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The Brussels Post, 1909-3-11, Page 6Magic The A Legend 't!"uROVINCES wore in rovelt against Frertait rule; troops were needed badly, This was the news that paused the French army to withdraw from, Algiers, and to beaten by forced anerches toward the scene of disturb - once, Scarcely had the soldiers crossed tihe frontier line than there rase up in Al- giers one Ben C3audek, en Arab chief- tain, The breedth.of the: lona he rode, Iereely denouncingleranee and urging the people to take up arms against her. Ben Gaudelr's efforts to 100110 rebellion were so seem/taut that when the French troops returned to Algiers theyfound themaeives greatly outnumbered by 'tile lneurrectiOnlste. In one contest, a1- though. they repulsed and killed many SIGN SUSPENDED lell0e2 BALLOON of the Arabs, they themselves suffered greet loss. This sort of campaign, the French general perceived, would never do. Yet he did not wish to ask for a larger army. At last he thought of a scheme to outwit the Arabs. Under a flag of truce he paid a visit to lien Gaudek, addressing the chleftatn in this fash- ion: "It is useless for you to war against France. Sooner or later your entire forces will be destroyed. Thio is bound to happen, since It Is by Al- lah's command we rule over you. Ile wished topunish you for your 91119 therefore' he sent us to conquer you." 1 "I do net believe it!" cried the Arab. The Frenchman calmly responded: "You would have a sign? Very well; watch ;,,:,sely the heavens tonight. There yeti will learn the truth." Quickly the general returned to camp, Where he immediately ordered a large tranepareney made, upon the bottom of which were pasted strips of red paper In the form of Arabic eharaoters, Wicks were securely fastened Inside the frame, so that when they wero burning the red letters would shoe' plainly, Ben Gaudek's curiosity regarding the elgn was so great that he mended In others. Rapidly the news spread, and When night fell the whole Arab army Was to be seen gazing intently at the sky. They had not long to wait. Soon across the sky overhead moved brilliant Utters of red flame. In them the awed Arabs read: I COleIMAND YOU TO CEASE FIGHTING. IT 1S MY DESIRE TO HAVE FRANCE RULE OVER YOU. TTIUS DO I PUNISH YOU. ALLAH." Exclaiming aloud In terror, the Arabs threw themselves upon the ground, nor dared raise their eyes until the magic alga of Allah bad disappeared, They straightway made submission to the French general, who, by merely fly- ing one of his war balloons with the transparency suspended beneath it, gained an important victory. C 5 . y OMLra let us play leapfroglu C shouted Jules, presenting a t,,tt 111 "bank" for those who cared to tape advantage Of the invitation, His oorttpanlons were soon vaulting 116ht1Y over him, and the line kept mov- ing rapidly forward down the street, Imperiling the safety of pe00Ons who passed by, Indeed, it so happened that aa the line turned a corner, Armand went headfirst Into a portly nentlaman approaching, whereupon the lade found it convenient to suddenly flee, When Arnaud paused for breath at a Safe distance from any gendarme (po- liceman) who might be in .pursuit, he found Juice at his elbow. "Tao bad," grunted Jules, "that the gtune had to be broken' up. It's almost eehoo] time, and too late to got thefel- lows together again." Armaud, who, while hie companion Was speaking, had been absorbed in his own thoughts, now turned to Jules, eat- ing: "Ton don't want to play truant from school thls afternoon, do your' "Well, that depends," replied Julee thoughtfully. "The fact le" explained Arnaud, "I've a. scheme to get even with the 'professor' who rune the Punch and Judy show in the Champs Elysees. TIe complained to the gendarme because 'I threw a ball at Punch during the per- formance yesterday. Had an awful time getting away, 10o. But I have a scheme that'll fix him; only it needs two to work It." This adventure promised excitement exactly to Jules' liking, so he was quick to answer: "All right; count me in." "VAULTING LIGHTLY OVER" When other boys passed into their class rooms that afternoon, Jules and Arnaud were not among them. Round about the Champs Elysees the two lads wandered, their eyes gleaming with an- ticipation of a frolic. Some distance from the rear seats grouped before the little theater of the Punch and Judy show, the lads stopped. They waited for the musician to pick up his violin—a signal that the per- formance was about to begin. The very instant the musician raised Ids bow, Jules darted awry. Running swiftly toward the booth, he rapped quickly on the door at the back. Out lis Ldur'S Came the proprietor of he theater, with lila sleeves rolled up, ready to Manipu- late the little figures. H9 woe exceed- ingly angry at being interrupted at Such a time, But before be had oppor- tunity to vont his wrath, Jules burst.. out; "Monsieur, a relative of yout'e has been eeriously hurt by accident, and now lies at the chemist's chop. yonder. Tie bogs that you Celle to Mtn iMmodl- ate13'." Imagining all ,aorts 01 frightful things, the proprietor rushed to the druggist's shop without donning his ooat,•Juies at once slipped into the hooth, while Ar- maud, who had been cautiously drawing near, took a post where be eouid note the return of the owner. Meantime - the audience of boys .and girls was eagerly awaittr g the appear- ance of the characters inthe Punch and Judy show, The ^violinist had ceased playing, and now they were calling for the manikins to begin their performance, STRANGE SORT OF PLAY Suddenly the curtain flexr up. A mo- ment later the play began. But 1t was Such a play 00 no boy or girl had ever seen before. Punch and Judy stood on their heads most of the time, or licked wildly in the air. And they fought-- how ought—how they fought! Frantically the children applauded, It was splendid! But the musician was soshocked that his mouth opened wide enough to have swallowed his violin, especially when the manikinscalled. each other horrible names and invited the musician to come up and fight them. As for the gendarme—HE had to lean against a post for support. Of course, Jules It was who was OD- erating the show. and doing ail the m1s- thief. He was enjoying 1111110800 im- mensely, too, when Arnaud gave a ore of warning. The "professor" had re- turned. Jules did not bear his Triend. And Armaud, determined not to desert his comrade, hastily entered the booth. Then together they started to run, But. it was too late. Both dived toward a dark corner of the booth and piled over themselves a heap of curtains they found there. "Find the rogue who has tried to steal my show and who would mock Mete cried monsieur, fleshed and per- spiring from anger and the heat of the "wild-goose chase" upon which he had been sent. He was handling the puppets a mo- ment ago," raid the gendarme, "but I fear he must have escaped." Stili fuming, the "professor" shut his little theater and started for home In high dudgeon. People would laugh at him 1f he tried to give a play now after what had occurred. Jules and Armaud breathed freer When they heard 111s departing foot- steps. They were not yet out of the serape, however. For the proprietor had locked the door of the theater be- hind him. Therefore, the only means of exit was through the window that served for a stage in the front Of the booth. Nor could they climb out with- out being seen by a gendarme. There was nothing to do but wait for darkness. Many weary hours they lay unci ciud Jit ow THE STP.ANGE ANTICS there, wondering 1f, after all, the joke had not turned upon themselves. Not until nightfall did they dare risk drop- ping from the miniature stage to the ground. Then they scuttled away, se- cure in the belief that punishment OF PTJNCTI AND JUDY CAUSE would await them on their arrival home. They were right. The parents of neither lad were satisfied with the ex- planation given, and the boys received fitting punishment. MUCK EXCI'TEMENT "Next time you try to get even with the 'professor,' you can do the job by yauraelf," Jules said frankly. to Ar- maud when again they met. Armaud isn't so very anxious to make another attempt to get even, however. Story of a Baker King O10'03MIN king of Bavaria, strolled one day beyond the pal.' ALL AAA ace grounds, Wishing too be alone,. he 1104 dlstuiseed his escort, Upon his return, as he pawed through the gates of the palace, the ping 0b. carved that (110 guard there stationed: failed to "'present arms" "'Why de you not salute?" thundered. the Ring, "Don't I provide your daily' broad?" Now the guard had been on duty at. the palace for only a day, and he did not recognize his royal master. Nate Wally he did not imagine that his. majesty would travel about unattended. For aomo little time he pondered over' the king's outburst; then a light broke upon him, Shaking his est angrily at the, monaroh, he grumbled; "Ohl it's you, Is it? You're the on, THOUGHT HIM THE i3AIOER'S SON of the cursed baker who gives .ussuch villainous bread. Humph! it's you! I advise you not 10 come too near, or I'll show you what. I think of ,your daily bread, I'll jab you full ofholes—that's• what I'11 dot" The jokewas ao good that the king could not take offense. Fancy a sover- eign being mistaken for ,has baker! Not What. He Seemed TdXB old gentleman who was always declaring that -boys were not what they used to be stopped 1n. front of thesmart child.. "Well, Buddy," greeted tho 01,3 gentle- man, " how are you today?" "Very well, sir," responded the smart child, shyly. "And do you over think whet you are going to do' when you are a great big man?" N -no, sir." "Ah. I knew It, Children are no shift- less these times. And why don't you give it any thought?" "B—because I am a little girl, air." Pa .nawered Plot. Little Willie—Say, pa? Pa—Well, 11.34 son? Little Willie—Does a mill race come, under the head of aquatic reports?, jjo 4'dzZ t9 A�Jp ar-t TORY - TELLING delighted aattics more than anything else. When he was quite a tiny boy he used to listen to the men who earned their living by telling stories. This sort of story -teller sat on the street corner. There always stoodabout him a crowd of gaping coolies, listening with great astonishment to the wonderful tales, And then, when Melo grew somewhat Older, his father would take hint to houses where there was a better class 04 story-tellerse men who related Mice of war and of love, often accompany- ing their recitations with the banjo. Professional story -tellers of this kind formed a guild, called a "yose," and rented places of entertainment where ;steeple went to hear stories and songs. Once, when 1YIljo'e father was enter- taining friends, a member of the "yeas" 'tad come and had told stories of the "Forty-seven Ronin," the "Three Iiing- dome" and tales about the wars of the Taira and Mlnamoto families, The boy remembered that whenever the story- teller would say something that he re- garded as being very clever, he would rap with a little slab et ',toed. MIJO RETELLS TEL' STORIES So impressed was Mijo with the tales that upon succeeding days he would gather his boy chume around him and tell againthe stories. He could im- agine well, too, so that when be 0011 - eluded the tales at the story -teller, he beganto construct ones of his own. They pleased the lads immensely, and they begged MIA for more. As time went on the boy became very skilful In his art. He went to the houses of the "yose" whenever hie father could take him, in order that he might learn from the masters of 01ory-telling, There came a day when Mi o's father Mikes could no longer pee an admittance to the houses of tbo 'pose." Businosa matters had not gone well with him, and now he Was very- peer. Mijo was muchsorrier for hie father and mother' than he was for blmeeif. lie muel try to help them in Some way, But what should he do? Bost of all, he could tell stories. Yet be was only 13 years old—cerleinly not old enough to become a professional story -teller and earn money in that way, But people had told Trim his .stories Were quite as good as those told by the "yose." It Were a pity not to make histalent pay him something. "I shall have a little 'yose' house of my own," said Mijo determinedly. "I shall have a room set apart in our house, and there I will invite all MY boy friends who like t0 hear my stories. But, whiie"herotofore they have listened an<3 have not been asked to •day anything, I shall now request them to make small donations." From the very start Mijo's plan was a success. Although fees were never very large, and rarely in money, yet provisions and articles of all descrip- tions poured in from the children. Then grown folk began to hear about this Wonderful story -teller who was only a little boy. They began to call upon him, leaving real money. ' After a while the members of the big "yose" found that many of their best customers were going to hear the boy, Who changed his stories and songs al- most every day, instead of once a fort- night, according to the Usual custom. Story -tellers were sent from the "yose" to speak with the boy. At Mat they were obliged to offer Mljo membersbip in the guild. The boy had become famous. His fame for story -telling had gone through- out the land. Soon it was that through him his family was again wealthy— possoeeing more riches than ever be- fore, Improved Upon It ONE of the lady teachers at an English free school was putting LLI��� a junior close through tlee begln- nings of arithmetic. "Now, I hare one pencil in my right band and one in my loft," site said. How many pencils have I? Thompson, you may answer," "Two,"ptPed a small voice. "So that, one and ono make two, isn't that right?" 'Sou bet,' said Thompson, with the flush of victory. The teacher frowned at this dlere- apeetfut Gnawer. "That is hardly what you should have said," she hinted. "Will some One in the class tel! Thompson what hie answer rhotdd have been?" There wan a moment of heeitatlon. Then a brown fleet shot confidently into the air. Ah, James, 3100 tnay tell Thompson What he should have said." "You het your boots," shouted James, in a tone of triumph. s('y P OMTIMES I do not budge an inch A'' When Johnny gives an awful pinch; And even when he pulls my hair IL isn't very much T care For I'ln not 'fratd enough to run— Deed, I just think it's lots of fun To close with him and have a tight, Though mother says TLIA'r isn't right. But 1'11 he honest, and I'll say IIe really frightens me ONTI way— When be pretends ]he's 111 the zoo And does the things that beasts there do. Through Iron bars he looks just so (A clairbaclt YOU will say, I know), And roars and cries so loud and shrill. Wayupm back there run a chill, Y c s c 4, bearselephants, Oh bo sand tf ars 6 , Pythons, boors and cormorants- 17v'rything he tries to be— Ev'rything that scarps poor me. lie growls and howls, till I forget I'le'a not a beast, and start to fret, And wonder, when 'tie time to sup, Tf he will try to chew ME upI HEROIC OBEDIENCE EeltNTLY a Dublin gentleman y pr0poeed to drive with his wife 8% to the beanttul C4lasnevitt Cama tery. Calling his little .son. a bright boy, about 4 years Old, be told him to get ready to accompany them. The child's cOuntananee fell and 1110 father said, "ribn't you want to ger Willis?" The. 1ittl0 lip qu1Vered. "Yea, papa, If yon wish." elle child was strangely silent tiering the drive, and whin the easrla50 rnnohed the entrance he (Ilonuf 11 4140 meth"r's Bide and look- ed up in her 1003 with pathetic wtettul- nese. The party alighted and walked among the graves and along the tree - shaded avenues, looking at theinscrlp- tions on the last resting places of the dwellers in the boa. .iful city of the dead. After an hour Or so they return- ed to the carriage and the father lifted the little boy to hie seat The child lathed surprised, drew a breath of ro lief and asked, "Wily, am I. going home with you?" "Of Connie, you are; wily not?" "1 thought when they tools little boys to the nemeiery they lett them there," saki the 011114. The CaSte5,5 6 S II, DAN, what in the world shall I do? These horrid chills and fever have come onme so quickly that I haven't had time to send wordto the guests that my party must be post- poned. They'll all pop right in, and, ob, dear! I—I—I—" Nan's teeth chattered so with a "chill" at this point that oho. fell back upon her pillow, burying her- self under a mountain of bedclothes, Dan patted her head comfortingly. "Don't worry, Sis, 1'11 see that the party comes through all. right. I'm moat too old to entertain them myself, but I'll find a way. You spend your time getting well, and forget all about the party. There'll bo a good report for you atter tins party is over and the sift Dresed But the boys and girls weren't long 1n carrying Out Nan's suggestion. Soma knew good ' gamesseldom played, others set their wits to work to manufacture entertainment, while the root pounced upon books and found moat attractive means for pleasant pastime. "Here's a good oncl" cried a boy; "let nee read ;t." He then read as follows: "This game is played with soft wool- en belle, the colors being In pairs— two blues, two reds, and so forth. The pairs stand opposite each other, chil- dren. with blue balls having belts of blue paper. A11 the balls go up in the air at once when a clap gives the sig- nal Esoh player tries to catch his or chills are over, too." When Nan'sues am r G is came from the rooms where they had d0P osited'111510 wraps thoy were surprised to and not a single person there to receive them. Presently one of the girls rushed for- ward, exclaiming: "Come, loop here! See what this placard says." A great square piece of pasteboard was suspended from the chandelier. Upon the hoard was printed, the fol- lowing words; "Tho hostess regrets that she 0051101 be present this evening. She there- fore asks tateg uests to be their own hosts and hostesses,. leer recommen- dation is that, for entertainment, each person suggest it game, Inthe book- case will be found any number of books -containing Inatruotlone for good ga. men, She hapen every one will have a aplendld time" At first 11141 guests looked blankly one toward tho other. rl'hen a boy buret into a roar of laughter. "Well, ;f this Isn't a joke!" shouted he, and the others joined In. THEY .IREAI) THE PLACARD her own color, A forfeit -1a pald for any ball found on the floor. The colors show the owners, Forfeits meet also be. paid for any ball .caught M' the wrong color." Dan's trick box furnlelled the balls. Soon 11104) web plenty, of excitement mid. fife. Then come Ilte game, "Corry. a Nut to. London and ell Apple to the.4w1,".1n which two plavel'0 sit et one ted1 of the room, one with .the !eller 'C ptacrd p4omhtently over her head, the other with the name "London" written in plain view on her breast. The other players stand at theopposite wall of the room. They come toward London and the C one ata time, .with arms outstretched to their full length. The nut may be walnut, chestnut or hazel, and It must be carrled to London on the extreme point of a knife held in the right outstretched hand, The apple is carrled on a teaspoon In the .lett hand, If either nut or apple drop, the player 1s out and must pay a forfeit: The nut must be picked up by theknife and the apple with the spoon without aid of either hand. - ' Great dexterity is required In this game. It was ever so funny to watch the anxiety 04 players to get from Lon- don to C. There were other games -one a com- petition for constructing a box, Candy was offered as a prize in this event, so that there was Steen rivalry. The evening passed merrily, The boys and girlie. rather liked the mystery of Nan's non-appearance, forshe gave In- structions. that no one should be In- formed of her illness. _ As Nan tossed, now with fever, In her. little bed upstairs, the sounds of mirth arose to her. She gave a little sigh of satisfaction—she knew that Dan had solved the vexing problem of having a party without a hostess. A.nswenng Beforehand -/N A FISH shop In Brighton stands a glace tank filled with water, In which there isa single goldfish, Hanging on theoutside of the tank Is a placard, which contains the following answers to questions whichthe proprietor of the shop has of tired of re 1 111 l0 6 p3 G by word of mouth: This is a goldfish. It is alive. There is only one of It. We got it front a boy, We do not knave where the boy got It Ithes Hover died. • • If. oats what we give It. That is Water it is in. We get the water alit of a well, We do not know how old it We have had it ever since we got' It. We Have had more, but have not got them new, If it sleeps wo do net know it. We change the water as often as we want tte lite do net knoW .how long It will live, We do not mite the water it aerate." Wo do not know how large it will grow. We can Watch ` it, but do not went to. When we get too me011 water !n tho tunic we take parte et It out. Tide le ell we knew about IL It Is not tot sale • IY3