Fiddling For A Howling Mob

1896

Once Cherubini had to figure as a fiddler in spite of himself.

In the stormy days of 1792 it was a perilous experiment to walk the streets of Paris. During an occasion of more than ordinary excitement the composer fell into the hands of a band of sans-culottes who were roving about seeking musicians to conduct their chants. To them it was a special gratification to compel the talent that had formerly delighted royalty to minister now to their gratification.

On Cherubini firmly refusing to lead them, a low murmur was heard from the crowd, and the fatal word, "Royalist! Royalist!" went up. At this critical moment one of Cherubini's friends — also a kidnapped musician — seeing his imminent danger, thrust a violin into his unwilling hands and bade him head the mob. The whole day these two musicians accompanied the hoarse and overpowering yells of the revolutionary horde, and when at last a halt was made in a public square, where a banquet was served, Cherubini and his friend had to mount empty barrels and play until the feasting was over.


Used Many Quill Pens

In 1768, 27,000,000 quills were shipped from Russia and Poland to England, to say nothing of those which were sent to other countries.


The Penalty of Bachelorhood

In Corea every unmarried man is considered a boy, though he should live to be a hundred years old. No matter what his age, he ranks below the youngest of the unmarried men, despite the fact, perhaps, of having lived long enough to be his father.

It takes a bad man to be a good politician.

Gypsy Is Identified by Alleged Victim

1920

Blacksmith Says Woman "Blessed" Away His Bank Roll.

LINCOLN, Neb. — William Dunagan, of Roca, a little village near Lincoln, has identified a young gypsy mother as the woman who "blessed away" $248 of his bank roll in Roca last fall.

Mr. Dunagan is a blacksmith and alleges that the gypsy woman was one of a party riding in eight automobiles that stopped in Roca to have one of the machines repaired.

After he had repaired the car, he says, the woman "blessed him" and took all of the money he had on his person.


20-Cent Tax for Bachelors

Ohio Town Wants Single Men to Pay Sum Monthly

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio. — Unmarried men who pay no municipal taxes may be taxed at a rate of about 20 cents a month. A measure including that provision was reported favorably by the city council and is being considered by the mayor's advisory board. It was estimated such a tax would net the city $192,000 annually.