ODD STORIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12868, 17 May 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

ODD STORIES

IHF DL'Klv AXI) THE MILLIONAIRE. Ax American millionaire gave, the head waiter at. one of the hotels in Ifomburg 100 marks to place him next, to an English duke at dinner. Next day he found himself at the other end of the table. '"Didn't 1 give you," he remonstrated, "a hundred marks to sit me as near as possible to the duke?" "Yes, sir," replied the waiter; "but the duke gave me 200- marks to, put you as far away as possible"!" AX IRISH BULL. -Irish bulls will happen," declared Representative MoXarv, of Massachusetts, to the Xcw York World's Washington, man. "I had a friend, an old Irish contractor, who made a fortune and wanted his portrait painted. lie went to the artifit and the terms were satisfactory. •■' '"Now, have you any special pose you want'.'' tusked the artist. . 'r: • •••Oi have thot,' answered the prospeclive sitter. 'Oi want mese'.f #puinied shtatidin' behind a tree.' " A MOTOR STORY. The latest "Englishman" story that ha.? "one the round of Paris is fathered by Gabriel, the racing motorist. Gabriel always drives at top speed, and if hl> l '" I)VCV ;! nunuerv the complaisant French '-bobby would promptly look the other way. One clav, ho savs. lie took a young Englishman out for a trial ride, and after .so much slow timing at home in England the novice naturally and enthusiastically enjoyed the pace' "Will vou come out for another run to-morrow?" Gabriel iked before they parted. " Well, really," said the youth with hesitation, "thanks, i would with pleasure, but I am going to be married to-morrow. Oh! hang it all, 111 pill that off and come." " SPOILING A STORY. \ lady newlr arrived hi Washington was at. a dinner a*few nights ago ami amazed evetvoodv'bv telling the brand and vintage of a'rare* wine without seeing the bottle. . "How can vou do it?" she was asked. "Oh," she replied, "J was born in Xew Oilcans, vou know, and was raised there When 1 was a slip of a girl my father used to take me down into his great wine cellar under the. house" and show me all about wines down in those gloomy caves." After the dinner the hostess said to her husband: "Wasn't it interesting to bear Mrs. So-and-So tell about her father's wine cellars?" "Great!" repeated the brutal husband. "Absolutely great! It was simply fine. Vou know*, there isn't a cellar in Xew Orleans."—Xcw York Wot Id. ART OF GROWING S'OUXiiFR. An actress who was- recently interviewed Oil the secret of her rose-leaf complexion and perpetual youth declared that the bloom of her skin was owing to her daily practice of walking tiwav from the vitiated air and getting the pure fresh air of the country. . livery woman who grows pale and faded long before she ought to. .said this same actress, was her pallotir to the fact that she does not know how to exercise. She goe.y about her own unaired house without drawing in one deep splendid breath. Let her draw frequent big" breaths with the windows open, and she will feel lelieshed and cheered. '~

Xo matter how cold and how disagreeable the weather, "walk, walk, walk" in the fresh air every day. Cultivate a serene, temper and yon will be astonished to find that both your health and your complexion have improved so great lv that yon have made yourself, in reality, a new and younger-looking woman. Those who say that domestic duties pievent them fiom undertaking an hour's walk every day,should at least, live with their windows as wide- open as possible. Hut even the busiest housekeeper can find time for a 10-miniiies' walk out. of doors every day, anil she will soon find herself renewed in mind and body even 'by this shot I exercise. '■ .

.A STORY OF THE .IRON" DUKE. iin a tenant occasion during Wellington's ■campaign in the Pyrenees, that " Great- Captain" being displeased with the dispositions General Pielon had made for receiving the assault- of Marshal Souk, whe menaced him. in from? ordered the plan to he entirely changed. Bui the difficulty was to delay the attack of the French until the change could he effected. This the ••iron Duke" accomplished in person, in the following manner: Doffing his cocked hat and waving ii in the air. he rode furiously to the head of a- regiment, as if about to order a charge. Thereupon rose a tremendous cheer from the men, which was taken up by corps after corps, until it icverberated along the whole extent of Pictoit's line. .As the roar died away, Wellington was heard to remark, musingly, as if addressing himself: "Soult i- a skilful but cautious commander, ami will not attack in force until he has ascertained the meaning of the.se cheers. This will give lime for the sixth division to come up. and .we shall beat him." 'it turned out as he anticipated. Snult, naturally enough, supposed that these tremendous shout.; announced the arrival of large reinforcements, and did not attack until too laic. Had he struck at the light moment be Mould have, won an easy victory : as it warf, he met with a. repulse. This was strategy—not the strategy of genius, engendered and executed in the same moment. ELLEN TERRY AND THE REPORTER, A good story is told of Miss Ellen Terry upon her bust professional appearance in Milwaukee. Savs I tie- Saturday Evening lVl:- ' She was visited at her hotel upon the morning of her arrival by a, little newspaper woman, not long in the service, of the press, and very much in awe of Miss Terty and of the importance of her mission. The actress sent down a- message,, in response to her visitor's cord, that she was leaving in a few moments to pay a visit, and that she would have a moment fire on lev way to the carriage. Rut. she was delayed,' and when she came through the room where the newspaper- woman was waiting. Miss Terry was already late for her appointment. " L haven't a second," she said to the young woman, •but. if you care to drive with me to the house of'my friend. I Mill talk with you on the way." ■ . In gratitude and delight 'the young woman followed Miss Terry to the coupe and the actress talked rapidly and to the point all the way to her destination. "Now," she said as .she left the carriage, "1 shall be but a moment. Don't yon wantto wait- for me'.'" It is needless to say that the young woman waited, Miss Trm- presently reappeared in si ill more gracious mood." With her hand mi the carriage door she directed the coachman. "And now. please, lor- a long drive!" she said. ' . All the way to a distant park and bark the actress amused her little giu-t with stories of her own life, of cl . vouth, of her early ambition, and then turned winninglv with a dciiand that she be told all about the hopes and work of 'he newspaper woman. And when she reached<J>er hotel she cried: "No I am going to take you to your office, and you must lei me tome in'and see where yot' wotk." So tip to the noisv, inky floor on which the paper was going to flies* went MissTerrv and her guide, through the city-room, where men were calling "Copy!" 'and the eitv editor was storming over the telephone, to the little room fit the end of the hall where, among the books for review, the newspaper woman had her desk. "Now show me. what von wrote yesterday, and show me some books," demanded Miss Terry and sat clown composedly- on a comer rot the deslr". In a few minutes every one knew thai die was-there, and the citv* editor" ami a number of the men hurried"into their coals ami approached the room. Miss Terry, in her long tan coat and blue veil, Mood bowing and smiling among them, and ended bv writing her autograph for every one. It was i, characteristic, incident. significant of, one of the sources of charm with \\\\]s\\ Miss Terry wins every one to her.