HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1925-12-03, Page 3A;: FAMOUS OUTLAW
BY FRED F. FOSTER,
When William • of Normandy had
conquered England, he confiscated the
estates of the English gently and
gave them to his followers.
The Norman chiefstreated the
Anglo-Saxons in the most tyrannical
manner, driving them', front their
homes and compelling them to find a
refuge from their oppressors in the
woods, where they led a vagabondish
life. .-
In the year 1160, Robert Fitzopch,
Earl of Iluntingdon, was born in the
pleasant town of Locksey, Notting-
hamshire. He was a coinely youth, of
Sweet voice and winning ways.
At seventeen he was very export
with the long bow, and few caned to
contend against hire in athletic gauzes,
aware that they would suffer defeat
if they did so.
As he was one morning' on his way
to visit an uncle living in Nottingham,
he saw a number of the king's forest-
ers % assembledat an ale house, -en-
gaggd in earnest conversation. Join-
ing -them, be learned that there was to
be a shooting tournament, under direc-
tion of the king, in a neighboring
town, the next week.
"I will be present and show the king
what a good shot is," exclaimed young
Robert, joyously.
"Host think that a stripling like
thyself may shoot before the king?"
sneeringly asked one of the foresters.
"I bet thee twenty crowns I can hit
a deer at five hundred yards," replied
Robert angrily. .
"I bet thee twenty crowns thou
cunt not Our host shall have charge
of the stakes while we seek yonder
wood for a trial of thy skill." •
Each placed twenty crowns in the
host's palm, and then they went to the
wood, followed by the crowd.
Just as they entered it, a deer came
bounding along, and, though further
away than the designated distance,
Robert let fly an arrow. The deer
was struck and killed.
"I've won!" cried Robert, proudly,
extending his hand for the money.
"It is none of thine," said the one
who had betted with him, "and if thou
dost not begone, thou'lt be sorry,"
striking the youth on the head.
Robert, with a laugh, took his leave
of the party, but, when many yards
. distant, he shot an arrow at the for-
ester. The shaft struck the heart of
the treacherous fellow and killed him.
Robert followed it up with other ar-
rows, killing some and wounding
many.
An immense reward was offered for
his apprehension, which stimulated a
vigorous search for him, but he con-
cealed himself in Sherwood Forest,
and all endeavors to dislodge him
proved futile.
Many, outlawed as was he, soon
joined him, of whom he became the
leader under the name of Robin Hood.
They dressed in a suit of green
cloth, and wore scarlet caps. Their
arms were a dagger, a short sword, a
long bow and a quiver of arrows.
Robin Hood was distinguished from
the rest by the better quality of his
garments and a horn that he- always
kept with him to wind in case he
needed their assistance when away
from theist.
According to the "forest laws," who-
ever killed one of the king's deer was
to be deprived of his eyes. Robin
Hood and his companions gave no
heed to the law, and shot the king's
deer whenever they desired. Nor did
they hesitate to attack a Norman
nobleman, and "borrow" his purse,
without giving any security for its re-
turn. But they never molested the
poor. Indeed, they frequently reliev-
ed their needs with that which they
had obtained from the nobles.
Numberlessromances and ballads
wore based on his exploits, evincing
the interest felt in Robin Hood by the
common people of England in olden
times. Perhaps nothing more forcibly
shows how highly he was regarded by
them than does an anecdote, related
by the celebrated Bishop Latimer, in
a sermon delivered before Edward VI.
"On a journey from London I once
sent word into a town that I would
preach there in the morning, because
it was a holiday, -' The church stood
by the way, and I took my horse and
went thither, thinking to find a great
company in the church, but when I ,
came there the church door was fast
closed. Some oneof tho parish comes
to mo and says:
"Sir, we cannot hear you. It is
Robin Hood's day. The parish are
gone abroad to gather for him. I pray
you hinder them not.'
"I was fain, then, to give place to
Robin Hood."
Of his companions, node other was
so dear to him as Little John, and the
manner in which 'he became a member
of the band is worthy of notice.
One morning, in the early part of
his career," Robin Hood said to his
men:
"Fourteen days have passed without
sport. Remain here and I-will'seek
adventure. If I need your aid I will
blow three: blasts upon my horn."
Setting 'forth, ere long he reached
the highway, where, if in any place,
he thought to find the desired adven
ture. Coming to a brook he started
to cross it on the narrow plank that
served as a bridge, but, as he stepped
upon it, he saw a tall, young fellow
at the other end.
"Thoui't fare ill if thou goest not
back," cried the stranger.
"I could send an arrowthroughthy
heart with this bow of mine," return-
ed Robin.
"Thou were a coward then,,' as I
have but this with which to defend
myself," holding up a stout oaken
staff'.
`=I'm not a coward..Halt a moment,
and I'll prove it to. thee."
And Robin ran back into the thick-
et,, whence he presently returned,
bearing an oaken branch.
"Now, let us fight it out with our
staves," he exclaimed, "and whose
hurls the other into the brookshall
win."
"Agreed reeves the ,response.
And they began to beat each other
unmercifully. -
Soon Robin received a blow that
knocked him into the water.
"Hal hal" laughed the victor.
"Thou'rt a bold yeoman, and hast
won right nobly," remarked Robin, as
he wended his way to the bank.
Then ho blew three shrill blasts. In
a short time his men appeared, and
found their chief lying on the ground,
thoroughly soaked with water,
What wishes thou?" asked one of
them.
"That young fellow knocked me into
the brook."
"I' faith, then shall he be ducked."
"Hold!" 'commanded Robin, as his
men started towardthestranger. "It
was a fair fight. No one shall do thee
violence," to the victor. "I• am Robin
Hoed, and if thou'It join us, a coat of
green, a dagger, a sword, bow- and
arrows shall be thine."
"With a:1 my heart will I." -
Some game was .shot and cooked, .a
barrel of ale wee tapped. Robin Hood
and his men stood in a ring about
John Little, who was baptized "Little
John."
When they had leen the terror of
the rich for many years, Robin Hood
and his followers swore allegiance to
Richard Coeur de Lion, and renounced
their life of outlawry. Some two score
of them went with their master to
London; the rest - went to - various
localities. •
- In London, Robin Hood assumed his -
title -Earl of Huntingdon -and lived
in fine style. But he continually long-
ed for the freedom of the woods. He
obtained permission from the king to
Imes a week in.his old haunts.
Roaming beside the dear old stream,
and listening -to the songs of the
merry birds, he was so happy that he
placed his horn to his lips and blew
three long, loud blasts, as of yore.
Greatly to his surprise, more than
seventy of his men came before him.
That settled his doubts; he returned
not to London, .but reorganized his
band,
Learning what had occurred, the
king was exceeding wroth, and dis-
Ahmad Kalem, the Shah of Persia, who has been dethroned. He is one
of the best known figures around the French resorts.
patched two hundred soldiers, under
an able commander, to capture him.
Between the soldiers and the out-
laws a terrible fight ensued in Sher-
wood
her
wood Forest. Neither party was abso-
lutely victorious, but Robin Hood was
fatally wounded by an arrow.
Knowing that death was inevitable,
he requested Little John to carry him
into the woods. It was done, and
then he took his bow, and shot an
arrow as far as he was able,
"Where the shaft fell, there bury
pie;" he said to his friend in a feeble
voice, and died.
"Where the shaft fell," he was
buried, beneath the green sod. Above
his head a stone was erected, bearing
this inscription: -
"Here, underneath this little stone,
Lies Robert, Earl of Huntingdon,
Known by the name of Robin Hood,
Who was a thief and archer good;
Full thirty years and sometimes more
He robbed the rich to feed the moor.
Such outlaws as he and his men
Will England never see again."
He died November 18, 1247, aged
eighty-seven.
A man doesn't care if his hair keeps
on getting grey as long bait keeps en.
The World's Oldest Lumber
Firm.
Probably the oldest lumber com-
pany in. the world Is the Stara Itop
parebergs Bergslags, A. B., of Stock-
holm,
tookholm, , Sweden, which has been in
business continually for 7,00 years.
Besides Its lumber export trade of 70
millten feet a year this company en-
gages in a number of industries in-
cluding mining, paper and pulp mak-
ing,' agriculture and various chemical
Industries. It has for many years
practised scientific forestry, Every
70 or 80 years its loggers turn to the
same tracts for cutting, and on its
holdings the cut -over land problem
does not exist.
Felling Mahogany.
To fell a large mahogany tree is
usually a day's task for two men. On
account of the wide spurs which pro•
sect from the trunk at its base, It is
necessary to erect scaffolds and out
the tree off ten or fifteen feet above
the ground.
The protection of animals is requir-
ed not only by considerations of hu-
manity, but also for the happiness and
safety of mankind,
KEEPING OUT COLD BY SEALING CREVICES
Several years ago in a certain city
there was a row of houses which the,
occupants had difficulty in heating. A
woman bought one of these houses,
and slie went to work to make it com-
fortable for winter. Each autumn she
went over 1t to see that all was in
readiness fqr the coming ice and snow,
with the result that her house was
said. to be the one most adequately
heated In the row.
It will not be long till the cold days
of winter are here, and a little work
!done now will save Boal, and conduce
to a satisfactory temperature.
Cellar Cracks.
Many cellars and basements are not
as tight as they should be. In some
of them the light may be seen through
small crevices where the joists con-
nect with the walls. These cracks can
be found at any time and attended to
before it is necessary to repair other
places. Get a bucket of damp clay and
,nix with it a small quantity of hair
which may usually be gotten from
firms handling materials used for plan
tering. When the clay is ready, chink
up every place where a ray of light
can be seen;- then the firat cold,` windy
day, see if any wind can be felt coming
in around these places. If any is no-
ticeable, put in more of the home-made
piaster. A trowel. will facilitate this
work.
Sealing Doors and Windows.
The next places to need attention
are the cellar doors and windows. It is
amazing how much cold air can come
in when these do not fit closely. Keep
open only the windows and doors that
will be absolutely needed for use dur
ing the winter, and ,close the others.
Out, long strips of - newspaper, fold
lengthwise, and push them into the
cracks, being sure to put in as much
paper as possible. if the cracks are
too small to fill with folded paper, long
otrips can be pasted over theist, and
the paste washed off when the win-
; dows are opened in the spring. If cold
air comes.in under the doors that have
to be used, take hoard's as long as
I'Ithe door silts. are wide and wrap them
iwith papers or old pieces of cloth and
place on the floor against the doors.
These can be moved and replaced at
will.
There are times when people sitting
in a groom on a cold day •can feel wind
passing over the floor. Of course
something needs attention, for this
should not be. If the owner of the
house will get down and examine the
baseboard around the top and at the
floor, it will be found that there are
places where it does not fit as it should
against the fall and floor, allowing
space for the wind to enter. Some
people fill these places with putty, but
this is not always satisfactory, as
Putty sometimes falls out when it be-
comes very dry. A better way to
remedy the trouble is to out paper in-
to long, narrow strips and put them
into water till the paper is thoroughly
wet. Then pieces of the desired length
may -be removed and drained and push-
ed into the cracks with the thin blade.
of a knife; The paper can be packed
in yet tighter by means of a chisel
used like a hammer. Paper put in
this way will stay for years.
Window Casings.
It is probable that places will be
found along the casings of the win-
dows where cold air comes in. These
may be attended to in the same way,
but wherever there is chance of spoil-
ing the wall -paper something should
be held against it to puoteot it till the
wet paper_is out oe the way. When
the paper is dry, it can be gone over
with paint the color of the woodwork.
A woman can do all of this work,
and it will be found interesting and
the result surprisingly satisfactory.
asyLessons in
AUCTION
RIDGE
New Series byWI ERGfUSON
clsitiaor etrerguson on a: vtion23ri gd'
Copyright 0925 be Hoyle, Jr.
ARTICLE No. 8
In what way: does the expert differ
from any other auction player? Has he
snore imagination, more courage, more
resourcefulness, more originality? What
particular quality makes him stand out
among his fellows? If there is anething
that we don't understand we usually
subject it to a close examination and
analysis so let's do the' seine with the
expert. Let us place him under the
microscope and let its lens magnify his
tactics. Let us observe and analyze his
bidding and play.
The following hand is illustrative of
the writer's contention that in the
language of sport, the expert "San every-
tliitig.'
Hand No. 1
Y
sA Bs
a Z
Hearts -A, 10, 9, 7
Clubs -,Q
Diamonds - A, K, 10, 5
Spades- K, Q, 8, 7 .
No score, rubber game. The expert, Z,
dealt and bid one diamond, a perfect
example of the four card suit bid in
preference to the no-trump. The single-
ton club is a danger spot in no-trump
because a good player with a set up
club suit and the lead would pass the
no-trump. In this particular hand, A
had a six card club suit and his partner
the ace of spades so that a no-trump
bld by North would have failed to make
the contract by one trick. Z, however,
possessed the -first requisite of the ex-
pert, good judgment, so bid one dia-
mond. A passed and Y bid two diamonds
to give his partner another chance to
bid. B passed and Z now had to do a
little thinking. Y's bid of two diamonds
indicated a willingness on his part to
have Z bid another suit. This suit could
be either clubs, hearts or spades, The
Hearts - 8, 7, d
Clubs - K
Diamonds - none
Spades -10, 8, 6, 4, 3
expert figured that his partner would
not bid two diamonds merely to obtain
a club bid from him`becasee it is just
as difficult to go game at clubs as in
diamonds. There would be nothing to
gain bsuch tactics so Y must be pre-
pared for a heart or spade bid. Z, there-
fore, bid two spades. A passed and Y
bid three diamonds. B passed and Z was
now certain that Y was hoping for a
heart bid so' bid three hearts with the
greatest assurance in the world. All
passed,.Y's hand was as follows:
Hearts- K, 8, 6, 4
Clubs -J, 7
Diamonds - Q, J, 9, 7, 2
Spades -6, 4
At hearts Z made four odd, losing only
one heart, one club and one spade trick,
At diamonds, the result would have
been the same so the expert's imagina-
tion and clear analysis of his partner's
bidding gave him a'gaane not otherwise
possible. How many players would
have bid this hand like the expert?
The foregoing hand was not selected
es unusual but only as representative
of the margin of superiority that the
expert has over the average player. To
excel at auction, as in any other game,
the expert must"have everything," He
must be able to do the right thing at the
right time and It is this quality that is
most strongly.evidentinthe hand giv-
en. It may seem easy and the expert's
play and bidding the natural thing to
do but how many players could honest-
ly say that in actual play they would
have done the same? If they can, they
are in the class of the expert. If not,
they still have something to which to
look forward. We cadnot all be experts
but we can all improve our game by
analyzing the expert's methods and
profiting thereby. Put the expert "Un-
der the lens" atevery opportunity and
you cannot help but benefit. Another
example will be given in a later article.
Answer to Problem No. 5
Hearts - 3 o"
Clubs -A, 6, 5, 4
Diamonds -Q, 10
Spades -9, 7, 2 -
Y
.A
B
Hearts - K, J, 9, 5
Clubs- Q, J, 7, 3
Diamonds- none
Spades -A, Q
There •are no trumps and Z is in tire
lead: How can YZ win nine of the ten
tricks against any defense? The correct
lead by Z is the seven of clubs. Y should
win the trick with the ace and 13 should
play the eight. Y should now Lead the
deuce of spades. Z should win the trick
with the queen and lead the ace. Z
ehould'now lead three rounds of clubs.
A's best discards are first a spade and
then hearts. B's best play is to force Y
in the lead on the fourth round of clubs.
He can do this by playing his high
clubs and peeping the deuce for the
fourth club trick. If B allows himself to
take this club trick he must lead dia-
monds up to Y's hand. A will be forced
to discard to his disadvantage and YZ
will easily win the balance of the tricks.
Work out this ending. In this connec-
'Hearts =none
Clubs -10, 9 8, 2
Diamonds - 1, 9, 8, 7
Spades- IC,
tion note that unless the seven of clubs
is led at trick one, B can keep Z in the
lead at trick seven and therefore force
him to give A a heart and two spade
tricks.B sbest play, therefore is to force
Y in the lead at the seventh trick. Y
should now play the yyueen of diamonds.
Z should discard a heart but what can
A discard? If he discards a spade, Y
should lead a spade and thus force A to
lead up to Z's king jack of hearts. If A
discards a heart Y'should lead the trey
of hearts and Z will make both heart,
tricks. Itis evident, therefore, that the
lead of the seven of clubs at trick one
enables YZ to make all but one trick
against any defense. Note this problem
carefully and play out all of the varia-
tions.
Brakes Not Tight.
"How did he have such an awful a
cident? Weren't his brakes tight?"
"No -he was,"
Worm Gardeners. '
-.Worms are very useful gvardeners,
for, in addition to breaking up the soil,
they help to drain it, their borings al-
lowing the moisture to penetrate in all
directions. They also help to fertilize
the earth by drawing leaves and other
vegetable natter into it. A single
acre of ground contains about 50,000
worms, which keep the soil continual-
ly in motion beneath the surface.
Bread and Wine.
I find that you are all things: were
you wine
And nothing else to my delicious
brain,
-
I might have drunken deep
And, .sober, never thought of you
again.
But you are winter firelight, when the
rain
Drips from the eaves; you are my
daily bread;
In my companioned sleep
By you the kindled heavens of
dream aro fed.
You are the candle burning by my bed
To pacify a shadow -frightened child;
And you the early lark
That rises from the grass when
dawn is mild.
Dress you in innocence, my undefiled,
Incredibly familiar, like the shine
Of stars. in dusk end dark,
How ,could you be all else -were you
not wine?
-Theodore Maynard.
"Successful salesmanship is ten per
cent. talk and ninety per cent. getting
ready to talk."
REG'LAR FELLERS -By Gene Byrnes.
el 'S Ate RIGHT
NOW! THORe'S N0
USG Oc M6.GOMiNG
AROUND BETTER HAVE HAV
VOV BEE I
Aim CONTINUE
-rHE MEDICINE FOR
a COUPLE DAVE,
I WILL
DOCTOR:
HOtrf DOES
MY eREA-r, 6\G
MAN FEEL TWS
MORtkitga
$ 3
✓<
t 0125 b The 8,1 Syndicate, Ince-
Jimmy Keeps Tab on the Schedule Anyway.
ARE YOIS
TAKINCY BOTH
"(OUR MEDICINES
LIKE THE DOCTOR
ORDERED?
YES MOMMA:
I'M A DAV SSFMN
ON THAT BITTER.
MEDICINE BUT rM
GLEAR UP TO A
WEEK FROM 920C1
SATORGHAI-KLTYG VEREDE
Piles✓
"713,iarsse.
STORIES OF WELL-
KNOWN PEOPLE
Duty First.
Lord Haldane was saying the other
day that while Scohetary for War he
was called upon to act as Some Secre-
tary for ten days. At the.Ilome Office
the first letter he opened' wets one from
himself, He proceeded to dictate a
reply -to himself as War Minister re-
fusing his own request
Princess Mary Will Devote Yet
More Time to Children.
in order to devote more time to her
two children, Princess' Mary will this
winter transfer more and more of her
social and official duties to the Duch-
ess of York, - Hubert, the elder sen of
the .princess and Viscount Lasoelies, is now nearly'tllree years old, . He 1s
rarely seen in London, spending most
of his time at Goldsborough Hall, The
second son, David, is inclined' to be
somewhat delicate, and his health is
carefully watched by his royal mother.
Wanted All His Wind.
One of Sir Harry Laudes's sisters*
who, by the way is the wife of a well-
known London editor -hie almost as
Large a stock of Soottish anecdotes as
her talented brother.
Oae that she is fond of relating con-
cerns a certain village athlete who,
greatly daring, entered his name for
ail the events in the local Highland
gamest
The first event on the programme
was a ;half -mile race, and of eight run-
nems he finished eighth. ,
"Donald, Donald," said a fellow
Scot, "why didn't you run faster."
"Run faster!" he replied scornfully,
',Run faster, indeed! And me reser
vin' mases' for the bagpipes competi-
tion."
A Non -Stop Novelist,
I•Iundreds of thousands of fiction-
lovecw have read "The Mystery of the
Hansom Cab," of which 559,000 copies
have actually' been sold, Its author,
Mr: Fergus Hume, was saying the
other day that he sold the manuscript
of the story outright for $250. -
His reason for writing it, curioue'y
enough, was not to make money, but
a nAme. He was very anxious to pub-
lish some poems he had 'written, but
the publishers told him he was• not safe
f eiently well known -that he must
first make a name for himself by writ-
ing something .more popular. "The,
Mystery of the Hansom Cab" was the
sequel to this.
Ever since, Mr. Hume tells me, pub-
lishers have discouraged all his efforts
to write what he most wants, to write.
lie has just finished his hundred and
thirty-seventh detective novel! -
"My long list of books has not
brought me a fortune," ho added, "but,
after thirty-three years of it, I am
rather in love with nip particular_
form of poverty!"
Protect Your Piano.
Despite its sturdy appearance a
piano is probably your most fragile
artlole of furniture. If you are wise,
you will treat it as such whop you de-
cide its position in your new house.
Above everything, see that your
piano is given a dry spot. Even a sus-
picion of dampness may cause strings
to rust and snap under the slightest
pressure, Place it, therefore, as far
as possible from windows and outside
walls.
Next decide where the instrument
will have the most even temperature,
Often the mletake is made of placing
it In a room which is not used more
than once or twice a week. When the
room is occupied the temperature is
fairly high, but for the rest of the
week it will be low. --
The result is that the strings, ex-
panded by the warmth, will tend to
contract when they become cool, and
either break or go badly out of tune
owing to altered tension. For your
music room choose that which is most
regularly inhabited.
In order to maintain the color of the
keys it Is advisable to leave them un-
covered as much as possible. But if
this is done care must be taken to
dust thein thoroughly each day.
Dark, yellow stains can be removed
by a soft, non -linty rag dipped in
methylated spirit, and polishing a few
moments later. It will be found that
the keys of a piano will retain their
whiteness far longer in a dry and even
temperature.
A squeaking pedal is` au abomina-
tion, both to a performer and his audi-
ence. This can be remedied by the ap-
plication of a little ordinary black -lead
to the pivots at the base of the pedal
lever.
To ensure getting the best out of
your plane, keep it eared, tuned, clean
ad, and dry.
Poetry Restored.
Let poetry once more be restoredto
hes ancient' truth and purity; let her
be inspired from heaven, and, In re-
turn, lser,inconiq ascend thither; le
liar exchange her Tow, venal, ,Alin
subjects for sdich as are fai,se }}.r>
and magnificent; and let her anode "
these soas at once to please, instruct,
surprise, and .astonieh; and then, of
necessity, the moat inveterate lgnor-
ante and prejudice shall be struck
dumb, and poets yet become the de
light and wonder, of mankind, --James
Thomson.
A woman likes being called.a vision,
but bristles up at being called Fl. sight. i -