Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1911 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

The Loving Cup. There are a great many stories told of the origin of the loving cup. and perhaps the following is file most in teresting: In the eleventh century Margaret Atheling, the wife of Malcolm Kenmore, became disgusted with the way in which the Scotch nobles left the dining table before her chaplain had time to say grace. So she promised' all those who could be induced to wait for this ceremony a draft of the choicest wine from a large gold cup. which was passed from man to man around the table after grace had been pro nounced. The bribe offered by the beautiful young queen was too inviting for the nobles to refuse, and they all stayed in consequence. The custom of passing around the “grace cup,’’ as it was called at first, became so popular that it was observed all over the country, and every person of importance in the middle ages could boast of being the owner of one. <

A Life Saving Elephant. A few years ago two children were bathing in the sea at a little town on the coast of France when suddenly, for some reason or other, they were carried out of their depth. In a few moments their cries as they struggled in the deep water aroused attention, but before any one could reach them they were rescued in an altogether unexpected manner. Ap ijnmense elephant belonging to a traveling circus happened to have

been led down to the sea that morning to bathe, and as be was enjoying his bath close at hand he beard the cries of the children. Plunging through the water toward them, he lifted them very gently one at a time and carried them to a place of safety. This elephant, whose name was Gus, died not long ago at Hereford, England, from the effects of a severe cold. He was said to be 135 years old. About the Pelican. This bird is found spread over many portions of Africa and Asia and is also found In some parts of southern Europe. The wings of the pelican are very strong and powerful. The pouch of the pelican is enormously large, capable of containing two gallons of water, and is employed by the bird as a basket wherein to carry the fish which it has caught The pelican is a good fisherman, hovering over the water watching for a shoal of fish near the surface. Down swoops the bird, scoops up a number of fish in its capacious pouch and then generally files off homeward. In its homeward flight it is often robbed by hawks, which attack it and cause it to scream. Once the pelican's mouth is open the hawk snatches the fish out of the bird’s pouch. Very Curious. Among the czar's possessions are some ancient coins which came to him in a curious manner. Some years ago a certain man dreamed three times that the spirit of the Czar Alexander 111. appearedMo him and told him that some coins winch he Owned and which had been procured from a wonder working minister had the power of shielding any one from all evil and begged the man to give them to Nicholas 11. The old man was greatly impressed by his visions and at once sent the coins with an account of his dreams to the Russian ambassador at Vienna, who had them conveyed to Nicholas.