Newspaper Page Text
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THE FLOWERS COLLECTION
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VOLUME XLII—NUMBER THIRTY-NINE.
Atlanta, Ga., Week Ending November 26, 1904.
50c PER YEAR—SINGLE COPY 5c.
None to Dispute tHe ^Sovereignty of Nicholas I,
of No Name Key, Florida
By
•••0-»-0-.-0—-0-»-m*‘0—-0-»-i
R. L. McCLURE.
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n r/tirr. for Bfte Sunns' South
RIZZLEP ant: grim, the
king of No Name key, sat
on the steps of Nicholas
palace, saluting with his
shotgun. Out in the chan
nel, 011 glittering white in
the tropic Florida sun, a
little shapely yacht wr.s
poking her nose inshore to
ward the limpid waters of
the harbor, with colors fly
ing from the head of tiny
masts and the Stars and
Stripes trailing astern. The
witnessing the annual advent
t friend he lias in the world.
Answering shots rang out from the. deck
of the yacht, the anchor splashed through
those wonderfully transparent waters to
rest in the white coral mud beside soroo
venerable loggerhead sponge; a. white
dingy was soon cutting the waters with
her sharp little keel; the king pulled off
a ragged pair of shoes, rolled a tattered
pair of trousers knee high, exhibiting a
pair of brown and sinewy legs, dashed
into the water and pulled the boat up to
the single plank which served as a wharf
and extended as royal greeting: "1 am
so glad, so glad. I thought you no come,
no come at all.”
The strangest, the most unique, the
most eccentric, the most widely known
and most generally feared man in ail the
Florida keys is Nicholas Matcovleh, of
*3 Name key. No Name key lies in the
Nicholas Matcovich, King of the No Name Key.
very midst of the fishing and sponging
grounds, being some 4 or 5 miles distant
from Bahia Honda rock that marks the
entrance of the channel of the name.
Not a sponge Iwjat of all the fleet that
sails out of Ivey West to cruise in Bahia
Honda: not a fisherman that anchors off
the rock: not a wandering little schooner
that sneaks around among the keys pick
ing up drift timber, hut knows of Nich
olas and his rules, and not a man of
them would dare go ashore at Nicholas’
landing without the old man's permission;
and there is not <i man from Caesars
Creek to Key West, hut knows tlie con
ditions under which he may approach.
Over (5 l'eet high is the ruling monanch
of No Name, and lie weighs furry l/o
pounds in spite of his seventy-two years.
Active and wiry as a oat. with large,
aquiline nose, small, snappy brown eyes,
broad brown and cheeks, and short, griz
zled heard, his face is full of a rude
strength and power which indicates that
he might have done wonders had lie had
opportunity for “larnin” in his youth.
EMPLOYED BY GOVERNMENT.
ITe speaks very poor English, reads it
with extreme difficulty and writes it not
at all, yet for the past 7 or 8 years the
agricultural bureau at Washington has
been sending him tropical plants for ex
periment. and his knowledge of fruit
trees is almost phenomenal. He has 160
acres of the best soil on the keys, which
is peculiar from certain clays found in
it, which is nowhere else to be seen on
these green mangrove grown islands.
Here he hap some 5.000 fruit trees. On
this land he has nearly fifty varieties of
fruit trees, ami twenty of grape vines.
Among the fruits represented are figs,
five varieties, of guavas, two varieties of
egg fruit, five varieties of sapadllloes,
five varieties of lemons, two varieties
of limes, thro-.- V ban a pas. three of man
groves, two of walnuts, the avagator
pear, two of oranges, cocoanut, cushat
nut. Jamaica apple, sugar apple, dates,
two varieties of mulberry, the peach, the
star apple and other fruits.
Nicholas, as he is known by everyone,
lives entirely alone. Elevated on piles
some 5 feet high, his little one-room?;!
shack stands on the shore, braced from
either Ride with long timbers to steady
It In the wind. The room Is some 12x15
feet in size and is covered by a palmetto
roof. The house is the work of Nicho
las’ own hands. Inside is his bed, cov
ered by a canvass canopy as an addi
tional precaution when the rains trickles
through the roof, a few chairs, a table.
The Home of Nicholas.
and a few kitchen utensils scatcred about
on tho uoor. Just two books, a Bible
and “Law Without a Lawyer.” Work
ing tools arc left here and there, several
guns and ride are held in thongs on the
walls and a deer skin or two hanging from
a rafter indicate that Nicholas is some
thing of a hunter. A little charcoal grill
shows how ho prepares his daily meals.
Outside on the ground are. the rusty
shattered wrecks of two cook stoves. It
?, h.•!•». thi ,f he -.loos his u'oro pretentious
cooking, which is equivalent to saying
boiling up a big kettle of crawfish for
him-elf and his mongrel deer dog and
baking the weekly bread which he turns
out in large heavy monnd-shaped lumps.
Nicholas has been on No Name Key
since 1868. He was born in New Or
leans of Slavonian parents, hut was
taken to his parents' former home when
but five or six years old. "My father's
mama was Eli Matcovich,” said the oid
man, “and lived in Dalmatia. He came
to this country to buy farms and I was
born here. He take me back to Dalma
tia when I was leetle hoy. He own big
property there and make three hoonorecl
barrels sweet oSl and six ho on.! red bar
rel wine every year, hut h« marry rich
woman, .much money and he want to put
me work in fields. I say. ‘Father, I no go.
Father, you see me now, you nevah sea
me with your eyes any imore.' tie say,
bigv oice, ‘Boy. jv>u no go rar.' I say,
‘You see. you see.’ And he never see me
since that day. Then I sail on merenant
vessel all countries but Herman, never
on German vessol. 1 was drf the oi'g
storm on Black'sea In the fifties. Hoon-
dreHs .ships Ins' pj-iw eleven days.
Three days I stay at wheel by myself
and we only ship saved, l was strong
then, young and strong. I steer passen
ger vessel once, running from Diverpool
to Canada, carry 750 passengers. I was
at wheel by myself, other man iirnnK.
too much -bottle. Captain say. big voice.
‘What your name?' because I just shipped
with him. I say, 'Nicholas.' 'Where tne
other man?’ he say in -rough voice, 'i
want no other man,’ I say. She pull
and pull, bint I keep my eye on compass
and get her on her course and just tee:
her as khe go aliens The captain he
walk .up and dowrt half hour and every
tinfe he passed he looked at that .com
pass, but it held her in her course, men
Robbing the Bees.
■he s.i3'. ‘I been with t.h!s boat twenty
years, and one man never steer her yet.’
After he said that I hold on if my hands
break and after whenever it come my
watch at the wheel I sent my other man
below and The captain he no say nothing.
During war I run blockade by Morris
island to -Charleston. From Charleston
we cruise out to Havana and then back.
Big line war ships. As long as we keep
between them all right, Uqt when wa
got outside. Chen the i>ds w.'rtstiv. Att®.’
war I come- to No Name. I burn coal,
1 plant cocoa nuts on Big Pino, 5 cent
apiece. .1 do anything make a living. Ten
years ago t start my truit trees.''
METHODLESS METHOD.
Nicholas’ orchard is planted in appar
ent confusion. There are no straight
linos of trees, but each tree is put down
where the rocks in the soil have dirt
enough between them to give the tree
a start and everything Is apparently in
endless chaos. The ground has not yet
been cleared, and Nicholas I, of No
Name Key, is just started, at the ago
of 72, to do work at clearing, which will
CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE.
Love Among* tHe Blackboards ^
Zoha Sunny South’s Series of Short
Stories by Prominent Authors
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N the east side school, a
year or two ago, there
was n First Reader class
watched over and ruled
by a female teacher, who
was in turn watched over
and ruled by a cabinet of
three. These powers be
hind the throne were Mor
ris Mogllewtiky, monitor
of the goldfish bowl; Na
than Spiderwltz. monitor
of window boxes, and Pat
rick Brennan, leader of
Tie line, in years they were very young,
but in the world craft they were very
old. for the green fields of their Child
hood were the swarming streets, and
their fairy tales the corner gossip of the
district. Chief In their queer assortment
of memories was that of a kindergarten
teacher of' transcendant charm, who had
married and faded from their horizon.
No heiress to broad acres could be more
carefully chaperoned by a bevy of maid
en aunts than was teacher by ilcrris,
Nathan and Patrick.
Morris was the first to discover definite
gfounds for uneasiness. He met this
rharished 37!ss Bailey walking across
Grand street on a rainj- morning, and
the umbrella which was protecting her
beloved head was being held by a tall
stranger In a long and baggy coat. Af
ter circling incredulously about this as
tounding tableau. Morris dashed off to
report, to his colleagues. He found Pat
rick and Nalhan in the midst of’an ex
citing game of craps, but his pattering
feet warned Them of danger, so that
pocketed their dice and turned to hear
his news.
“Say," Jie panted; "j seen teacher mlt
a man."
"No!" said Patrick aghast.
“It’s a lie,” said Morris, with a sob
half of breathlessness and half of sor
row; “I seen Tier for sure. Und the man
carries umbrellas over her mlt loving
lcoks.”
“Ah. g’wan,” drawled Patrick; “you’re
crazy. You don’t know what jou’ro
talking about.”
“Sure do I,” cried Morris. “I had once
a auntie what was loving mlt a awful
stylish salesman—he's now floor walker
—und I seen how they makes.”
"Well," said Patrick. “I had a sister
Mary, and she married Die milkman, so
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T 'know foo. But umbrellas doesn't
mean much."
“But the loving looks," Alorrls insisted.
“My auntie makes such looks on tne
salesman—lie's now floor walker—und
sooner she marriis mlt him.”
“Say. Patrick.” suggested Nathan;
“I'll toTT you what to do. You ask her
If she’s going to get married.”
"Naw." said Patrick. “Let Morris ask
her She'd tel: him before she’d tell any
of us. She's been soft on hhn ever since
Christmas. Say. Morris, do you hear?
You've got to ask teacher if she's going
to get married.”
“O-o-oh! I dnssent. It ain't polite
how you says," cried Morris in his shock
ed little voice. “It ain't polite you asks
like that. It's fierce.”
“Well, you've got to do it, anyway,”
raid Patrick, darkly, “and you've got to
do It soon, and you've got to let us hear
you."
'It's fierce,” protested Morris, but h-
was overruled by the dominant spirit of
Patrick Brennan, that grandson of the
kings of Munster and son of the police-
mar. on the beat.
Morris' opportunity found him on the
very next morning. Isadore WiShnewsky.
the gentlest of gentle children, came to
school wearing his accustomed air of mel
ancholy shot across with a tender pride.
His subdued “Good morning” was ac
companied with much strenuous exer
tion. directed apparently to the removal
and exhibition of a portion of his spine.
After much wriggling he paused long
enough to say:
“Teacher, what do you think? I’m got
a present for you,” and then recom
menced his search In laonther layer of
:hls many flannels. HJs efforts being
at length crowned with success, he drew
forth and spread before Teacher’s admir
ing- eyes a Japanese paper napkin.
“My sister,” he explained. “She gets it
on a wcddlnge.”
"Oh. Isadore," cried the fluttered teach
er, “It’s very pretty, lsnt It?"
“Teochor—ylss, maam,” gurgled Isa
dore. “Its stylish. You could to look
on how stands birds on It and flowers.
(Mine sister she gives It to me, und I
gives ft to you. I don't n@fd it. She
gives me all times something the while
she'g got such a fonid over me. She goes
all times on weddinges. Most all her
youngs lady friends gettin' married; ain’l
It funny?”
At the fateful word “married,” the un
easy cabinet closed In about teacher.
Their three pair of eyes clung to her face
as Isadore repeated:
"All gettin’ married. Ain’t it funny?”
“Well, no. dear,” answered teacher
musingly. “You know nearly all young
ladies do it.”
Patrick took a pin from teacher's desk
and kneeled to tie his shoe string. When
be rose the point of the pin projected
half mi inch ’beyond the frayed toe of
his shoe, and he was armed. Morris was
most evidently losing courage—he was
indeed trying to steal away when Pal-
rick pressed close beside him and held
him to his post.
“Teacher,” said Isadore suddenly, at a
dreadful thought struck him, "be you a
•lady or he you a girl?"
And teacher, being of Hibernian ances
try, answered one question with another;
“Which do you think, Isadore?"
“Well,” Isadore aaiswered," I don't
know be you ia forsune lady or be you a
forsure girl. You wears your hair so
tucked upon und your dress so long down
like you was -a lady, but you laffs und
tells us stories like you was a girl. I don't
know.”
Clearly this was Morris’ openins. Pat
rick pierced his soul with a glance of
scorn and simultaneously buried the pin
in his quaking leg. Thus encouraged,
Morris rushed blindly into the conversa
tion with:
’’Say, teacher, Alias Bailey, be you go-ln’
to get married?” and then dropped limply
against her shoulder.
•“Well, p;nhaps so, Morris. Perhaps I
shall, some day."
’Teacher, no, ma'am. Miss Bailey!”
walled the Monitor ot' the Goldfish; "don’t
you go and get married mit nobody. So
you do you couldn't be Teacher by us
no more, und you're a awful nice teacher
by little boys. You ain't too big. Und
say, we'd feel terrible bad the while you
goes and gets married mil somebody-
terrible bad.”
“Should you really now?” asked Teach
er. greatly pleased. “Well, dear, I too
should bs 'onely without you.”
Some days later Teacher arranged to
go to a reception, and as she did not care
to return to her home between work and
play she appeared at school in rather
festive array. Room 18 was delighted
with Us transformed ruler, but to the
board of monitors this glory of raiment
brought nothing hut misery. Every twist
In the neat coiffure, every fold of the
pretty dress, every rustle of the in
visible silk, every click of the high heels,
meant the coming abdication of Teacher
and the disbanding of lier cabinet. Just
so had Patrick’s sister Alary looked on
the day she wed the milkman. Just such
had been the outward aspect of Morris’
auntie on the day of her union to the
promising young salesman who was now
a floorwalker and Morris’ Uncle lkej\
Momentarily they expected some word
of farewell—perhaps even an ice cream
party—hut Teacher made no sign. They
decided that she was reserving her last
words for their private ear and were
greatly disconcerted to find themselves
turned out with the common herd at 3
o’clock. With heavy hearts they fol
lowed the example of Mary’s little lamb
an waited patiently about till Teacher
did appear. When she came she was
more wonderful than ever, in a long and
billowy boa and a wide and billowy hat.
She had seemed In a breathless hurry
while up In room 18. but now she stood
quite placidly In a group of lier small
adherents on the highest of the school
house steps. And the cabinet, waiting
gloomily apart, only muttered "I told
ye so.” and “It must be a awful kind
feeling.” when the tall stranger came
swinging upon the scene. One of his
hands was held stiffly in the pocket of
the baggy coat, the other carried g*n-es
and a cane. AVhen Teacher’s eyes fell
upon him she began to force her way
through her clinging court, and when
he was half way up the steps she was
half way down. As they met he drew
from his pocket the hand and the violets
it held and Teacher was still adjusting
the flower* in her Jacket when she
passed, with flushed cheeks and shining
eye?, within touch but without knowledge
of her lurking staff.
"I didn’t expect you at all," she was
saying. “You know it was not a really
definite arrangement, and men hate re
ceptions.”
The gloom obscuring Patrick's spirit on
that evening was of so deep a dye that
Airs. Brennan diagnosed it as the first
stage of "a consumption.” She admin
istered simple remedies Rnd warm baths
with perseverance, but without effect. But
more potent to cure than bath or bottle
was the sight of Teacher on the nex«
morning in her accustomed clothes and
place.
The board of monitors had hardly recov
ered from this panic when another alarm
ing symptom appeared. Miss Bailey be
gan to watch for letters and large en
velopes began to reward her watchful
ness. Daily was Patrick sent to the pow
ers that were to demand a letter, and
daily lie carried one, and a sorely heavy
heat, back to his sovereign. In exactly
the same sweetly insistent way had he
been sene many a time and oft to seek
tidings of the laggard milkman. His
colleagues, when he laid these facts be
fore them, were of the opinion that things
looked very dark for Teacher. Said Na
than:
“You know liow she says we should be
monitors on her wedding? Well, it could
be lies. She marries maybe already.”
Patrick promptly knocked the Monitor
of Window Boxes down upon the rough
asphalt of the yard and kicked him.
“Miss Bailey’s no sneak.’’ he cried, hot
ly. “If she was married slic'd just a£
lief go and tell.”
“Well,” Morris began. “I had once a
auntie—“
“Your auntie makes me sick." snapped
Patrick. But Alorrls went on quite un
disturbedly:
“I once had a auntie tin' she had awful
kind feelings over a stylish floorwalker,
and he Was loving mit her. So-o-oh!
They marries! Un’ they don’t say noth
ings to nobody. On'y the stylish floor
walker he writes on my auntie whole
bunches of loving latter^.”
“She ain't married,” Patrick reiterated.
"She ain't.”
"Well, she will be.” muttered Nathan,
vindictively. "Und the. new teacher will
lick you the while you fights. It's fierce
how you make me biles on my bones.
Think shame.”
When the ruffled Monitor of the Win
dow Boxes had been soothed by the
peaceful Guardian of the Goldfish the
cabinet held council. Nathan suggested
that it might be possible to bribe the in
terloper. They would give him t'neir com
bined wealth and urge him to turn his
eyes upon Miss Blake, whose room was
across the hall. She was very big. and
would do exceedingly well ik>r him. where
as she was entirely too long and too
broad for them.
Morris maintained that Teach*r might
be held by gratitude. A list should be
made out, and each, in turn, a child a
day. should give her a present.
Patrk'k listened to these ideas in deep
and restive disgust. He urged instant
and copious bloodshed. His brother's
gang could “let daylight into the dude”
with enjoyment and dispatch. They
would watch him ceaslessly and they
would track him down.
The watching was an easy matter, for
Teacher, in common with the majority of
rulers, lived muc-ii in the public eye. The
stranger was often detected prowling in
her vicin'tv. He even beggeo to bring her
to school in the morning, and on these
occasions there wire always violets in
her coat. He used to appear at luncheon
time and vanish with her. Ho used to
come in the afternoon and have *—; ip
Room 18 with two other teachers and
with Teacher. The antagonism of the
Monitor of Goldfish became so marked
that Alisa Bailey was forced to remon
strate.
“Morris, dear,” she began one after
noon when they were alone together, "you
wore very rude to Dr. Ingraham yester
day. I can't allow you to stay here
with me if you’re going to behave so
badly. You sulked horribly, and you
.Slammed the door against Ills foot. Of
Course, It was an accident. but how
would you feel, Alorris, if you had hurt
Dr. Ingraham?”
“Glad,” said the Monitor of the Gold
fish savagely. "Glad.”
“Morris! TVhat do you mean by saying
such a thing? I am ashamed of you.
"Why should you want to hurt a friend of
mine?”
“Don’t you be friends mit Mm!” cried
Morris, deserting his fish and throwing
himself upon his teacher. “Don't you do
It. Teacher Missis Bailey. He ain't no
friends for a lady.” And then. In answer
to Teacher's stare of blank surprise, he
went on:
“Aly mamma she seen him by your
side und she says—I got to tell you In
whisperings how she says.”
Teacher moekly bent her head, and
Alorrls whispered in an awe-struck
voice:
“Aly mamma says sfhe like that: ‘H®
could be a Khrtst.’ ” and then drew back
(*i study Teacher's consternation. But
she seemed quite calm. Pernaps she
had already- faced the devastating fact,
for she said:
"Yes. I know he’s a Christian. I'm
not afraid of them. Are you?”
’"J eaoher. no. ma’am, Allsses Bailey. T
ain't got no scare over Kris'hts, o’ny they
CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE.