Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/529

 pig in the presence of the buyer and smearing some blood upon his pious forehead. But by a trick known to the salesman, the windpipe is not severed, so he sells the pig over and over. In the same way coconuts are sold whose milk has been dry for years, and rotten fruit and blind animals are bought at bargains—anything is good enough for offerings to the gods!

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OFFICE-SEEKING

Some Missouri Republican, hungry for an office, resorted to rather a novel method of attracting the attention of Governor-elect Hadley. He cut away the sole from an old shoe, carefully removed the pegs, and then, with a lead-pencil, addrest a letter on the worn side of the surface. Unfortunately, his signature could not be deciphered, nor was the address legible.

Curiosity on the part of those who handled this missive may have been in part responsible for its condition when it reached the attorney-general's office. This much could be made out:

"I am a Republican and want a piece of pie. Anything will do me from guard at the penitentiary up as high as you will go. If you can't give me a slice of pie, please save me a bite of the crust.

So long as the spirit of the writer of this unusual epistle is abroad in the land, politics will be degraded and a better state of things retarded.

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Oil on the Waters—See.

Old Age—See.

Old Age and Work—See.

OLD AGE CHEERED

The incident related below by the Rev. Asa Bullard is an example that ought frequently to be imitated:

At the "Old People's Day" in 1881, I was invited to be with Mr. Batt. The house was quite full on the occasion. There were sixty people present who were over sixty years of age, and twenty-five who were eighty years of age or more. A bouquet was presented to each of these twenty-five. They arose, as their names were called, and received the bouquets as they were presented by the hands of children. At the close of the meeting one of those addrest said: "It knocked twenty years right off from my age."—"Incidents in a Busy Life."

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OLD AGE INCURABLE

The following story is told of John Hay:

He had been ailing one time, and a friend made bold to ask what the trouble was. "I am suffering from an incurable disease," answered Mr. Hay bravely.

A sense of delicacy prevented the friend from making further inquiry; but he told the story to many of his associates, nearly all of whom were acquainted with Mr. Hay, and the report soon spread around Washington that a deadly disease held the Secretary of State within its grasp. One intimate acquaintance of Mr. Hay determined to find out the nature of the secretary's ailment, and addrest him one day with the remark: "I have been told that you are suffering from an incurable disease. Is it true?" "It is," said Mr. Hay, in a sad tone. "What is the incurable disease?" then asked the insistent acquaintance. "Old age," exclaimed Mr. Hay, with a chuckle. (Text.)—Milwaukee Free Press.

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OLD, ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE

To feel young and able to take on new duties and perform them satisfactorily at the age of 73 should put heart into every discouraged person who is nearing the seventies. Such a person was the matron of the "rest home" for working girls, Arrity Hale.

When Arrity Hale was seventy-three years old, her husband having died some time before, she began to find it hard work keeping her small house going. She never told any one of this, but neighbors began to suspect it. A well-known New York family had a country-place near the village, and they had always been on friendly terms with Mrs. Hale. One member of this family was connected with the Working Girls' Vacation Society, and she, with some other women, was contemplating the foundation of a home in the neighborhood as a branch of the society.

The woman in question and her friends interested with her in the project, were all alumnæ of Miss Green's school in this city. Miss Green was a famous preceptress a generation or so ago, and she numbered