Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1912 — Blamed for an Earthquake [ARTICLE]

Blamed for an Earthquake

Amusing Instance of Efforts to Stop Terrestrial Commotion Comes From Mexico.

While an earthquake is a phenomenon of a nature not likely to be treated with discrespect, still less with Indignity,an Englishmannevertheless tried, 24 hours after his arrival in India, to kick one. He was writing at a table one afternoon when he became aware of an annoying unsteadiness in the furniture. Thinking that this was due to the rubbing of a dog against the leg of the table, the Briton kicked at the beast several times, and it was only when he looked under the still shaking table and saw nothing there that he realized his inability to stop terrestrial commotions. ■An American woman who resided for some years in Mexico also had an experience with an earthquake. She was the mother of two lively small sons. One day they had been especially obstreperous and did not grow quietin' as the time for her siesta and theirs'approached. After' rousing her from her nap two or three times by their antlos, she gave them fair Warning that if there was any further commotion severe punishment would result. Again she dropped off into sleep.

Suddenly she found herself awake and on her feet, with sounds Of banging still in her ears and the room quivering as if from the fall of a heavy piece of furniture. The boys, scared and guilty looking, were in the doorway. She seized the nearer, reversed him and had him half spanked before the excited protests of his brother penetrated to her brain through his anguished howls. Then she became aware that she was spanking him for an earthquake.