RANDOM READINGS.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 331, 17 July 1914, Page 7

RANDOM READINGS.

A TRAIN SEVEN YEARS' LATBJJ

On the authority of an American correspondent, the “Railway Magazino” records the story of a train which reached its destination more than| seven years behind time on a part of the Gulf and Interstate Railway, now included in the Atchison Topeka, and Santa Fo system. The train started from Beaumont, Texas, bound for. Port Bolivar, at 11.30 a.m. on September Bth, 1900. The distance is sev-enty-one miles, and the train was duo in Port Bolivar at 1.55 p.m.. It maintained its) schedule for the first thirtythree miles to High Island. There it was surrounded by waters from the Gulf of Mexico, which had crept more, than thirty-eight miles inland, and flooded the railway.

When the waters subsided the train was high and dry on the prairie, the only rails left being those on which it stood. For miles up and down the lino not a vestige of track remained. After hours of terror the passengers made their escape through the mud. The engine and four, cars were abandoned, and remained a landmark. Eventually the affairs of the Gulf and Inter-state revived. The road was rebuilt, and at last the rails from either end were connected with those under the long overdue train. At first it was proposed to tow the weatherbeaten equipment to its original destination. The machinists looked over the rusty locomotive, and pronounced her fit to complete her journey. They fired her up, and .amid the cheers of everyone she moved off, creaking and “rheumatic” in her joints, but still serviceable. The news was telegraphed to Port Bolivar, and when the train, more than seven years late, arrived, half a dozen of fho original passengers' assembled to greet it, and the fact that it had actually reached its destination was telegraphed all over the country.

ANECDOTES OF A MAD KING,

In “My Past,” by Countess Marie Larisch, there arc some curious stories of fho mad King Ludwig of Bavaria:

King Ludwig 11. of Bavaria would allow no servants to wait on him at dinner, and when lie pressed a spring bis round table sank through a hole in the floor; tho next course was then set, and the table assendod into thej dining-room again. Plenty of champagne in ice pails was placed near tho King, and if the table did not return quickly enough ho flung some bottles through the hole, as an emphatic reminder to the servants below that ho objected to be kept waiting.

The King had a wonderful winter garden at Munich, which' was built on the roof of Iho l’csideuz. There was also an artificial lake with a painted panoramic background of the Himalaya mountains, and when the King sat in the gardens a “property” moon shed its gaseous light over the snow-capped peaks. Queen Mario’s bedroom was immediately. under the winter garden, and one night the Queen, wha was laid up with a heavy cold, was terrified out of her wits when she discovered that the lake was leaking through the ceiling, and that a steady downpour was falling on her bed. The unfortunate lady did not quite know what to do, as she had been strictly enjoined by her doctors to keep in one temperature; she hastily summoned her attentants, however, and they brought a largo umbrella, under which sho took shelter until the leakage was repaired.

The King used often to command artistes from the theatre to perform in the winter gardens, and I remember the fate which befel Josephina Schefaky, a large, tall woman, whose one wish in life war. to attract Ludwig’s notice. As all the singers sang hidden behind screens. Jes-'phina’s chances of meeting the King face to face were exceedingly small; but what woman is ever at a loss far an expedient? Sho knew how chivalrously romantic Ludwig could bo on occasions, so she decided sho would fall into lhe lake,; and entreat him to rescue her.

The eventful evening arrived, Josephine warbled lior sweetest for the benefit of the listening monarch, and when tlie song was over plunged heavily into the lake.

There was a tremendous noise, and the water splashed to the topmost summit of the “Himalayas,” but the lady remained chin-dean in the lake, whose still waters were not so deep as they looked. “Save me, save me, Lohengrin!’..’ cried the agitated singer.

The King rang the bell. “Get that woman out of the lake and send her home,” lie commanded, and the chapping Josephine, sadder and wiser, walked out of the water and out of tlio Resident for over.

If you convince yourself that you are doomed to a life ..of drudgery, misery, and want, what or v, no can help you? Determine never to do this.

There arc two ways of treating gossip about other people, and they’re both good ways. Or.c is not to listen to it, and the other is not to repeat it.

Slight withal may be the things which bring ■! ack on the heart the weight which it would fling aside for ever.—Byron.

Hypocrisy always defeats its own end; it adds one evil to another.