Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1917 — PUT END TO THE ARGUMENT [ARTICLE]

PUT END TO THE ARGUMENT

Claim of Revenue Officer Settled ATI Doubt as to Who Was Entitled _ to-the Meteorite. One of cur best-known astronomers was talking about the difficulties and intricacies that astronomy presents to the popular mind. “For instance,” be said, smiling, “there is the story of the meteorite that fell on an Essex farm a year ago. It was a valuable meteorite, and the landlord claimed it at once. v “ ‘All minerals and raetal.B -0n thq_ land belong^to the,’ he said. That’s in the lease.’ “But the tenant demurred. ‘This meteorite,’ he said, ‘wasn’t on the farm, you must remember, when the | lease was drawn up.’ . r “This was eertafnly a poSer ; hut the | landlord was equal to the occasion, for ihe promptly retorted: ‘Well, then, I claim it as flying game.’ “But the tenant was ready for him. ‘lt’s got neither wings nor feathers,’ he said. ‘Therefore, as a ground game, it is mine l .’ "How long they would have continued their argumeut I cannot say, for at the moment a revenue officer came up and proceeded to take possession of the meteorite. ‘Because,’ said he. ‘it is an article introduced into this, ebuntry without paymeht Of duty.’ ” London Tit-Bits. / .