The Seaforth News, 1926-02-25, Page 8For the �,
Boys an Girl
A RIDE. FOR . LIFE
BY JOSEPH' T. JENNINGS.
The month of February was draw -
.Ing to a close There had been a thaw,
With a warm, drizzling rain all day;
but just before dark the wind changed,
and great masses of inky clouds rolled
up from the northwest. It grow cold
around this turn, and an almost sheer
precipice yawned below for moie than
a hundredand fifty feet.'
Could we make the Burn? We had
little time to think. A loaded sleigh
had passed along the road the night
, very rapidly, and before 9 o'clock the before, and the runners had cut deep
eoft, "spl'oshy" snow had become a furrows in the soft slush, which was
Dozen mass of ice.
The morning dawned clear and
bright, with thelnereury only four de-
grees above zero, Frosty particles
glittered in the air, and the cleared
now frozen hke aonreant. •
Doubtless these aided greatly in
keeping our sleigh'n•its proper posi-
tion. We dashed rround the danger-.
ons turn like wildfire. I shuddered ns
'• fields at the base oe the distant blue I caught en Instantaneous glimpse of
' Oquago Mountain seemed cased in fet- the tall tree -tops away below us, and
ters of ice.
"Boys," said father, rising from the
table and going where the warm fire
was glowing like molten gold in the
open grate, "can't you take Mr. Fen -
ton's sleigh home this morning as you
• go to school? It's down hill most of
the way, and you can draw it easily
by hand. You have plenty of time
• before school commences, rnd then
you'kl not, be bothered to cr.': s home
with the hoeses."
Of course, we could take It, ju 't as
well as not. John was seventeen, and
I was nineteen, hale and hearty; and,
with our strength of muscle and'ambi-
tious spirits, we undoubtedly felt, as
most young men of that age do, that
we were a "full team" for almost any-
thing. .
The long, yellow sleigh, with° three.
seats and heavy swan-neeks in front,
was soon at the door. The dinner -
basket and books were placed therein,
and each took his place at the pole,
for a brisk run along the icy road.
lower still the clusters of willows that
lined the icy shore of the river.
At the same moment a column of
white steam shot up'from the foot of
the bank directly below us, and the
shrill shriek of the-locorhotive rang,
fearfully in our ears. It was the up
mail -train, sounding its approach to
the station.
The road extended along the steep
hillside in a southwest direction for
half a mile or more, when it crossed
the railroad, near the foot of the des-
cent. In many places the rocks had been
sliced down forty or fifty feet to form
the roadbed, and a precipitous cliff ex-
tended
xtended below to the railroad track.
Neck and neck we flew along, even
'With the great puffing iron monster
below. It was a wild race for life; for
if we met the train at the crossing,
not earthly power could save us.
The engineer saw us, and promptly
sounded the danger signal -sharp and
distinct. It rang alarmingly in our
ears, like the knell of approaching
"Let me say one word to you, boys, death. The steersmen grasped the side
before you go," said father, coming of the sleigh with the energy of de-
:out upon the stone steps. "Don't spell-, and setting their• teeth together,
;undertake. to ride down hill. It's icy inade a last concentrated effort to
i,and it's;?i1angerous. Remember what
iI tell you."
"AIl right." we replied in concert,
as we started on a run.
The half -mile that intervened be-
tween our place and the schoolhouse
was soon passed. A number of girls
and boys were running about the yard
as we came up,
'Hurrah for a sleigh ride -a genu-
ine old-fashioned good one!" I shouted,
as we halted before the door, "Come,
check our lightning -like career. But
the moment their feet touched the sur-
face they were thrown violently up-
ward, nearly jerking them from their
positions, and the mad runaway sleigh
dashed on as before.
The engineer, seeing our situation -
as we' afterwards learned -opened the
throttle and threw on every pound of
steam the engine was made to bear.
Fearing for our lives, he made the ef-
fort to pass the crossing before we
boys and girls, get in. Load up the reached there. It was an awful mo -
old sleigh and go down to Mr. Fen- ment. The sleigh -tracks spun out be -
ton's with us. We'll have a glorious hind us like silver ribbons, and the
time, and we can all get back before stumps and corners of fences seemed
school commences. Comet" to dash past us like flashes of light -
Alas, in our moments of excitement Hing. Little pieces of ice from the
and hilarity, how soon was the ad-
monition of a kind father forgotten-)
"Good!" ejaculated Harry Siggars,
buttoning up his coat and drawing on
his mittens. "Girls, get your cloaks
road -bed flew spitefully in our faces,
and the wind blew so hard we could
scarcely breathe.
Oh, how forcibly did father's kind
words of warning come back to our re -
and shawls, and bundle up, and we'll collection now, and pierce our diso-
havo a half-hour's fun fit for a king." bedient hearts with meats] anguish!
In less than five minutes the long But the sinful step had been taken,
sleigh was well filled with a laughing, and it was beyond the power of our
merry crowd, and we were ready to repentant souls to save us from the
start, ordeal.
Billy Smith stood up in front to hold Thoughts of home and eternity pass -
the pole, and two of the larger boys ed vividly through our minds in quick
took their places on the sides to steer. succession. The girls clasped each
Herb Martin stepped behind and push- other's hand, and with staring eyes
ed the sleigh two or three rods as fast and bated breath, tremblingly awaited
as he could run, and then leaped the dread moment, A moment only we
aboard. We were fairly under way, had to think; and we were at the
Before we had passed over ten rods crossing, and the crisis was at hand.
I began to see that we had undertaken The sleigh struck the iron rails just
a dangerous ride. On we flew, gather- ahead of the cowcatcier, and with a
ing epeed faster and faster with every sudden shock, leaped forward and up -
rod we passed over, until the keen air ward. There was a frightful clanging
blew in our faces, and the trees and and hissing around us, and a deafen-
ing screech from the steam -valves as
we leaped the track. Tho hot breath
of the fiery monster fairly swept in
our faces as we dashed before him;
and he even left his mark, in the shape
fences seemed to dash past us at an
amazing rate of speed.
What if we should happen to meet a
leaded vehicle? I could not help shud-
dering at the thought. The boys who
were acting as steersmen were stout of'a long and deep indentation, on the
fellows, who knew their duty well; but rear of the sleigh -box.
I noticed they already had hard works
and the sleigh, with its heavy load of The girls uttered a wild shriek of
human freight, was getting beyond despair, and two of them fainted in
their control. We had not taken into each other's arms. Billy Smith sank
consideration the icy road, and the down, pale and trembling, and the
weight of the load that was propelling steersmen tottered and shook as
the smooth steel sleigh -shoes with al- though their almost • palsied' limbs
most irresistible power, were struck with deathly weakness.
We had a good mile of down grade It was all over, however. We had
to ride, and scarce a quarter of the won the race; we were at the bottom.
distance had yet been passed. A short of the hill, and we were safe. The en -
way below ns the road made an abrupt gineer and fireman swung their hate,
turn to the right, around a spur of the and a score of handkerchiefs fluttered
steep hillside. The ground had slid at the car windows as they dashed
away on the lower side of the road past us; but we were too much fright-
"SIOUX INDIAN" TOURED BRITISH ISLES.
Above le a . reproduction of "Sioux Indian," air oil portrait by James:
Henderson of Regina, which was among those exhibited at the recent art
exhibition In Ottawa. It toured the British Isles with the Canadian Section
of the Wembley Exhibition: It is believed that the Indian ie a descendant
of "Sitting Bull," and he looks proud of it,
ened and excited to return the con-
gratulktion.
Our rate of speed diminished rapid-
ly as we creased' the little fiat,'. and,
shortly after we struck the ascending
grade, ceased altogether. The shock
to our nervous systems had been con-
siderable, but nevertheless we soon re-
cuperated, and while the girls s' -lowly
wended their way back to the school-
house, we drew the sleigh to its des-
stination.
We returned to the school -room that
morning ten minutes late. The teach-
er had heardthestory of our narrow
escape, but did not mention it to us
then. but
our blanched faces and
nervous glances revealed the fact that
we had learned a lesson we were not
soon to forget.
Aye, •so it wast For weeks after
that exciting event I often saw in my
dreams the great, hissing iron steed
just dashing' upon me, and with the
alarming scream of the• steam -whistle
I would give back the answer with a
despairing shriek, and awake, tremble
ing with mortal terror.
Father kindly forgave us when he
heard of it, but it was the last of our
riding down hill; and from that -day
to this '1 cannot witness the sport any-
where near the rai:itay without recall-
ing my fearful experience, when so
many of us passed- through such, a
narrow escape from a death so hor-
rible.
iLam
In the Lumber Camp.
Mac, the cookee, wakened first and
mended the fire with a prodigious rata
tling of stove lids and dampers•. When
the ere was burning briskly he opened
the door and stepped out "to have a
look at the weather," as he put it.
Not a streak of light had yet ap-
peared in the east; the full moon hung
over the surrounding forest, her white
rays accentuating the pure brilliance
of the glistening snow, throwing into
bold relief the darker 'objects. The
angular, shadows•, of the hulk houses
and horse sheds jutted out so black
and clear-cut as to be almost indis•
tinguishable from the buildings -them-
selves. Even the smoke drifting lazily
from the cook -house chimney threw a
distinct shadow ecross the 'sparkling
snow.
The surrounding pines formed in
the moonlight a black impenetrable
ring that frowned' down upon the tiny
clearing.with its huddle of bulidings
sprawliug'in the midst.. In the crisp,
still air not a puff of breeze stirred.
The whole `^ orld, in those few mo-
ments seemed to be waiting breath-
lessly for the flrat rustle of dawn.
Mae stepped. down from the .door-
way and started across the yard, the
frost -filled snow squeaked under his
feet, and 'at this sound the horses in
the sheds with one accord started'
neighing and stamping, . Lights sprang
up in the bunk houses;'a•door squeak-
ed complainingly, and then slamtne'd,
and a 'teamster stamped toward the
horse simile, threshing his arms as ho
went.
Things That Endure.
Honor and truth and manhood-:-
-- These.
oanhood--•These, are the things that stand,
Though the sneer and Jibe of the cynie
tribe
'Are loud through the width of the
land,
The scoffer may lord it an hour . on
earth,
Anda lie. •may live, tor a day,
But truth and honor and manly worth
Are things Dia -endure alway.•• .
Courage and toil and ser vice, --
Old, yet, forever new -
These are the rock that abides the
shock
And holds through the storm, flint -
true,
Fad and folly, the whims of an hour,
May bicker and rant and shrill;
But the living granite of truth will
tower ._
Long after their rage is still.
Labor and love and virtue --
Time does not dim their glow;
Though the smart may say, In a leno.
guid way,
"Oh, we've outgrown all that, you
know ! "
But a lie, whatever the guise it wear$,
Is a 11e as it was of yore.
And a truth that ha.s lasted a million
At Large.
"Is the man shill living who origin-
ated the Charleston r, . • :
"Yea! I don't believe they've caught,
him yet."
•
Cave Fish Are Blind.
The cave Ashes are represented by
several species,ln this country, dwell-
ing in'subterranean streams. Those
living in the Mammoth Cave of Ken-
tucky are white and entirely blind.
Their ancestors possessed eyes, but
lack of use throughout many lgen•era-
tions resulted in blindness•.
One of the most cold-blooded ar-
rangements in the business world is
that whereby the rates on ocean-
going steamers .include meals.
REG'LAR FELLERS -By Gene Byrnes.
*WWI DOLLAR'
TD Buy OUT THE
sum DROP FACT'RY
WISP -E MRS•MERR.IU
BUYS:
10-24
'YEAH. l
A LOTTA GOOD
DO YA! Ob1EY
MAKE `(OU HAFTA`'
TAKE G15N1PIN.
LowsWORSE el
CAtDY t
:dtVyL �S'vs�o s rn- -T..
' .1�JO
IDGE
l......4
~ ...
A A.
New :Series by-WYNNE FERGUSON -
author `Perguson on c%iactzon fridge°
•"eopynyat 1925 by Hdyle,',fr. '•
•ARTICLE No. 20
One- of the most' difficult points of
auction bridge, as well as one of the
most iifterestiagg, is the proper bidding
of a two -suited -hand; that is, a'hand
that contains tw8 suits of at least five
cards each: It is t he strongest hand that
can be held if at the best suit of
the combined ,hands.. Such a hand is
considered, on the average, one trick
better than the usual suit bid, and at
least two tricks better than a no-trump
bid. This fact shows the importance of
the proper bidding of such hands, in or-
der to arrive at the best bid of the corn
• biped hands: As dealer, or before part-
ner has bid, if your hand is a two
suiter,J°try for the opportunity to bid
both suitsr provided, of course, they
are sufficiently strong to warrant an
original or forced bid. As a general rule,
bid the higher valued suit first provided
it contains sufficient strength to war-
rant the bid. If not, bid the lower valued
suit,and show the higher valued suit
•on second or subsequent round. In_ the
same way, always prefer, if possible,
the major suit to the minor.
The following hands illustrate the
principles just discussed and if you can
figure out the proper bid in each in-
stance you -are doing very well.'In each
case, there is no score. If you, as dealer,
held the following hands, what would
you bid? Compare your analysis with
the one that will be given in the next
article.
Hearts-- J, 10
Clubs -A, 8, 3 .-
Diamonds -8, 5, 2
Spades - A, Q, 9, 7, 4
Hand No. 1.
Hearts- A, 10, 9, 8, 7
"'Clubs -A, 10, 8, 7, 6
Diamonds- 7, 6
Spades':: -6 ser;
Hand No..2
Hearts -8
Clubs r 6 9, 4, 2
Diamonds --K, Q,
Spades K, J,10,-7, 6;5
/ Hand No. 3
Hearts - none "
Clubs -A, K, Q,10, 4
Diamonds 10, ; 6
Spades -A, i{,
Hand No. 4
I•Iearts - A, K, Q, 7
Clubs K, Q, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5
Diamonds- none
Spades'- Q, 6
Hand No. 5
Hearts -A, 8, 6
Clubs K, J 9, 5, 3
Diamonds- k, J, 9, 5, 3
Spades - none
Hand No. 6 .
Hearts = K, Q, 8, 4, 3
Clubs-- •Q, 10, 9, 8, 7
Diamonds - 7, 2
Spades"- J
The following hand is noteworthy ho
that YZ can make fiveodd in hearts,
although AB have practically all of the
high cards:
Answer to Problem No. 10
Hearts- A, Q, 4, 3
Clubs -5, 2
Diamonds- 10 e3
Spades- J, 10, 8, 6, 3
Hearts- K
Y : Clubs -K,Q J,10,9,6,4
: A B : Diamonds -A, Q
s Z . Spades -I£, 5, 2
Hearts -9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2
Clubs -7
Diamonds- IC, J, 9, 7,'6, 4
Spades- none •
No score, rubber game. Z •dealt and
passed. A bid one spade. Y passed and
B bid two clubs. Z bid two hearts, A
three clubs, Y three hearts and B four
'clubs- Z bid four hearts, A five clubs,
Y doubled, B passed and Z bid five
hearts: A doubled and all passed. A
opened with the ace of clubs and then
played the ace of spades which Z
trumped. How should he plan the play
of the hand? Z should play the deuce of
• hearts and when -A plays the ten, Z
shoeld stop to consider. There are now
only two hearts uraccounted for, the
king and the jack. if A has both, loo is
bound to make a trick, no matter what
Z plays. If he has the king and B the
jack, Z williose a trick by playing the
ace: If A has the jack and B the king,
Z will win a trick by playing the ace.
In other words, the play of the ace of
hearts from Y'e hand at trick three is
an absolute guess. Personally the writer
would play the ace although the play
of the queen would not be criticized.
From the hands given, the play of the
ace of hearts at trick three gives YZ
five odd. The rest of the play is easy
but should be worked out for practice.
Problem No. 11
Hearts- K, Q,4
Clubs -A, k Q 10
Diamonds-, 10, 7, 3
Spades- A,
1 Y
:A B:
t z_.:
Hearts -7
Clubs -J 8,2
Diamonds -9, 5
Spades 10. 9, 8.7.6.4
No score rubber game. Z dealt and
passed. A bid one heart, Y one no-
trump. B passed and Z bid two spades.
A bid three diamonds, Y doubled and
13 bid three hearts. Z bid three spades
A bid four hearts, Y doubled and I
passed. Z now bid fouc.sppades, A and
Y passed and B.doublclti. All passed and
'A opened the ace of hearts. He then
played the ace and king of diamonds
and all :followed. He then led a low
heart Y played the queen and B fol-
lowed How should Z analyse the hand
and plan the play so that he can win
the balance of the tricks against the
best defeese? '
Answer to Problem No. 11
The bidding and B'sdouble practically
locate the remaining spades in B's hand
and Z should plan the play accordinggly.
For that reason he should trump Y s
trick with a low spade in his own hand.
He should then Iead a spade winning
the trick in Y's hand with the queen.
He should then lead the king of Hearts
and again trump in his own hand. He
should thee lead another spade and.
win the trick with the ace in Y's hand.
He should then lead a diamond from
Y's hand and trump in his own hand.
Ile has now led trumps twice and
trumped three times so that he has
left the king and ten of spades. He
should now lead three rounds of clubs,
winning the third round in Y's hand.
For the last two tricks, therefore, he
"las the king ten of spades as a tenace
over B's jack and five. Itris a fine ex-'
ample of the so-called "grand coup,"
the trumping of a partner's winning
trick to shorten one's trump holding. Iu
this problem, Z was forced to trump hie:
partner's tricks three times in order to
make his bid. Play it out for practice..
•
i
THE STORY OF
KING, MIDAS
w
'5
King Midas was a'very remarkable -/
person, ohielly becauae bo once had
all the gold he asked for, and found, It .
aed: great deal more than he wanted ;•and
this- was the way In which it happen -
He was King of Lydia, a country Ln
Asia, 'south of the Sea of Marmora, in
what is now known -0n the riokos as
Turkey in -Asia, Ono day he was driv-
ing In his chariot and same weep some
peasants by the wayside, jeering and
making @port of an old man w110 was
more' than half drunk, and had lost
his way among the mountains. King
Midas was kind-hearted, an he stopped
his chariot, dispersed the peasants and
took the old man, who could not tell
him who he was, 'nor where he came
from, .home with him to the palace.
•Tile people in triose days_had many •
gods, and' this old man proved to be
Silenus, the teacher and friend of Baca
thus, who was the god of wine and
revely.
WhenrBacohua+ came to look for Site-,
nus, and found that ho had been so,
well cared tor, he was greatly pleased
with King Midas,, and made- him ask
for whatsoever' boon he chose, and It
should be granted by his father, Jupl-.
ter, who was the chief of .all the gods.
Midas begged have po
given him to turn to into gold allthe that bwere
touched." The god granted his request,
and then, accompanied by Silenus,
took his leave.
There were no bounds to Midas' de-
light, and he could scarcely wait until
his guests had departed, such was Ails
impatience to try his new power. Then
he grasped a great atone image which
stood in the entrance hall and' )assod
his'hands ever it. Lo! it became hard,
yellow gold!
What wealth, what power was now
his!. His ships should cover the seas,
his armies should conquer the world:
His : palaees, which he should build,
should be the wonders of the world.
He walked through the palace, turn-
ing everything into gold as he touched
it, and feeling more ,triumphant at
each fresh•proof of his power. What
other king had chairs and tables of
solid gold? "
The wealthiest monarchs had• at
most only that which was overlaid
with one precious metal. He would
be the most powerful and the richest
king in all the earth,
It fuss now high noon and he 'was
thirty. A. basket of fruit stood near
him, and he tried to take a Jig from it.
Lel it: turned to solid gold in hie
hands! a cluster of grapes, and the
same thing happened. c
"Bring wine!" he called to his won
during sup bearer,'
The slave obeyed, but when the red
wine touched the king's lips it hard.'
ened into gold, and he could not. drink
It.
• "Water!" he gasped; but that, too,
changed1owif. into gold ere he could Swat -
"Dinner is served, my lord king,"
said "the "master of ceremonies.
King Midas lay down en pillows,
which hardened into gold under his
touch. (They lay on couches at table
in those days, instead of sitting t�
pat, as people do now).
When he tried to eat, the food--
birds,
ood-birds, fish, venison, pastry, fruit and
regions -all turned into gold at his
touh,
And thea, as the king sat silent tine
troubled, iiia little daughter came in to:
see him.
Slie came bounding• in, and he held,
out his hands to keep her aft. Site did'
not understand the gesture --how could
she? iter father had never repulsed
her before --so she ran straight into
his arms, and clung around his neck.
He took her in his hands to sot her
down, when, horrors; he held only a
golden image in place of his child.
She, too, had turned into solid gold!
He laid the precious. 'metal down on
the golden couch,' and bade his rcr-
vants bring forth hie chariot; then,
clasping what had been ails daughter
in his arms, he drove for. weary miles,;
to the nearest temple of the god 10ose
gift had brought him so Hauch worry: 1.
There he knelt before the altar,,.
praying that the fatal gill might he.
revoked.
"I have learned or, groat I3acclkus,"
he cried, "that gold is not the chief
blessing in life! I perish of hunger.
grid thirst, and I bring my child, Who
is mitre no longer. Pity me, and take
back the boon for- which t so foolishly
asked in my ignorance.
"Take thy child," answered the voice
from the altar, "and go thon and bathe
in the R1Ver Pectolus, so shall: thou be
,1 as other men! Than hast learned. that
gold is not tho only good thing to be
desiret1. Learn, also, that one should
do good fur its owl' sake ;done."
So Midas went his HIT to til • River
Pnetolua, which was the chief river of
his dominions, and w 1h his golden
Idaughter in -his arms he ri1 ed mall
its dths,
Iia spank nailer the licit ybur den but
as the waters closet. over his he 1d his
child was restored. as of old ,aad the,
two rose to the surface,
"'Tarte her'l" he cried to his sla.es,
and then he bathed thoroughly In the
ool' w�ateres
Thus the :'power, to chance into .gold
ell that he touched wa's taken away
from him. slut, as he bathed. iii the.
river; it is said that, by his torch,
=oh of the water and the sands of
the river which he touched as he.
bathed were changed into gold, and to '
this cause the ancients ascrihed the
Ilarge quantity 0f gold which has ever
nonce beau found in that at•reism..•
Thunder Frightens Crabs
to Pieces.
Crawfishes, crabs, and lobsters are
Peculiarly sensitive to loud noises, and
it is a fact that a loud and sudden clap
of thunder will cause them to ampu-
tate or drop their large claws and
"pincers:" '
The impuise which seizes them when
eud•thdeniy alarmed is to'row off their
f �44 0 heavy claws,. so that they may the.
• q uioker scurry off to a place of
g s i safety.
Crabs 'and lobsters can in ten clays
or a fortnight grow new claws, las largo
as the old ones. For several weeks,:
however, the patient who is growing
on a new set of fighting weapons does
not aplieai' among the armed members
of the family, because, hid claws being
Sears soft, he could not "take his own tart"
which own more than twenty ails cannibal
Ts good for a million' more! oP. Y motor arid would be eaten -by
-Ted Olson in "Forbes." cars between them brethren.
An Electrical Dialogue.
Beet-"l'rn a live wire.
Bess -"I'm shacked."
'Ghilmington, a Kentish village,con-
tains eighteen houses, the inhabitants
IIIA Mtn.
"IS¢
to6IODOWN
TO THE BANK AN`
m7cT IT GHANUED
item BRAN NEW
PERMS
S
TO SliOvl _ '
110,J Oar►
-
1 "
•
+(Copyright MI -5.177V'; 5,ll Syndicate, Inc.)
IF -tot EVUR a
SH '
SHOWED TOW 6'�W
rATT. OAICETN105
ONE tr.1F3uLo EVER
eLErva You (61
50 MANt'l
-1