Newspaper Page Text
FIFTY CARLOADS OF
CHRISTMAS SNOW.
By Charles Bat tell Loomis.
(Copyright, 1899. by Charles Batteil 1,00-
mis.)
Roderick Daweon lived In that part ot
the United States where the mercury never
gets lower than 60, and where snow is so
entirely unknown that the very word has
dropped out of the local dictionaries. Rain
they have and plenty of it, but they
wouldn't know snow if they saw it.
When Roderick was 11 years old he was
invited to visit his cousin, Frank Par
sons, of Loudon Hill. Now, for six months
of the year they have snow every day at
Loudon Hill. It comes in the shape of a
Will Tumbled Him Into a Drift.
buster of a storm, on November first and
stays until May first, when the sun melts
it and it all goes off in a freshet and does
a lot of damage to people living below
Loudon Hill. But as water has never
formed the pernicious habit of running up
hill, the Loudon Hillites are always safe.
It was the middle of November when
Roderick was driven from the train up to
the Parsons house, and, of course, there
was snow everywhere, and his delight at
moving smoothly along on runners was
something to make a Northern child won
der.
0 j|sj&
Wmm ifVf \
/ / ol' j
, She was so Tall They Had to Use a Forty Fee* Ladder to Finish Her.
"Didn’t you ever see this before?" ask
ed Frank.
"Why, no. Does it really come from
the sky, as you said?”
"Of course, It does. My, but you’re
green! Why, what do you do with your
sleds down there?"
“Sleds? What’s that?” asked Roderick,
innocently, and Frank concluded that he
was not quite bright. But he never made
a greater mistake in his life, as he soon
found out, for Roderick was as smart as
any boy of his age and when he had
learned all the uses of snow he wasn’t
behind any of the boys in applying his
knowledge. To be hit In the eye by a
snowball of his propelling hurt Just as
much as If he had known about snow all
his life.
But, as It happened, he never connected
snow with cold. He supposed that snow
T* Be nit in the Eye by a Snow Ball,Hurl.
was a peculiar kind of white dust that
"•mie from the sky, and If they didn’t
have It in Tarrapooaa parish why, there
'■■ire lots of other things that were pe
culiar to (he North. So he accepted enow
os a curious, but none the lees delightful
fact.
He stood the cold weather very well for a
ail hern boy, and. Indeed, sometimes went
ithotit an overcoat whe'n hi* playmates
wearing both coata and comforter*.
Roderick waa a generous little fellow,
l,c often thought what a aouree of a
nd, *‘ ll J 1 would b to bla old playmates of
w South tt they could have sttow la
which to play and build forls and caves
and down which lo coast, and in one of
his letters home to his brother he told
him that he had Just about decided if It
did not cost too much to send down a
train load of snow as a Christmas present
to his native place.
One day he and Frank and a holf dozen
other fellows were fashioning a gigantic
snow woman. She was so tall that they
had to use a forty-foot ladder to finish her
head, and they drew the snow up In buck
ets, and a boy straddled her head and slap
ped the snow on in the proper place.
"We have a sculptor down home, and
he'd Just about go crazy tf he had a lot
of snow to make his statues out of,” said
Roderick. "How much snow dOi you sup
pose it would take if I shipped some
home? How many cars full?’ '
“Why, I guess it would take a whole
train load—say, fifty cars,” answered
Frank. He was just about to add that it
would all melt and turn to water long
before It got South, but a mischievous
thought stopped him. “Say, fellers," said
he, "winking at his companions, "Rod
wants to send some snow down South.
How much would it take, fifty car loads?”
Rawson Maw son thought it would take
all of fifty, but Will Bill thought forty
five would do it.
"Well, if the Governor sends me enough
next week, I’m going to ship some," said
Roderick.
He went inlo the house just then after
something, and the boys exploded with
mirth. The idea of sending snow to the
South and expecting it to stay was de
lightful.
"His father has oceans of money.” said
Will Bill. "Say, we won't tell him that
snow r melts, and then wait until his folks
write up and ask him what he moans by
sending a lot of damp cars down there
with nothing in ’em. Of course, the
water’ll all run out.”
This somewhat mean scheme appealed to
all the boys who did not see its mean side,
and so when Rod came out again they
told him he could count on their aid.
So he wrote to his brother: “Dear Fred
erick I have decided to send down to Tus
capoosa (this was the name of the town
in w hich he lived) a train load of the b< au
tiful thing called snow of which I wrote
in my last, so that you will receive it by
Christmas. You have no Idea how nice it
is and you will find you never knew what
fun was betore. I enclose instructions how
to make a sled and I am sure that Jeffer
son Calhoun will be able to make them
easily. Fancy getting oil ore at the top of
a hill and Just sliding by your own weight
to the bottom! And you can have bully
fights. YVe played civil war, using bads
of the snow for bullets and cannon balls
I was captain of the Confederates and
Cousin Frank was captain of the Uni:n
men. After my side won thiee d\iys run
ning, Uncle Thaddeus said it would be a
good plan for me to change over to the
Union side or we’d be reversing history.
He’s no end of fun and I like h‘m im
mensely. I haven't told him about my idea
of shipping snow as I’m afraid he’d think
it was going to be too expensive. They
have no idea hew r ch father is. Next w eek
I expect to get the snow off. When you
receive it, have the mem distribute it as
evenly as possible or etse the sled runners
will sink into it and you won't make as
much speed. Be careful not to throw the
snow balls too hard for they can hurt like
sixty. You can spread a little of the snow
on the sidewalk and then run and slide
on it the way we used to on our half room
floor, only after it has been smoothed
down a little you can go twenty or thirty
feet. And I bet you'd tumble over when
you first try It on. I did and I was at
the head of about ten of ihe fellows and
the way they all piled cn me was a cau
tion. No more now until I write to tell
you that I've shipped it.” P. S. You'll have
the merriest Christmas you ever heard
of.
Frank Parsons and Wild Bill managed
the affair and they bribed the train hands
not to tell Rod that the snow would
melt. The day before he shipped It there
was a big snow fall which made the work
of loading much easier. Roderick and all
the boys helped the workmen and by
nightfall there were fifty cars full of nice,
clean, packed down snow.
And th n Rob decided to go with the
train. “I want to see the fun myself,"
he said. "I’ll come back again in a week
or two, after the Christmas holidays.” The
boys were sorry to have him go and sev
eral felt like telling him of the trick at
the last moment, but they know the other
boys would make it hot for them if they
did, so they refrained.
It was bitter cold when the train pulled
out of Loudonville, which is the name ot
the Loudon Hill station. Roderick, well
bundled up, climbed into the cab with the
engineer and waved a farewell to the boys.
"Thanks, awfully, boys, for your help,"
said he.
The engineer muttered something about
its being "really too bad.” “What’s too
bad?” asked Rod, but the engineer said
he was talking to the fireman. At the
last moment, Frank was seized with re
morse and would have blurted out the se
cret to Roderick, but Will Bill stuffed his
handkerchief Into tils mouth, and tumbled
him over into a drift and when he picked
himself up the train was moving swiftly
away.
Now It happened that the terrible coud
wave that spread all over the country and
did so much damage was Just beginning.
You may remember that the orange crop
throughout the South was ruined and peo
ple saw ice who had never seen it be
fore.
So that Instead of losing all the snow
wlren the train entered the South not a
bit of It had melted, dven when the train
pulled UP at the Tuscapoott* platform the
day before Christmas. Fortune certainly
favors the brave. Rod had become a
great favorite on the train through his
manly and unaffected ways, and the men
wore glad to see that the trick had not
succeeded.
The snow was in patent dumping car*,
amt as the track* ran alongside of Ihe
place where Rod wanted 1> dumped, It
W aa an easy matter to distribute U, par
ticularly a* all the train hand* fell lo with
a will and gave their service* to the boy.
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1899.
The train was mot by the Mayor and
Rod's father and most of the lending men
of Tuseapoosa, and Roderick was thanked
In any number of long speeches.
After the speeches had all been spun,
everybody repaired to the coasting grounds
where they found the snow ready for them.
Sleds by the wholesale had been made by
clever Jefferson Calhoun, and old and
young, men and women and children, unit
ed in the new sport of coasting and snow
ball fighting, while the local sculptor made
a beautiful statue of summer out of the
snow. It was nightfall before any one
thought of going home. And quite a num
ber forgot to hang up their stockings they
were so excited over the fun they woul
have the next day. Roderick was the
happiest boy that ever gave pleasure to
others. When he left there was only the
one town policeman left to prevent any
one from taking away the snow that want
ed to do so. And while he might have
coped with mere men, he was helpless
when Jack Frost went home at 2 o’clock
in the morning. Jack Frost had been
South three days, and he was tired of
While He Gazed In YVonder, He YVas
Wailed on by the Mayor.
the place. As soon as he had taken his
departure, the snow began to melt, and
by sunrise Christmas morning the whole
town was afloat.
Rod rose with the sun and looked out of
the window. He could not bslleve his
eyes. Where was the statue of summer?
YVhere was any of the snow? While h
gazed in wonder, he was waited on by the
Mayor and asked to explain this new an I
unpleasant development, but he had no
answer ready.
The Mayor said that while he was
grateful to Roderick for affording the
people a lot of amusement, still it was not
pleasant to feel that half the cellars were
flooded, and on Christmas day, too. It
could not have been worse in Ihe rainy
season which had just concluded the
month before.
Roderick, much chagrined, went lo tho
engineer of the freight train and asked
him to explain why the enow had gone
and that good man did so in a few words.
He said: "Rod, you are the victim of as
mean a trick as one boy ever played on
another. Only you got the better of them
for a time. Snow melts In watm weath
er and I expected to see it begin to flood
the tracks before we left Pittsburg. If It
hadn't been for this unheard of cold snap
you would never have brought your snow
here in good order. As it is you’ve had
your fun, and every one In the place has
seen and felt snow and you’d belter cut
an account of the whole proceedings out
of the local paper and mall it to the boys
up at Loudon Hill. It’ll make them feel
like thirty cents."
And Roderick did so and if Frank and
Will Bill and all the other boys did not
feel like thirty cents (whatever sensation
that may be) they deserved to.
SAND FOR A DEAD WOMAN'S FACE.
Curious Will of a Woman AVIIO Re
cently Diet! nt Sf. Louis,
From the St. Louis Post-Dlspaich.
The will of the fate Mrs. Pauline LeS3
was filed for probate Monday. An Interest
ing feature of the document Is the com
mand given in the opening paragraph rel
ative to the disposlt'on of the body of the
testatiix after death. It Is as follows:
"Immeilately upon my death notice
thereof shall be given to the president of
Miriam lodge and Adolph Resenirater. Tne
latter shall perform the funeral services
and be paid ils therefor and he shall also
teJegraph information of my death to Je
rusalem and also allow only such persons
who do not Patch fire on Saturdays to stay
and watch over my remains. The la'ter ere
to be paid a reasonable compensation
therefor out of my estate. The sand which
I got fiom Jerusaltm and In now In my
trunk shall be fald on my face. My coffin
shall bo of rough lumber and my clothing
shall he divided by my executor among
poor and needy persons.”
The testatrix directs that a suitable
grave be purchased for her and that a
monument, the maximum cost of which
shall be lICO, be erected over her heal.
Bhe give* to the prod lent of the Hebrew
school at Eleventh and Carr greet* 1200, in
consideration of which Kodesch (a Hebrew
prayer) shall he offered three times dally
at his sch'Oi for one year.
After theoc bequests are paid the teata
ttix give* the remainder of her property
in equal chares :o her five children. Hite
names Benjamin Burensleln a* her execu
tor and requests tlet he b* not lequtred to
give bond.
WHERE CONAN DOYLE LIVES.
SIIERLOCK HOLMES RVS MADE THE
At THOR FAMOIS AG VIS.
Where He Uvea at Htndhead—Grout
Cricket Player and Athlete Stories
of Ills Prowess—Home VtntgrNtN a
Comfortable English Gentleman
Hntlirr Tlutn an Author—Statue
Bust of Sherlock Holmes—About
Mm. Doyle—Where the Author lias
Obtained His Impressions and Lit
erary Material.
Copyright, 1899, by the Author.
New York, Dec. 22.—The presentation of
Sherlock Holmes as a play has revived
the Interest in Dr. Conan Doyle to a re
markable degree. Sherlock Holmes Is
unquestionably the greatest detective In
fiction, and his Impersonation by Mr. Gil
lett haset crities to thinking again about
Dr. Doyle's newer work and his work
ways. I had the pleasure of visiting Dr. |
Doyle recently In his English home. He
is as far removed from civilization as Is
Kipling In his home at Rottlngdean. He 1
lives fully four miles from the nearest
railroad—at Hindhead. It ts one of the
charming English residence towns free
from most of the unpleasant features of
city life, yet with urban advantages. A
persAn of means and tastes wito de-ir, s
both country and city existence should
feel satisfied in this part of the Queen’s
domain unless over fastidious. Along the
range of hills can be found the homes of
some of Englund’s most noted writers and
scientists, past and present. Tennyson
lived here. Prof. Tyndall was also one
of the Haslemere colony, living next door
to Dr. Doyle. The natural beautits of the
surroundings impteiss themselves on, the
maul at once. From his roar or perhaps
front varanda—-for the house seems to
have a front where tho rear should be—the
owner can look directly down the valley
to its foot five miles away. Both sides
contain thickly wooded groves divided by
wide patches of heath* r with here uni
there a cultivated field or a strip of pas
ture land. Six hundred fret above the
sea. it Is high enough to get the invig
orating air of such altitudes, while from
the English channel, but twenty milea
away, cornea tho pleasant sea breeze.
A glance at Doyle indicates how well
this country Is suited to his tastes and
habits. He might be 45—he might be 40.
It is hard to say, as he stands over six
feet, a fine specimen of the vigorous,
hardy manhood native to Great Britain.
His strong, resolute features are tanned
by exposure in the cricket field, on the
tennis court and by season after season of
bird and rabbit shooting. It can bes eti
at once that he needs no tonics for 11 r
vousness or dyspepsia. Apparently he
has no nerves, for whether handling a
cricket bat in a decisive play or sighting
his gun in a supreme moment, one c in
trot trace a tremor of the muscle or a
quiver of the eyelids, Indoor end out
door exercises have given him muscles ot
steel and the suppleness and agility of a
i youth in his teens.
As one turns the pages of su-h looks
as the White Company, Micuh Clark and
Brigadier Gerard he is struck with the
■rugged manliness of the principal charac
ters, while throughout ta b work a tone
of vigor and virility prevails, w-hlcn is crim
inal with the writer. Talk with him even
for a half hour and you realize that they
are the ptoduct of a mind not enfeebled
by over-exertion, blit nourished and
strengthening from a superb physical sys
tem. In a word he has not developed his
mental faculties at the expense of the
others, but has kept both well balanced
with the result that to-day he seems as
cat>able of accomplishing as much in the
literary field as he has already accom
plished—and perhaps mote.
He has built up his constitution so that
to-day he Is capable of enduring any
amount of fatigue without being the
worse for it. The four milts fiom Hind
head lo Haslemere is a short walk for him
and many times a year do s ho cover It.
Probably everyone for ten mil s around
knows him by sight, for his figure is fa
mi Inr to the country fclk.
Naturally of a peactable dispos lion the
author 1 not to be trifled with any more
than some of the characters in h s writ
ings. He is a gr.at believer in fair play,
ami on more than one occasion has stood
up for the weaker man in trouble to the
cost of his assailant. They telf a story
about Haslemere of a little adventure in
which he took part at 80uth.se a near
Portsmouth, his former home. Many of
the cart drivers at Southsea have bovs to
help deliver their loads. One morning, as
the doctor was geltlng a little exercise (o
whet his appetite for breakfast, one of
these carts came along. The driver, a
heavily built man, 1 a 1 been drinking un
til he was in an ugly mood. For some rea
son he became angty with the toy, and
stoppng his lore logon beating the lad
with the handle cf his whip. He was so
busify engaged that he did not kn w any
one else was interested until a hand grasp
el him by the shoulder and pul ed him
1 ong Into the street. "I think you've
done about enough of this, my man.”
“It's no business of such gentry as you
to Interfere when the young rascal needs
a healing,” and ihe enraged driver, who
had struggled lo hit feet, drew back his
whip to strike the new-comer. The doctor's
right list landid on his face and he went
down like a kg. When he arose It was to
apologize. The fight had been, to use a
Slang phrase, "knockttl out of him.”
They call him “Knnn’n Doyle" In Ihe
neighborhood. The word ‘‘Conan" semi
to be difficult to use and Is so comreonly
mispronounced and mls-speled, as the
writtr has Indicated, that at the time of
his vlrii he snw n box from London di
rected lo "Mr. Canon Boyle, lllndhead,”
and probably no oM relished the Joke con
vey, and In that religious title more than th*
author himself.
But little sign of literary weak Is lo
be found about the house. Even his library
is muile the receptacle for cricket and ten
nis kits, (tuns and trout tackle are spread
all over the place, for while the family at
Hlndhead Is small, excluding the six ser-
friends from IjOndOn or nearby are
being entertained. The doctor Is a inem
l>er of one of the best amateur cricket
teams in the country, and during his week
every year as host It la an open house lo
all lovers of the* sport. Nothing is re
served from them. The players generally
have a contest dally and are driven to It
tr. the brake, a vehicle very essential to
English country life, which will carry tho
entire eleven with room to S|<are. On the
return to evening tea, the table Is llltim
inted by a banquet lamp shaded by a
distgn Ine-ulmon s Ik. This 1* called the
Victory shade, os it is considered a stun
of good luck and Is always brought out
by Mrs. Doyle during "Cricket Week."
Through its influence several trophies are
supposed to have been won. The hostess
Is as enthusiastic as her husband over
the siK>rt, ami if necessary to afford room
will "bundle” the children off to some
relative’s to remain until the guests hove
departed. As the cricket season occupies
nearly two months, it may be surmised
thot very little literary work Is done about
"Undershaw” until its close or between
spring end autumn. In addition to criekct.
however, a spring trap and the fragments
of numerous clay pigeons scattered about
the grounds attest tils fondness for shoot
ing. The six horses in the stable Include
two fine saddle mitres, one of which has
a record ns a Jumper. At the side of the
house is a gross tennis court bearing the
Indications of frequent usage, while one
of the largest rooms—in fact, that apart
ment opposite the drawing room Is given
up to billiard and pool tables for indoor
sport In Inclement weather, although the
rain must fall fast or the snow be deep
to keep the nuthor-eportsnmn from en
joying Some outdoor pastime if he feels
thus Inclined.
"Undershaw'’ is very much of to-day
like its host. It cannot boast of anything
historical ns it was built but two years
ago. The exterior is that of the modem
villa so |>opular in Surrey. All of the dec
orations are in light tints'. The drawing
room and chambers are also furnished In
light designs, and with the numerous win
dows It may very property be called n
sunny home. The front door opens Into
a square hall largo enough lo accommo
date a sofa and numerous chairs. A gen
erous fireplace as to size suggests to the
attractiveness of tills part of the home
during the long cold evenings of winter
and as a gathering place for the family
ami friends. o|>enlng Into it are the bil
liard room, drawing room, library and din
ing room. Probably the good wife select
ed for the author tho location of the libra
ry, which la one of the pleasantest In the
house. From it he can look away down
tho valley with Its ever vary ing hues upon
a picture which nothing enters to mar Its
peaceful beauty. Near nt hand he can nee
his own grounds partly level and partly
hillside, the latter covered with gorse and
heather ami alive with rabbits. The long
writing tabie of oak, upholstered In leath
er, contains the necessary room for writ
ing materials, also for a l>ox of tobacco
and an assortment of pipes as well ns a
dictionary and one or two other reference
hooks. Each of the two cases against the
wall holds perha|>s a hundred liooks of
poetry, history, travel, biography and Ac
tion, including several of his own works,
also an elaborate edition of Scott. Rut
the selection Is very miscellaneous and Is
principally for family reading.
Perhaps the most notable feature, of
Dr. Doyle's library Is a bust of Sherlock
Holmes, the detective whose marvelous
performances as depicted by the author,
have been tho wonder of the English read
ing world. It has been questioned wheth
er Holmes was a true personage or wheth
er he was a myth conjured up to play
his part In the novelist's several dramas,
such as "The Sign of tho Four," etc. It
was well known that Holmes’ friend, "Dr.
Watson,” was none other than the author,
but the Identity of Holmes himself was
questioned. The writer can positively
stale that he did exist, although the name
of Holmes was naturally fictitious. The
man, whose right name was Dr. Bel don,
was a Scotchman residing In Edinburgh.
Ills study of human nature led him to
play the part of detective, and he met
with success In hunting down several not
ed criminals who had eluded the profes
sional detective force of tho kingdom. Dr.
Doyle chanced to mako his acquaintance,
and an intimacy sprang up between the
two men, which resulted In the produc
tion of tile "detective stories" which have
iieen so Interesting because the reader was
forced by the narration lo believe that
they were true. The famous character
was a man of medium hlglit, and, though
delicate In appearance, very wiry and
muscular. Ho was what Americans would
call a "dead" shot with a revolver, and
the knowledge of his skill among the crim
inal classes undoubtedly saved his life on
several occasions when tracing out the
perpetrators of crimes.
Throughout the homo the evidences of
woman’s presence are numerous—ln tho
dainty rosettes and other ornaments on
the furniture, In the tasteful arrangement
of the draisTles In the apartments, In the
touches here and there to convert the
commonplace Into the ornamental—all In
dications of woman's pride In her house.
And the mistress of Undershaw Is truly
what one imagines after seeing her handi
work. She Is decidedly petite In con
trast to her big athletic husband, and he"
delicate appearance Is an Indication of her
health. For years she has suffered from
weak lungs. The climate of the greater
part of Britain Is not helpful to pulmo
nary troubles, and the doctor has taken
his wife to various places on the conti
nent recommended by specialists. The
Houth of France has been as beneficial
as elsewhere, but has not entirely reliev
ed her. Through friends the author heard
of the Haslcmere valley with Its combina
tion of sea and mountain air with the re
sult that 14s wife has found at last a
place which affords her permanent roitef,
while ll Is especially suited to tbs taste
and mode of life. Her Illness has not In
any way affected the spirits of the lady
In question who has the rare faculty of
making those who cross Its threshold feel
that at least fc" the time they are a part
oX the household. There are no trulls
Peace and Good Will To
Our Friends and Patrons.
Christmas
MAY BE MERRY FOR ALL
This has been our 35th Holiday season in Savannah. Its
success has eclipsed all our former efforts. We have reason
to thank our friends —the kind people of Savannah
for their confidence, encouragement and patronage.
The Time Honored Prestige
So well earned by the firm of Gustave Eckstein & Cos. for
the 34 years past will be maintained. The high standard
of merchandise will be continued. The prices will
always be correct, and fair methods make this
A Better Store Than Ever.
ATTENTION!
This Week We Will Slaughter the
Remainder of Our Holiday Stuck.
We will Also Sacrifice All Our
Winter Goods, Regardless of Cost.
Now is the Chance lor Bargains.
Get Your Jackets, Capes, Skirts, Suits,
Furs, Waists at Your Own Price.
Silks and Oress Goods Must Go.
We Mean What We Say.
Mail Orders Arc Solicited. Prompt Attention
Given. Prices the Same as if Here in Person.
GUSTAVE ECKSTEIN & CO.
which prominently distinguish Mr*. Doyl.i
from other women In heir rank of life. She
Is naturally proud of her husband an I ua
Interested In his work ns though she her
self were performing It. She has been
his companion both at homo and on Ids
travels except when ho visited tho Stab 8
In 1890. The lectures ho de
livered at that time she was
obliged to road nt a distance, as the
physician* deemed It unwise for her lo
cross tho Atlantic <m account of her
health. While the cares of the home and
the entertainment of the numerous visit
ors occupy much of her time, she ha*
some leisure In which to employ herself
in fancy work. Like her husband, she la
very fond of music, especially light com
positions, suoh as selection* from Gilbert
and Sullivan and the popular concert hall
song*. In addition to the plnno-forte, a
graphoptione also entertains tho family,
and such melodies as Way Down Upon the
Suwnnee River and Sousa'* marches are
among tho airs which are received with
greatest applause—so much for the An
glo-American feeling at Undershaw.
One of tho author’s most faithful friends
and an Important personage at his Inane
is Row. He only exhibits his appreciation
of what Is done for him by showing his
tofeth or wagging his tall, but, visitors pre
fer tho latter, as Row Is a bulldog of high
degree. Ho Is as ugly as any similar mem
ber of the canine race wiio ever wore a
blue ribbon, and one of the largest spe
cies In Great Britain. Ho is of a very
affectionate disposition, and la a great
(jet with the children.
Dr. Doyle’s workshop la always ready
with an abundance of paper, pens and
pencils, while tho box of smoking mixtures
always contains a good supply for tho fa
vorite stumpy black pipe. How many
thrilling descriptions have been written
with that pipe clenched between the au
thor’s teeth, will probably never be known,
but Its apijearanoe Indicates that It has
done yeoman service.
Considering his experience, It Is not
strange that the doctor has secured mate
rial for such a variety of fiction—lf It can
ho colled Action—which he has prepared.
It scarcely seems credible that the sumo
hand which detailed the career of an ad
venturer of tho Richelieu regime could
with equal faithfulness portray the lives
of the miserly London merchant and his
villainous son—ln the Firm of Girdlestone,
hut he has visited tho most historic sec
tions of France and no detail of scene
which would assist In forming the plot
of o story has escaped his notice. Ho
Is as familiar with the Ins and outs of the
world’s greatest city as though a life-long
resident, and has traversed about every
part of England offering matter for hla
line of work. The time spent as a medi
cal practitioner at Southsea and elsewhere
gave him an additional fluid to draw from
which the great majority of writers have
never possessed. He can detail the work
In hospitals slid use casualties and crimes
that came under his observation to
strengthen his descriptions. Every one
at all fumlllar with the routine of a sur
geon can appreciate the opportunities he
has had to observe life from a point of
view hidden to the layman. This has
been the good fortune of Dr. Doyle, but
he has abandoned the use of the scalpel
nnd phial, except as emergencies require
his skill In hi* own household and Intends
to devote himself entirely to literary work.
He has practically followed this plan for
several year*.
Just what we may next expect from the
library In Hank-mere valley cannot be
answered In this article, as on that point
the author's lips nre waled. The success
of his play, "Halves," In London theaters
may decide him to soon complete another,
or he may produce anew creation In Ac
tion. D. A. Willey,
—From tho End Man.—" Why Is Agtil
naldo like a man who live* by hi* wits?"
“I dunno."
"He carries hla capital with him.’’—Chi
cago Time*-He raid.
THAT WB SELL
—ARB— \ -
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piled. Quickly dried.”
F. W. DEVOE & CO.
TUBE PAINTS
10, U AND a CENTS.
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TEXAS SEED OATS;
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Hay, Grain, Bran, Cow
Feed, Chicken Feed, &c.
T. J. DAVIS, '
phone 221. No. US Bay atraal. vMt
ORANGES.
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RAISINS, NUTS, CANDY, *
VEGETABLES, COCOANUTS,
PEANUTS. ETC. ,
HAY, GRAIN, FLOUR.
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IF YOU WANT GOOD MATERIAL
and work, order your lithographed and
printed stationery and blank book* froog
Morning News, savannah, Gw.
11