Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1883 — King Richard’s Bed. [ARTICLE]

King Richard’s Bed.

Up to the time that the mail» were prohibited to the lotteries, M. A, Dauphin, of New Orleans, was the largest single patron of the registered-letter and money-order divisions in the United States. A correspondent who has been inspecting Western cities says: “Helena, the capital of Montana, is accented, orally and morally, on the first syllable. It is probably the richest and wickedest city of its size in the country.” One of the most profitable industries in Kansas promises to be that of sugar culture from sorghum. It is carefully estimated that two tracts of land aggregating 3,000 acres will this season produce from 700 to 800 pounds of sugar per acre, and 75 gallons of syrup. At this rate sorghum culture ought to pay well. A vessel of special and ingenious design is being prepared for Stanley’s use in Africa. It will be propelled by a stern paddle-wheel, and the hull will be arranged in such a manner that it can be readily subdivided into a number of sections, each being floatable and provided with for receiving four large wheels. These wheels can be attached to each section while afloat, so that it can be drawn out of the water for transport overland without difficulty. Each of the subdivisions of the hull forms, when fitted with the wheels, a complete wagon of itself, capable of carrying the machinery of the steamer, merchandise, stores, etc. It is to be completed by the end of this year, and will be tested afloat under steam on the Thames.

Fannie Brigham Ward, writing from Monterey, Mexico, to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, notes the ruin that marks the track of Gen. Taylor’s army of invasion in peaceful, unoffending Monterey. She then goes on to say: “Through these streets our soldiers storfned, fighting all the way. Every house was a barricade to be taken, and ©very room was a scene of murder. Under all the suave ‘international’ talk that to-day prevails ia Mexico run% a current, deep and strong, of animosity to Americans. The time is likely to come within the next decade when the smouldering fires of the old hatred will burst forth anew against the now wouldbe peaceful invasion, and when that time arrives it will be well for Americans to get out of the city.” t UroN a recent trip the Anchor Line steamer the City of Rome, now the largest steamship afloat, brought into New York human souls, it is said, than were before brought across the ocean in one trip of any vessel. It was like a floating village at sea for seven days. There was a framed notice at the head of the saloon stairs, showing that the steamer was authorized to carry 550 persons, crew included. The exact number that she did carry was not revealed at any time during the voyage. There were 480 names of saloon passengers on the printed list. There were many steerage passengers and a number of intermediate passengers, in addi. tion to a crew, including the saloon and bed-room stewards, numbering in all about 300. The gossip of the ship placed the whole number on board at between 1,600 and 2,000.

It is pleasant to learn that dudism is on the decline. Vide the following extract from a recent New York letter: It is said that a reaction has taken place among the young bloods of Fifth Avenue, and that the dude make-up is rapidly being relegated to swells of the second class. The dude costume is now chiefly worn by young gentlemen in the % ribbon department of some drygoods emporiums, who, having invested heavily in the broad, curled-brim hat, tight pantaloons, stuffed frock coat, and toothpick shoes, cannot afford to get other clothes at present. The upper swells have, for the nonce, become conservative, are wearing wide trousers, boots more nearly resembling their feet, and less conspicuous coats, collars, and hats. They retain the silver-headed stick, however, which is reasonable enough, and which cannot be carried brthe cheaper swells except Sundays and Bemi-occasional visits to the theatre. In the meanwhile the dudus, or female swells, are imitating their male associates, as usual. Av amusing scene occurred on a Chicago West Side street-car, which is thus described by the Daily Neics: Conductor Callahan, a well-known employe of the line, Btood on the rear platform of his car when he noticed a lady on the street comer opposite. He put his hand on the bell-rope, and, beckoning to the ladv, asked “Car, madam?" The lady noddbd, and jtrat asishe did so a pompous-looking gentleman seated in the car exclaimed in a commanding voice: "Of course she

wants a car. Pull the bell and stop foi h6r!” After the lady had seated her self Conductor Callahan walked up to the pompous gentleman and quietly remarked, “I am the conductor of this car, sir, and I propose to run it. So you will please not interfere.” The pompous gentleman swelled to twice his normal size and inquired in thundering tones, “Do you know me, sir ? Do you know whom you are addressing? lam President Jones, sir, president of the West Side Street-car Company.” “I don't care who you are," replied Mr. Callahan, “I am the conductor of this car, and am responsible for it. If you ihterfere in the discharge of my duties, I shall have to put you off.” President Jones subsided, but on the following day Conductor Callahan was wanted at headquarters. It was there explained that while there was no complaint against his competency or faithfulness, he would have to apologize to President Jones or “sever his connection,” etc. “Just step up and see President Jones," said the clerk, “and doubtless you’ll be able to fix the matter all up in a moment.” But Callahan was made of very different stuff. If there was any questionable osculation, he was not going to be the oscillator. So he drew his pay and quit the street-car service. Chicago Tribune- During the early part of last evening a man who had spent the greater portion of his life in far West was quietly walking along the street amusing himself by looking in the show-windows, when he was accosted by a dapper little fellow, who ejaculated: “Hello, Col. Wilson! How are you?” “Well, you’ve got the best of me,” replied the stranger. “My name doesn’t happen to be Wilson.” “I beg your pardon,” returned the young man. “I thought I had met you down in Albuquerque.” The Western man admitted he had been down in Albuquerque, whereupon his newly made acquaintance named over a list of persons in that place and insisted that lie must have met the gentleman there. “Say,” the young man suddenly exclaimed, “I belong to an awful nice club up here, but I have been a little unfortunate to-night. I thought if you were Colonel Wilson I’d strike you for a ‘five’ as a startr. I feel confident I could win, and if you could only let me have that as a starter—just a starter, you know—l’d pull out all right.” The stranger said he did not have any money about him, but if the young man would accompany him to the hotel 'he might see about it. The young man would go, and when the two reached the Tribune building the gentleman from the West turned and asked: “How much did you say you wanted?” Pausing for a moment as if pondering how much to “touch” him for, the •young man replied; “Oh, let me have a‘five’for a starter.” “A starter, eh! Well, just take this for a starter.” A well-directed, straight-from-the-shoul-der blow, knocked the would-be borrower “silly,” aHd the next instant he was sprawling in the gutter. Picking himself up he departed without a word. “Col. Wilson,” of Albuquerque, cafmly adjusted his broad-brimmed hat and remarked, “I just did that as a warning to bunko-stearers.”

In the town of Leicester the house is still shown where Richard 111 passed the night before the battle of Bosworth; and there is a story of him preserved in the corporation records which illustrates the caution and Becretiveness ol his character. He was accustomed to carry among the baggage of his camp a cumbersome wooden bed, which he pretended was the only one he could sleep on; herein he contrived a secret receptacle for his treasure, which lay concealed under a weight of timber. After the fatal day on which Richard fell the earl of Richmond entered Leicester with his victorious troops. The friends of Richard were pillaged, but the bed was neglected by every plunderer as useless lumber. The owner of the house afterwards discovered the hoard, became suddenly rich without any visible cause. He bought land, and at length arrived at the dignity of being Mavjfif-of Leicester. Many years afterwardnis widow', who had been left in great affluence, was murdered for her wealth by a maid servant, who had been privy to the affair, and at the trial of this woman and her accomplices the whole affair came to light.