Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 20, Number 31, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 25 January 1890 — Page 8

BURIAL OF THE BOOTS.

SOME SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT DEAD MEN'S SHOES..

Where a Funeral Is Called a Dead Shoe. Pretty Little Stories in Which Shoes Are Prominent Characters—Dow tlis Queen

Moved the Farmer.

The superstition of the burial of the boots probably survives in England. It is about seventeen years since the writer heard from an old gypsy that when another gypsy was "puvado," or "earthed," a very good pair of "boots was placed by him in thd'grave. The reason was not given perhaps it was not known. These customs often survive after the cause is forgotten, simply from some feeling that good or bad luck attends their observance or the neglect of it.

Many years since a writer in an article on shoes in The English Magazine Btated that "according to an Aryan tradition, the greater part of the way from the land of the living to that of death lay through morasses and vast moors overgrown with ferns and thorns. That the dead might not passover them bareloot, a pair of shoes was laid with them in the grave."

The shoe was of old in many countries a symbol of life, liberty, or entire personal control. In Ruth we are told that "it was the custom in Israel concerning changing, that a man plucked off his shoe and delivered it to his neighbor." So the bride,who was originally a slave, transferred herself by the symbol of the shoe.

When the Emperor Wladimir made proposals of marriage to the daughter of Ragnald, she replied scornfully that she would not take off hor shoes to the son of a slave. Gregory of Tours, in speaking of weddings, says: "The bridegroom, having given a ring to the bride, presents her with a shoe."

A CURIOOS CUSTOM.

As regards the Scandinavian hel-shoe, or hell-shoe, Kelley, in his "Indo-European Folk Lore," tells us that a funeral is still called a dead shoe in the Henneberg district and the writer already cited adds that in a MS. of the Cotton library, containing an account of Cleveland in Yorkshire in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there is a passage which illustrates this curious custom. It was quoted by Sir Walter Scott in the notes to "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," and runs thus: "When any dieth certaine women sing a song to the dead bodie, reciting the journey that the partye decoased must goe and they ore of beliofo that once in their lives it is goodo to give a pair of new shoes to a poor man forasmuch as before this life they are to pass barefoote through a great laude, full of thorns and furzen—except® by the meryte of the alnies aforesaid they have redeemed the forfeyte—for at the edgo of the lande an ouldo man shall meet them with the same shoes that were given by tho partie when he was lyving, and after ho hath shodde them dismisseth them to go through thick and thin without scratch or scalle."

This must be a very agreeable reflection to all gentlemen who have bestowed their old boots on waiters, or ladies who have in like fashion gifted their maids. To be sure, the legend specifies now shoes but surely a pair of thirty shilling boots only half worn count for as much as a new pair of half a sovereign chaussures. However, if one Is to go "through thick and thin without scratch or scalle," it may be just as well to boon the safe side, and give a good new extra stout pair to the gardener for Christmas. For truly the superstitions are strange things, and no one knows what may bo in theml There are one or two quaint shoe stories of the oldon time which may be of value to the collector.

OUPID IN SHOES.

It befel once in tho beginnings of Bohemia that, according to Schafarik ("Slawische Alterthumer," H., p. 432), Libussa, queen of that land, found herself compelled by her council to wed. And tho wise men, being consulted, declared that ho who was to marry tho queen would be found by her favorite horse, who would lead tho way till he found a man eating from an iron table, and kneel to hitn. So tho horso went on, and unto afield where a man sat eating a peasant's dinner from a plowshare. This was the farmer Prschemischl. So they covorod him with the royal robes and led him to tho queen expectant. But ere going ho took his shoes of willow wood and placed thom in his bosom, and kept them to remind him over after of his low origin.

It will, of course, at once strike the reader, as it has tho learned, that this is a story that would naturally originato iu any country where there are iron plowshares, horses, queens aud wooden shoes: and, as Schafarik shrewdly suggests, that it "rtw all "a put up job since, of course, Prschemisclii was already a lover "of the queen, tho horse was trained to find him and to kneel before him, and, Anally, that tho plowshare and wooden shoes were the prepared properties of the little drama. Tho Seven-League boots and tho shoes Of Peter Schlemihl, which take one over the world at will, have a variation in a pair recorded in another tale.

Thero was a beautiful and extremely proud damsel, who refused a young man with every conceivable aggravation of the offeuce, informing him that when she ran after him, and not Iwfore, that he might hope to marry her and at the same time meeting a poor old woman who begged her for a pair of old shoes. To which the proud princess replied:

Shoos her©, shoes there Give me a couple, I'll give thee a pair. To which the old woman, who was a witch, grimly uttered, "I'll give thee a pair which"— Tho rest of the expression was mUly too unamiable to repeat. Well, the youth and the witch met, and going to tho lady's shoemaker, "made him make" a superbly elegant pair of shoes, which were sent to the damsel as a gift. Such a gift! No sooner were they put on than off they started, carrying the princess, malgre elle, over hill and dale. By and by she saw that a man—the man, of course, whom she had refused—was in advance of her. As in the song of the "Cork Leg," '.'the shoes never stopped, but kept on the pace." And the young man led her to a lonely castle and reasoned with her. And as she had promised to marry him should she ever run aftor him, and as she had pursued him a whole day, she kept her word. Tho shoes she sent to the witch filled with gold, and they were wedded, and all went as marry as a thousand grigs in a duck pond.—St. James Gaxette.

A Sure T*u

Noted Detective (at friends house}—This guest of vours. who, you say, came to yon with such ftattering letters of introduction, is an impostor.

Friend—Impossible! Be is one of the most jnteored gentlemen I ever met. "True but all the same, he fa not what he rriitwniln to be. He claims to be a man of family, a householder, and in business in a small town.** "Vos. Is he notf "No, lie does not live in any home of his own he Is used to botdi and hoarding bouse*." "How do you know f* "Before beginning a meal be wipes his plate off with his

Weekly.

pgifeffia^

napkin."—New

York

DYING IN HARNESS.,

Only a fallen horse, stretched oat there on tte road, Stretched in the broken shafts, and crushed by the heavy load Only a fallen horse and a circle of wondering eyes Watching the frighted teamster goading the beast to rise. Hold! for his toil is over no more labor for him See the poor neck outstretched and the patient eyes erow dim See on the friendly stones how peacefully rests his head, Thinking, if dumb beasts think, how good it is to be dead After the burdened journey, bow restful it is to lie With the broken shafts and the cruel load, waiting only to die!

Watchers, he died in harness, died in the shafts and straps: Fell, and the great load killed him one of the day's mishaps, One of the passing wonders marking the city road, A toiler dying in harness, heedless of call or goad.

Passers, crowding the pathway, staying your steps awhile, Was it the symbol? Only death why should we cease to smile At death for a beast of burden? On through the busy street That is ever and ever echoing the tread of the hurrying feet!

What was the sign? A symbol to touch the tireless will, Does be who taught in parables speak in parables still? The seed on the rock is wasted, on the heedless hearts of men, That gather and sow and grasp and lose, labor and sleep, and then: Then for the prize! A crowd in the street of ever echoing tread. The toiler, crushed by the heavy load, is there in his harness dead! —John Boyle O'Reilly.

South America's Pampero.

A strange natural phenomenon is the pampero, a South American storm wind. It is thus described: A light breeze had been blowing from the northeast, but had steadily increased in force and brought with it the heated air of the tropics, which, passing over a treeless pampa country exposed to the burning sun rays of a clear sky, so warms up the atmosphere on the shores of the Rio de la Plata that its effect upon human beings is exceedingly bad. This state of things generally lasts for a week or longer, until the stifling heat becomes unbearable, and the inhabitants are seen resting in grass hammocks or lying on bare floors, incapable of exertion.

However, relief is close at hand. A little cloud "no bigger than a man's hand" is first seen to rise above the water, then the heavens grow black with clouds, and the battle of opposing winds begins. The pampero advances with its artillery well in front forked flashes of vivid lightning, followed by peals of thunder, bear down upon the foe, who, quite up to the moment of attack, is fiercely discharging its fiery breath on the surrounding regions. Tho inhabitants now climb on the azorteas, or flat roofs, to watch tho struggle and to be the first to participate in the delicious relief brought by the pampero to their fevered bodies.

Far out on the river a curious sight may be seen the opposing waves, raised by the rival winds, meet like a rush of cavalry in wild career their white horses with foaming crests dash themselves against each other and send clouds of dazzling spray high in the air this, being backed by an inky sky, renders the scene most imposing. Gradually the northeaster gives way, followed closely by its enemy, the pampero, which throws out skirmishing currents of ice cold wind in advance of its final onslaught. Then comes the roar of tho elements, and a deluge such as no one would willingly encounter, and cooler weather is established for the time being.—Cleveland Herald.

Don't Sit on Tonr Spines!

"We ought to establish in the United States a school of deportment for public men," says Kato Field. "And the first motto I should hang up over the door would be: 'Don't sit on your spinel'" I couldn't help thinking of that as I sat in the* gallery of the house of representatives the day the chief justice delivered his oration. In marched the president and Mr. Blaine, followed by the other secretaries, and sat down in the first row of the amphitheatre. Sat! Yes, sitting is what it is called. Within five minutes every toother's sou of them, with perhaps one exception, had slid down so that his body was supported by his shoulder blades and the small of his back.

The justices of the supreme court followed, and down they went iu the same way. So did tho rest of the dignitaries, as bevy after bevy filed in. In contrast with them there sat the foreign ministers and the delegates to tho two international conferences, as upright as ramrods. What made the contrast most disagreeable was the fact that our own great men were by far tho best looking persons on the floor, as a rule. It seemed a pity that they should spoil their fine effect by such an attitude. But it is the common fault of Americans in public places. Congress habitually sits on its four hundred and odd spines when it isn't making speeches or writing letters. Our magistrates do it on the bench. Our legislators do it. Everybody does it.— Chicago Times.

Settling a Duel.

An amusing story used to be told of a wag who accepted a challenge to fight a duel. On tho appointed day he sent word to his opponent to chalk on a board an outline of his (the challenged party's) figure, and if the challenger hit it he would consider himself wounded or dead, as the case might be.

This story may possibly have originated from one told in the "History of Hartford, Vt.," of Consider Bard well, an irascible innkeeper of that town.

He was often at variance with his neighbors. and once ho and a guest, having quarreled, agrwd to fight a duel. At the appointee! hour the adversary appeared, armed with a shotgun. Bardwell loved a joke, and, being very busy, said to lum: "Tom, I'll tell you what PB do: You go out and set- up a board about my size and shoot at it and if you hit it I'll acknowledge myeslf killed, and treat the crowd."

The ludicrous proposition made e- ery one laugh, and thus ended a farm—Youth's Companion.

The Kine's Hobby.

Louis XYHI was indulgent toward all shortcomings, with the exception of disdain of gastronomic pleasures. He came near to disgracing the Due de Blacas on this score. "How do yon find this salmi asked the king ou» day. "Ma foi, sire, I confess that I never pay attention to what I cat" "You make a great mistake,n replied the long, dryly "peo pie should always pay attention t» what they eat and to what they «y.w—San Francisco Argonaut.

Vemstm Water Power UtUixed. It has

now become a well established fact

that waste water power can be converted into electric energy, cooreyed from 10 to 100 miles on a small copper wire in amounts from 10 to 500 horse powar, at a cost not to exceed #8,500 per mile for the greater db tmnc* and tho larger power.—New York Telegram.

A REGIMENTAL MAGPIE.

wt« Antics Would Upset Almost Everything in the Army Camp. He was only a magpie, but such a magpie! At first he belonged to a private in a regiment out on the alkali plains of Nevada. Then the company adopted him as its own, nnA finally from the proprietorship of Company B, he became the regimental magpie, only, instead of the regiment owning him, he owned the regiment. There never was a slicker, more self satisfied beast, and mischief and antics without end were on his programme. He could whistle he could dance he could mock anything that sings, and imitate anything that walks a magpie, you know, doesn't hop, it walks, like a crow or blackbird. On dress parade it would turn out with the regiment, and follow the officer of the day up and down the line with the most dignified strut imaginable. The soldiers could hardly keep straight faces when the bird would scold the colonel as he gave his orders.

Billy—that was his name—would occasionally steal, and only close and constant watching would reveal his hiding places. Sometimes he would succeed in caching his thefts for two or three months before detection followed. Then a couple of quarts of coins, currency, stamps, buttons, pipes, tobacco, cigars, straps, thread, forks, spoons and small trifles would bo unearthed. If he caught any one spying upon him he would be as crafty as a fox, and put up all sorts of dodges to throw the detective off the track. He would intake false leads, fly off a mile in the sage bush, and then sneak into the fort close to the ground, so that no one might see him.

Finally the regiment was ordered to another post. Billy went along after much protesting and scolding on his part. He knew something was up, and hustled around after his various treasures, which he brought in from every quarter and dumped in a heap in one of the quartermaster's wagons. Some things were recovered which had been missing for over a year. When the troops marched Billy flew alongside, with numerous private excursions and picnic parties all by himself off into the surrounding country, but he was always on hand at meal times and at night.

At San Francisco a ship was taken for Portland, Ore., and Billy came, too. He didn't like it much, and made several trips back and forth between ship and dry land. Chinatown seemed to strike his fancy, but ho finally concluded to holdfast to his old friends.

His career came near terminating the second day out. The window of the captain's state room was down and Billy perched on the ledge. He watched tfce captain picking out the ship's qpurse on the chart and making calculations and entries. After a while the captain walked out and Billy flew in. Everything was handy. He stuck his bill in the ink bottle and took a swallow. It didn't suit his stomach as well as it did his complexion, and he proceeded to wipe his face on the charts. The nibs of his bill made a very good pen and drew beautiful lines, so he tried it with another mouthful. Bee-auti-ful 1 The chart looked finer than before. He dropped a whole mouthful on the chart and walked in it. Then he walked over the tablecloth and the white counterpane of the captain's berth, and wound up by tipping the ink over, wiping his mouth out with a piece of the log book, and flying off with a pair pf silver dividers.

When the'baptain came in there was blue lightning. The tell tale tracks betrayed the culprit.

The captain grabbed down a loadecfShotgun from its brackets over the door, and started on deck swearing that he would kill the magpie on sight. When the soldiers heard his threats fifty of them grabbed their rifles,' and threatened to shoot the captain if he harmed Billy. There was danger of mutiny right there, and the officers had sense enouigh to. see it. They pacified the infuriated mariner, aud Billy escaped. His end was untimely. Some months later he got to fooling with the mechanism of a breech loading field piece, and the lever fell down on him and smashed his inquisitive head in.—Washington Post.

A Doe Hires a Cab.

Some one, writing to an English paper, tells this story of a clever dog: "You know how .much I rush about in hansom cabs," said the narrator, "and Scoti, my collie dog, always goes with me. We travel many miles in a week together in this way, but on one occasion I was walking and missed him.' Search was in vain. The crowd was great traffic drowned the sound of my whistle, and, after waiting a while and looking elsewhere, I returned to my suburban home without my companion, sorrowful, yet hoping that he might find his way back. In about two hours after my arrival a hansom cab drove up to the door and out jumped Scoti. Tho cabman rang for his fare, and thinking he had somehow captured the runaway, I inquired how and where he found him. '•Oh, sir," said the cabby, "J didn't hail him at all he hailed me. I was standing close by St. James church, a-looking out for a fare, when in jumps the dog. 'Like his impudence,' says I. So I shouts through the window, but he wouldn't stir. So I gets down and tries to pull him out, and shows him my whip, but he sits still and barks, as much as to say, 'Go on, old manl' As I seizes him by the collar I read his name and address. 'All right, my fine gentleman,' says I, Til drive you where you're wanted, I dare say.' So I shuts the door, and my gentleman settles himself with his head just a-looking out, and I drives on till I stops at this here gate, when out jumps my passenger, a-clearing the door, and walks in as calm as though he'd been areg'iar fare."— St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Tricks of Showmen.

Freaks for museums are now made to order. Give me an hour's time and I can rig up an electric man for any person in the city. All that is necessary is to fasten two large brass or iron plates to the floor and attach them to an electric battery. Any person will answer for the man, providing he stands on one of the plates and allows everybody that steps on the other plate to shake hands with him, thus completing the circuit. Slate writing in tb«*atres i«r done with the aid of a confederate or two in the audience. The messagu is written on one side of the slate, which is carefully covered with a piece of clean, dry black rubber looking like slate, which fits very closely and protecting the writing from the damp rag which is passed over it to make the audicaoA think that no writing exists.

The performer then steps into the auditorium and asks somebody to suggests sentence. The confederate is the first to respond, and his qnistkm is chosen. An answer to this is, of course, written on the date already and carefully covered with the rubber. A. board is next securely fastened to the frame silk* of the date with cord, and the performer thee takes the whole affair oo the stage and on* fastens the board, being careful to remove the rubber at the sane time, thus allowing the people to see the writing. All other tricks are ju*t as simple, but on account of their simplicity nobody can eadly catch on to the way they are executed.—Showman in St. Loois Globe-Democrat. fl

E E A 7 E S A I I A E E N I N A I

Turkeys, chickens, cheese, etc., diver's.

POWDER

Absolutely Pure.

This powder never varies. A marvel of purity, strength and wholesomenesa. More economical than the ordinary kinds, and cannot be sold in competition with the multitude of low test,.short weight, al,um or phosphate powders. Sold only in cans. ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO.. 10 wall st N. Y.

Readers of The Mail, especially the ladies, will please not forget that we carry, by far the most extensive line of Men's Furnishing Goods in Terre Haute. That our goods are always the newest, best and reliable, That we deal only in furnishing sjoods. That you will be waited on by salesmen who understand their business and not be pressed to purchase. That our prices are always below all competiton.

JAMES HOTTER & CO.

HOLERA HOGS.

Cash paid for dead Hogs at my factory on the island southwest of tne city: also Tallow, Bones and Grease of all kind. Dead animals removed free of charge. Office No. 13 o. Second. Telephone No.W«ga» SMITH.

r»E. W. O. JENKINS, JL/

Office, 12 south 7 st. Hours 1:30 to 3 30 Residence, cor. 5th and Linton. Office telephone, No. 40, Baur's Drug Store.

Resident telephone No. 176.

GEO. MARBACH, DENTIST.

423% Wabash Avenue. over Arnold's clothing store.

ROBEHT H. BIjACK. JAMES A. NTSBET*

jgLAOK & NITBET, UNDERTAKERS and EMBALMERS,

26 N. Fourth St., Terre Haute, Ind. All calls will receive prompt and careful attention. Open day and night.

T_ J". PATTOU &c OO.

Clean Meat Market

FOR

CHOICE STEER BEEF, SOUTHDOWN MUTTON and LAME, PORK, VEAL, and SAUSAGES,

Telephone 220, Fourth and Ohio

EXCELSIOR

Steam Dye Works

SATISFACTION WARRANTED. 655 Main St., Terre Haute. H. F. BEINEBS, PROPRIETOR.

JSAAC BALL, FUNERAL DIRECTOR.

Cor. Third and Cherry Sts., Terre Haute, Ind. Is prepared to execute all orders in his line with neatness and dispatch.

Embalming a Specialty.

RS. ELDER BAKER, HOMEOPATHIC

PHYSICIANS and SURGEONS,

OFFICE 102 S. SIXTH STREET, Opposite Savings Bank. Night, calis at office •will receive prompt attention. Telephone No. 135.

R. W. VAN YALZAH,

Successor to

RICHARDSON & VAN YALZAH,

ZDZEHSTTIST.

Office—Southwest

$?f*.,? .VJ v-

corner Fifth and Main

Streets, over National State Bank (entr&noe on Fifth street.

J. NUGENT. M. J. BROPHY.

jqUGENT & CO., PLUMBING and GAS FITTING A dealer in Gas Fixtures, Globes and EnerinGdr

Supplies.

SOS Ohio street. Terr® Haute, lad

COAL. OPAL.

We have opened a coal office at 930 Main, at the former Ktibn elevator office and keep all kinds of

BLOCK & BITUMINOUS COAL

We solicit a share of the public patronage.

JOS. LEE—WM. D0RSEY.

.THE POSTOFFICE NEWS STAND sells the L' AKKaifttTE

L' AMERIQ.UE 1/ AMERIQUE L' AMERIQUE

AMERIQUE

AMERIQUE L' AMERIQUE

ameriqije L' AMERIQUE JJ AMERIQUE

AMERIQUE AJOERIQCK

All Havana, bed 10c Cigar in tbe cit/.at Fooromc* NinrsSiAKn, 12 n. 7th street.

PER

33s

Prices, $1.50 up.

Gel lilt

Paine, DieW&Co

PHILA., PA.

rjgagu:?,*

When we secured, two years ago, the sole agency for Terre "Haute for Simon Stearns & Co.'s Underwear we did not realize what a great hit we had made for ourselves and what a benefit to this community. A number of ladies had to go or send to Indianapolis or New York for this great article, and now our sales in the Muslin Underwear Department are more than three times as large as they were two years ago. Sterns & Co. have no competitors in the manufacture of Muslin garments, as no other concern uses the same quality of materials and trimmings and makes all their garments, cheap or fine, with the same care and attention. Ladies who have once bought Simon Steams & Co.'s Underwear will buy no other.

Sz&pxwm,

Saves 25% to 50% of Tea.

GIVES THE TRUE FLAVOR.

foci do not IIFfc the po6. Poors &y pressing lid.

BAZAR

CENT. DISCOUNT

OR ONE-THIED OFF

-ON-

We Mean Business to Close Them Out.

P, S.—Our prices have been compared previously, and found to be as low as any of our neighbors. Why not improve your opportunity. Don't put it off, thoy are going. It is very seldom you can get such an opportunity to buy a good Overcoa cheap. Come soon before all the good coats are gone.

J.T.H.MILLER,

522 Wabash Ave., North Side, Near Sixth*

laundry maid pretty And stout,

•Was Mely in trouble and doull

"or her best counterpanes

ad some

very

SANTA CLAUS SOAP—made on! by N. X. FA1ABANK & CO., Chicago.

Sold by G. S. ZIMMERMAN, Terre Haute, Ind.

STIFF AND RIGID CORSETS Are being discarded for the more comfortable and bealtbfnl

I E

Approved by PbyalciAna, Endorsed by Dre«wmakers, Recommended by

every tady that bu Worn Them. XASIOSW BT

The Jackson Corset Co.,

For Sale here EXCLUSIVELY by HOBERO, BOOT A (X).

black stains

took them out

Jackson,"Michigan.