Untitled

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 532, 23 December 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

A story (says the London Chronicle) illustrative of the Spanish-American way of doing things comes from Uruguay. Exactly two years ago when tho anniversary of national independence was being celebrated in Monte Video, a grocer's clerk stepped out from the crowd and shot down Idiarte Borda, the then President. Ever since, tho Uruguayan courts have been eonsidering the assassin's case, and latest advices are to the effect that tho proceedings ended in an acquittal, *on Ihe ground that ho obeyed a patriotic impulse !' A galaxy of Victoriau military talent was pouring into tho Town-hall to take part in the farewell banquet to Major-General Sir Charles Holled-Smith. They were all colonels, majors, and captains. Each and every man was speck dazzling brilliancy in the mes.s dress of his regiment. At the top of tho stairs the band of tho Permanent Artillery played sweet music. In the midst of it all a batterer 1 human ruin found his way to tho ticket-barrier, with the easy confidence of a man whoso mind is fixed upon a purpose. An orderly confronted him with an ominous rattle of warlike irons and a look of awful import. " Sir,' ho demanded, with a scowl of thunder, " your business ? " ' Please,' answered the intruder, ' which is the way to tho penitent-form P'— ' Woomera, ' Australasian. The following amusing anecdote about Lohmann is related by tho Bristol Observer, the writer having heard it from a personal friend of Lohmann. The occasion was a match of some moment, against a score and two of local luminaries in the South of England. Among the All England representatives were Abel and Lohmann, from whom great things were evidently expected by those who had eugaged them for the matoh. A provincial fair was being celebrated on a part of the field where the play was proceeding, and attached to theEo fostivities were tno übiquitous cocoauut shies. Nearly all through the contest the play had gone distinctly in favour of the local team, and when their final batsman was sent in they appeared to have an excellent chance of winning. Presently ono of the batsmen sent a splendid ball clean over to the cocoanut stand, where Lohmann wa swatehing his chance. The artful fielder saw the ball roll in among the cocoanuts, where it was soon lost to sight. Resolved, however, to lose no time, he soized a wmall cocoanut and hurled it over to Abel, who was wioketkeeping. Abel at once got his man out, and, slipping the nut into his pocket, kept his own conusel until Lohmann returned the real article. And to this day the local twenty-two kuow not how the professionals wou that matoh.