MADE A SPIDER HIS EXCUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 212, 5 September 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

MADE A SPIDER HIS EXCUSE.

Governor Dnrbln of Indiana, who has won no little praise for the resolution with whk-L, during the Evansville rijt, be upheld the law, was not bad in his njyhood, but tie was mischievous, ijis friends often tell the story oi how, through uiiso-levousness, he once won a bamboo fishing rod. The principal of the school that he attended was a man of considerab'. severity. T._. boys all hel_ him in great awe. They were, therefore, amazed when young Durbln one day said to them: "Do you dare me to go up to *he principal and say, 'Ilello' and slap him in the back."We certainly do," they replied. "Well, I'll do it," said Durbln. "I'll do it to-day. But what will you give me for letting you see me do it?"* "I'll trive you that there baniDoo fiahin' pole of mine," an illiterate boy said. "All right," Durbiii agreed. 'Watch me when school, begins." The principal sat on an elevated platform. The reckless Durbln, as soon as the session opened, advanced to him, and, sue enough,. gave him a hard whack on the back, and at the same time exclaimed, "He'lc!" The principal turned fiercely. "What is the meaning of this?" he cried. "There, was the biggest spider on your. back 1 ever saw, sir," said the boy. "Oh, was there?" sai_ the molllfled principal. "Thank you, my lad. -nocking- it off. Where is it, though?" "It escaped down that crack," said Dnr-