaggeration, that he used to
walk to the South Eni on Saturdiav,
and if he saw a man riding into town
in a black coat, he would stop him and
ask him to preach the next day.
Scipio knew these peculiarities, and
proceeded to trade upon them. One
clay he went into his master's study to
receive some direct:ons. but when :hey
had been given him he still remanned.
His master chanced to look up a few ,
minutes afterward and said:
"Scipio, what do you want?"
"I want a nev' coat, massa."
"Wel', go to Mrs. Chauncy and tell (
her to give you one of my old coats." t
And again the clergyman turned to 4
his work. The servant remained fixed, I
and after awhile the doctor chanced to -
become conscious of him again. r
"Wha: do you want, Sclpio?" said he. a
"I want a new coat, massa."
'Well, go to my wife and ask her t
to give you one of ray old coats." e
lie ifll to writing, but Scipio re- f
mained in the srate posture. Presensly r
ihe doctor looked up. a
"Scipio, what Co you want?" a
"I want a new coat, massa."
Then it flashed over the doctor's mind h
that the dialogue savored of repetition. t
"-Why, haven't I told you before to t
ask Mrs. Chauncy to give you a coat? o
Get away!"'
"Yes, massa, but 7 no want a black
coat."
"Not want. a b.lck coat? Why not?"
"Why, massa, 1 'fraid to tell you."
"Tell me directly, you rascal!"
"0 massa, I 'fraid to tell you the ria
son; you so passionate:"
So the conversa tion. went on until the
doctor -ecame highly irritated, a'i1
Scipio perceived that the time had
come to cease goading him.
"Well. massa, volt make me tell, but
I know you be angry. I 'fraid, masan,
if I wear a black coat Dr. Cooper ask
me to preach for him."
This unekpected t;rn realized thrie
gro's calculation; hit nmaster burst into
a laugh.
"Go, you rascal," said he, "get my
hat and cane and tell Mrs. Chauitcy
:'he may buy you a coat of any colo '; :a
red one, if you choose."
Away went the servant to his mis
tress, while the doctor set out to tell
the story to Dr. Cooper.-Youtk's Camn
!panion.
Too Late!
Dramatis personae: A couple of
young ladies (bosom friends).-"My
dearest Olga, I could not rest until I
had come and made an effort to dispel
the gloomy thoughts which, to judge
from your letter yesterday, threat.
ened to develop into suicidal mania.
'Tis true, Alfred has jilted you, the
wretch! Still, try to act like a sensible
girl, and look out for another engage.
ment."
"Your advise comes too late, dar.
ling."
"Good gracious! Olga; you surely
haven't taken poison!"
"Well, n-n-no; the fact In, I-I be
came engaged again yesterday!"
Novoje Vremja.
Degrees of Migortuae.
First Barnstormer-I was hit with a
brick.
Second Barnstormer-You're oulgc
I was hit with an egg.Puck.,
YANKEE CLIPPER SLEDS.
They Surprised the Swiss by Brakisq Al
Records.
The original otobarsk has for long re
mained sufficient for Canadian tolhog
ganers, probably because the paastimni
with them is hardly more than the
original means of locomotion it, pro
vided for the Indians, and rcompetition
in speed was never a succe. ful possi
bility. The primiti., Swiss ( easter was
destined to a far shorter s',premanr
when put to lhe keen tests of the racinrr
that developed. Men soon got. all that
was possible, in the way of speed. out
of sitting on a wooden framework bal
anced upon flat iron bars. And Mr. L.
P. Child, of New York, supplied the
want by producing in the winter o'
1887 an American "clipper sled," which
beat every rider in Davos out of sight
whether native or imported. lie rode
it lying headfirst on his side. steering
with on" moccasined foot swingingin out
behind, after the method familiar on
the chutes of Montreal.
Owing to local prejudice and habit,
this headfirst position had not pene
tratedt to Switzerland till long after it
had been well-known elsewhere. But,
even the introduction of the new posi
tion was not so essential and advance
as was the long spring runner of AIr.
Child's machine, by means of whic.
steering was made far more accurate
and easy than with the old flat runner
of the schlittu. Mr. E. ('oh"n. another
American. by winning the best race at
St. Moritz, sit'ing on one of the
new clipper sleds, proved conclusiveyv
the merits of the right machine, even
when it was ridden in the wrong wa.,
and showed that on hard ice, as well as
on snow of the post roads, the new ma
chine and methods were : great alc
varier'.
The prne has been increas'ng steadily
each year, as the building of the run
itself improved and as new methods of
riding have developed. In the crack
race of February, 1895, two riders, or(m
after the other (Messrs. Birrd and (;ib
son) did what at the time of writing is
a record for' the run, 71 seconds for the
measured three-quarters of a mile. Al
though this means an average speedl
over the ,% hole course, that on a straight
run would be by no means extraordi
nary, yet when such difficult turns as
Battledore or the church leap are taken
into consideration, it becomes an as
tonishing performance. Down certain
straight parts of the course men have
been timed to be traveling at the rate
of a mile in one and one-fifth minutes;
and a little nearer to the finish the pace
is certainly well over 60 miles an hour.
These last 400 or 500 yards are purpose
ly built to give that rariet:- of riding
which is necessitated by great speed
without hard ourners as a contrast
to the steerin difficulties on the curves
above; a vari - in which body balance
and great delicacy of touch are the all
important factors of success.-Scrib
ner's Magazine.
USEFUL GOWNS.
Warm and Pleasant Garments for the
Winter Season.
Woolens of wide diagonals so light
ly woven that they are not heavy, yet
are of pure, soft wool that makes them
marm and pleasant to the touch, are
chosen for useful winter gowns. There
are so many ways of brightening up
black gowns this season that almost
everyone chooses these wool gowns in
black. When made for a woman of
40 or 50 years they are very well set up
by a -est of gathered taffeta, the ground
of the silk black, the flowers purplish
red clover, or roses, or petunias blurred
and softened in the weaving. The waist
is a short fitted coat in the back and on
the sides, with slight fulness plaited in
each seam at the belt line, and theopen
fronts are pointed, then turned back in
revers of the wool stitched only once
along the edge. There are two stocks,
one matching the vest, one of black
satin ribbdn with a large bow in the
back. The sleeves droop from the top
to the elbow, and have narrow cuffs
turned back and faced with the taffeta
or satin, as one chooses. The full skirt
is untrimmed.
Shades of yellow seen in the nastur
tium are much used in flaring collars
and vests of black wool frocks, not only
by brunettes, but by blondes. Some
times a yoke of ecru lace over yellow
satin is preferred to a rest for more
youthful gowns, and the round waist
is made 4 hook invisibly on the left
side or in the back. Still another fancy
even for ery young women is white
satin rib on for a stock with black
dresses, te only color being a brooch
of ametht, amber, topaz or turquoise.
In this caSe the front of thewaist forms
two Inrge box-plaits ' ated by a
lengthwi$ band of satin ribbon,
which may be ec intervals by
insertion) of creamy guipure lace, or
by three Or four rows of gilt ribbon an
inch widde--Harper's Bazar.
Candle Lamps.
Now that invention and science have
done them part, candle lamps are be
coming t only ornaments, but neces
sities in l-conducted households. A
very dal*y idea is to have a brass
photo-frfe lighted from the back by
a candle Ilmp softened by a lightgreen
silk sha , while for a wall looking
glass nothing could be more graceful
and decohrtive than a design with
sprays of S~camine at the top and sides,
with theecandle lamp at either side.
The candle lamps are now made to look
as oriental as possible, and the dainty
little case in olive greens, old yellows,
moslem grays and Armenian reds are
exceedingly attractive. These Arctic
lamp have all the appearance of the
candle itself, but are really but un
breakable compositions which hold thy
candles in place. Inside the case there
is a strong spiral spring, which is
pressed down into the smallest pos
sible compass when the candle is a
new one, but as it is gradually released
pushes up the candle, which is thereby
kept at the same level till the very lhst
moment of its life.--St. Louis Repub
lio.
LUCK IN MINING.
People in the Business Are Bellever 1~r
Good and Bad Fortune.
An old Leadcville mining man Who
passed through the great silver carbon
a;e boom of 1871-91 and is now in :the
P:luck hills anticiattng a similar "lave
of mining inv -stnint and nxealth .-o
duction tells a number of inte.resing
stories of his experience in (oloraulq.
"The big.fest mistake I ever imaple,"
said the genial wlijtie-haired raconit ur,
a"w:, in refusing to purchasie a hallf in
terest. inl a lit.tle flat-iron shaped pI .ttr
of ground lyinrtg near the famous tI .ltir
Pit t.btu r-hii, the great sand-ctarborlate
djc'osit ishicth first nallltd Tabor t'ich
andIl f; llamous. The claim was the mlllest
fratlion, its longest side measur'ing
only 43 feet. W1hen the ownelr offtlred
uwe a half interest for $125 [1 alnoYi
laughed at him. I wvasn't up to ftac
tions. Vol s'e-T - wantetd the whlole
claimn or nothintp. The prospector ývas
hard up and lie tinally sold out to'[':or
for next to nothIng. The three- lay
senlator from ('oloi ado got $125,0{00 ourt
of this. little patch of santid antd grnvt i.
'1 hat manl Tabor never took hold of tiny
thing in Lead. ille that did not. pa i; If
I had bIought, the ground the clalhl cen
are ten to one that I shoultl etirr lave
found the big chamber of rich carion
ales it ctontairned, beclause the .' 'iaft
sutnk in prospecting wouil I iave jie.N.
kept closely timnlreed. As it was, ltll
carelessness of one of the nen lI-ii t1o
tlh discovc ry.
"The drift under this little tria flfge.
a.-: in most of the claims, wa.; mnad.i ui;,
of gi avel, clay and tale. This tale 0'ock
nolt!d stand in the walls of a shiafl for
set'teral feet without tintletriin ii t rre
fully handled. Well, whein tl-' niu er,
had reached a depth of aboult 40 ftet
and had left the walls to stand or!fa.ll
in for ten or twelve feet. one of: the'
ilarty, while tlearing utip the work fo
ti ibcering, stuck his pick too vigor',mi i
ly into one side of the shaft and a
great slab of talc. loosened hby noist!rc.
slid down with a .t.hld, revealing 'one
of the richest deposits of carlbntht, .
ever discovered about Leadville. If phis
chance stroke had not shown the ore
it's more than probable thatl Tltboir
would have sunk a couple of hundred
feet without finding anything. In the
ordinary affairs of life luck is a m-th,
bat in mining it often proves a positive
factor.
,"That was not iry only mischancje at
Leadville. I did some geographican in
ing when I first went there, in th' fall
of 1878. Ritchie had taken Ta or's
quarter of beef, bacon. flour and!pro
ceries-Tabor kept a little grocery then
and grub-staked miners. IHe had ne
uI. into the hills some months be ore.
Ile found the Pittsburgh, and I 'a one
of the early arrivals, while the riom
was gaining impetus. Little was k Own
of the nature of the formation, its
geology was problematical then,though
the glacial deposit theory has since been
generally accepted. I reasoned tllat a
boat-shaped piece of ground surrQ nd
ed by such rich claims as the Iitts
burgh, . (hrysolite, Vulture and ,hei
producersught _to catch the b -
argentiferous sand somew-he .".
bought an interest in an undeve 1ped:
ground purely because of its locition.
T'he venture proved disastrous. I ifnnk
shafts on all parts of the ground;j one
to a depth of 280 feet. without sec ring
nore than promising float. Tlreeneda
of what might be termed silver placer
vere capped with iron carbon stes;
they lay just below the rim roeqe on
the terraces of California gulch, and,
this iron rock was regarded as ai al-
most certain indication. One day we
•nme upon some broken masses of this
capping-float and began to feel rich.
We laughed at an offer of $50,000;icon
idered it in the nature of an insult.
Those alterations of hope and desi ond
etcy, a normal state of mind in s)ecu
ative mining, are, I suppose, repon
tible for the abundance of my;lgray
Iairs. S
"The most beaten, disgusted a dis
appointed lot of people ever in Co vrado
were. I believe, the partners H the
'Law' property when the Levi Z. $,eiter
interest secured possession of th mine
and gathered up something like $100,
000 worth of rich carbonates which we
had mined and ready to haul tb the
smelter. It was a question of the right
to follow a deposit across side lines.
Judge Miller had decided that q'vners
must confine their underground. ork
ings to the side lines of their clalins, in
a test case arising on the Pitthburgh
bill. The law now recognizes tht right
of the discoverer of a lode to fol ow it.
into adjoining ground, but the de sions
were then conflicting. The famo4 Iron
Silver ground joined the side lijes of
the Law, our property. The Irii Sil
ver people had pushed their dri until
i.t broke into the workings up n our
ground. They were taking oun thou
sands daily, and we knew they rould
claim the right to follow their lead.
We were -not sure that the de ision.
made would protect our side li es, as
the formation was not a 'blank-t,' or
flat deposit, and so prepared fcr thte
worst.
"Only the richest rock was minted for
several days, and we had barricaded,
the drift connecting the two propeirties.
A big Irishman with a rifle ws ste
tioned to guard the approach an warn
oft intruders. When everythin ; was
ready we arranged to remove t e on)
at night to avoid the possibility of an
injunction. On the night chos n we
reached the shaft quietly, me. and
owners were lowered into the wo kings
and everything looked favorable or the
enterprise. But we were not per nitted
to rob our own mine and thus s ve the
rich ore. Our Irish Iloratius had aban
doned his bridge. The barrica e was
down, the ore gone and the drift n pos
session of.Iron Silver forces. W. were
betrayed, beaten and utterly cast down
We made no useless demonstr tions
but retired as quietly as welhad con
The fellow who sold us out wa per
seen in Leadville again, and I ,e al
ways admired his good judgme hlade.
ciding upon an immediate ch of
residence."-Philadelphia Tim
HJ