Chapter 11

There was a very remarkable incident connected with the killing of one of them. It occurred in the northern spurs of the Bighorn range. Dr. Merrill, in company with an old hunter, had climbed down into a deep, narrow cañon. The bottom was threaded with well-beaten elk trails. While following one of these the two men turned a corner of the cañon and were instantly charged by an old she-grizzly, so close that it was only by good luck that one of the hurried shots disabled her and caused her to tumble over a cut bank where she was easily finished. They found that she had been lying directly across the game trail, on a smooth, well-beaten patch of bare earth, which looked as if it had been dug up, refilled, and trampled down. Looking curiously at this patch they saw a bit of hide only partially covered at one end; digging down they found the body of a well-grown grizzly cub. Its skull had been crushed, and the brains licked out, and there were signs of other injuries. The hunters pondered long over this strange discovery, and hazarded many guesses as to its meaning. At last they decided that probably the cub had been killed, and its brains eaten out, either by some old male grizzly or by a cougar, that the mother had returned and driven away the murderer, and that she had then buried the body and lain above it, waiting to wreak her vengeance on the first passer-by.

Old Tazewell Woody, during his thirty years' life as a hunter in the Rockies and on the great plains, killed very many grizzlies. He always exercised much caution in dealing with them; and, as it happened, he was by some suitable tree in almost every case when he was charged. He would accordingly climb the tree (a practise of which I do not approve, however), and the bear would look up at him and pass on without stopping. Once, when he was hunting in the mountains with a companion, the latter, who was down in a valley, while Woody was on the hillside, shot at a bear. The first thing Woody knew the wounded grizzly, running up-hill, was almost on him from behind. As he turned it seized his rifle in its jaws. He wrenched the rifle round, while the bear still gripped it, and pulled trigger, sending a bullet into its shoulder; whereupon it struck him with its paw, and knocked him over the rocks. By good luck he fell in a snow-bank and was not hurt in the least. Meanwhile the bear went on and they never got it.

Once he had an experience with a bear which showed a very curious mixture of rashness and cowardice. He and a companion were camped in a little teepee or wigwam, with a bright fire in front of it, lighting up the night. There was an inch of snow on the ground. Just after they went to bed a grizzly came close to camp. Their dog rushed out and they could hear it bark round in the darkness for nearly an hour; then the bear drove it off and came right into camp. It went close to the fire, picking up the scraps of meat and bread, pulled a haunch of venison down from a tree, and passed and repassed in front of the teepee, paying no heed whatever to the two men, who crouched in the doorway talking to one another. Once it passed so close that Woody could almost have touched it. Finally his companion fired into it, and off it ran, badly wounded, without any attempt at retaliation. The next morning they followed its tracks in the snow, and finally found it a quarter of a mile away. It was near a pine-tree, and had buried itself under the loose earth, pine-needles, and snow; Woody's companion almost walked over it, and putting his rifle to its ear blew out its brains.

In all his experience Woody had personally seen but four men who were badly mauled by bears. Three of these were merely wounded. One was bitten terribly in the back. Another had an arm partially chewed off. The third was a man named George Dow, and the accident happened to him on the Yellowstone about the year 1878. He was with a pack animal at the time, leading it on a trail through a wood. Seeing a big she-bear with cubs he yelled at her; whereat she ran away, but only to cache her cubs, and in a minute, having hidden them, came racing back at him. His pack animal being slow, he started to climb a tree; but before he could get far enough up she caught him, almost biting a piece out of the calf of his leg, pulled him down, bit and cuffed him two or three times, and then went on her way.

The only time Woody ever saw a man killed by a bear was once when he had given a touch of variety to his life by shipping on a New Bedford whaler which had touched at one of the Puget Sound ports. The whaler went up to a part of Alaska where bears were very plentiful and bold. One day a couple of boats' crews landed; and the men, who were armed only with an occasional harpoon or lance, scattered over the beach, one of them, a Frenchman, wading into the water after shell-fish. Suddenly a bear emerged from some bushes and charged among the astonished sailors, who scattered in every direction; but the bear, said Woody, "just had it in for that Frenchman," and went straight at him. Shrieking with terror he retreated up to his neck in the water; but the bear plunged in after him, caught him, and disemboweled him. One of the Yankee mates then fired a bomb lance into the bear's hips, and the savage beast hobbled off into the dense cover of the low scrub, where the enraged sailor-folk were unable to get at it.

The truth is that while the grizzly generally avoids a battle if possible, and often acts with great cowardice, it is never safe to take liberties with him; he usually fights desperately and dies hard when wounded and cornered, and exceptional individuals take the aggressive on small provocation.

BALZAC'S VIEWS OF WOMEN.

Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) has been pronounced by many eminent critics the most truly great of all the writers of fiction that France has produced. This judgment has been questioned at times by admirers of Hugo and Dumas, but on one point all students of French literature agree--that as an analyst of human character Honoré de Balzac never has had a peer.

As might have been expected of such a profound student of human nature, Balzac on various occasions attempted to analyze the character of woman. Many millions of men had essayed this task before Balzac's time and had failed, as millions of other men have been failing ever since. Philosophers have been the first to despair, for they contend that no woman ever thoroughly understands herself or any other member of her sex--in short, that she is to be understood only by the angels. But it is generally believed that Balzac came nearer the truth in his estimate of woman than any other novelist has done. Naturally his views were conflicting. THE SCRAP BOOK herewith presents some of them.

When a woman pronounces the name of a man but twice a day, there may be some doubt as to the nature of her sentiment--but three times!

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In courting women, many dry wood for a fire that will not burn for them.

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No man has yet discovered the means of successfully giving friendly advice to women--not even to his own.

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A man who can love deeply is never utterly contemptible.

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Women are constantly the dupes, or else the victims, of their extreme sensitiveness.

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A man must be a fool who does not succeed in making a woman believe that which flatters her.

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A woman when she has passed forty becomes an illegible scrawl; only an old woman is capable of divining old women.

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A woman full of faith in the one she loves is but a novelist's fancy.

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The mistakes of a woman result almost always from her faith in the good and her confidence in the truth.

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Woman is a charming creature, who changes her heart as easily as her gloves.

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The man who can govern a woman can govern a nation.

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In the elevated order of ideas, the life of man is glory; the life of woman is love.

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Marriage has its unknown great men as war has its Napoleons and philosophy its Descartes.

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The Indian axiom "Do not strike even with a flower a woman guilty of a hundred crimes," is my rule of conduct.

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Most women proceed like the flea, by leaps and jumps.

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When women love us, they forgive us everything, even our crimes. When they do not love us, they give us credit for nothing, not even for our virtues.

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Marriage should combat without respite or mercy that monster which devours everything--habit.

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There is one thing admirable in women: they never reason about their blameworthy actions; even in their dissimulation here is an element of sincerity.

THE WORLD'S RICHEST HUNDRED.

Of the Five Score Men and Women Among Whom $6,760,000,000 is Divided Fifty are Citizens of the United States--England is Represented by Thirteen--Oil Yielded the Largest Individual Fortune.

When the average present-day millionaire is bluntly asked to name the value of his earthly possessions he finds it difficult to answer the question correctly. It may be that he is not willing to take the questioner into his confidence. It is doubtful whether he really knows.

If this is true of the millionaire himself, it follows that when others attempt the task of estimating the amount of his wealth, the results must be conflicting. Still, excellent authorities are not lacking on this subject, and the list of the world's richest hundred persons, which is printed herewith, has been compiled from the best.

Rank. Name. Country. How Made. Total Fortune.

1--John D. Rockefeller United States Oil $600,000,000 2--A. Beit South Africa Gold and diamonds 500,000,000 3--J.B. Robinson South Africa Gold 400,000,000 4--Czar Nicholas II Russia Inherited 350,000,000 5--Andrew Carnegie United States Steel 300,000,000 6--W.W. Astor United States Real estate 300,000,000 7--Prince Demidoff Russia Inherited 200,000,000 8--Emperor Franz Josef Austria Inherited 185,000,000 9--J. Pierpont Morgan United States Finance 150,000,000 10--William Rockefeller United States Oil 100,000,000 11--H.H. Rogers United States Oil 100,000,000 12--W.K. Vanderbilt United States Railroads 100,000,000 13--Senator Clark United States Copper 100,000,000 14--John Jacob Astor United States Real estate 100,000,000 15--Duke of Westminster England Real estate 100,000,000 16--Lord Rothschild England Banker 100,000,000 17--Baron E. de Rothschild France Banker 100,000,000 18--King Leopold Belgium Inherited and acquired 100,000,000 19--Grand Duke Vladimir Russia Inherited 100,000,000 20--Russell Sage United States Finance 80,000,000 21--H.C. Frick United States Steel and coke 80,000,000 22--D.O. Mills United States Banker 75,000,000 23--Marshall Field, Jr. United States Inherited 75,000,000 24--Henry M. Flagler United States Oil 60,000,000 25--James J. Hill United States Railroads 60,000,000 26--Archduke Frederick Austria Inherited 60,000,000 27--The Sultan Turkey Inherited 50,000,000 28--Prince Lichtenstein Austria Inherited 50,000,000 29--Baron Bleichroder Germany Banker 50,000,000 30--M. Heine France Banker 50,000,000 31--Lord Iveagh Ireland Brewer 50,000,000 32--Señora Cousino Chili Inherited 50,000,000 33--Sir Jervin Clark Australia Sheep 50,000,000 34--John D. Archbold United States Oil 50,000,000 35--Oliver Payne United States Oil 50,000,000 36--J.B. Haggin United States Gold 50,000,000 37--Harry Field United States Inherited 50,000,000 38--Duke of Devonshire England Inherited 50,000,000 39--A. Brehr Austria Banker 45,000,000 40--James Henry Smith United States Inherited 40,000,000 41--Henry Phipps United States Steel 40,000,000 42--Alfred G. Vanderbilt United States Railroads 40,000,000 43--H.O. Havemeyer United States Sugar 40,000,000 44--Mrs. Hetty Green United States Finance 40,000,000 45--Thomas F. Ryan United States Finance 40,000,000 46--Lord Strathcona Canada Finance 40,000,000 47--Miss Bertha Krupp Germany Steel 40,000,000 48--Grand Duke Michael Russia Inherited 40,000,000 49--Mrs. W. Walker United States Inherited 35,000,000 50--George Gould United States Railroads 35,000,000 51--Prince Henry of Pless Germany Inherited 35,000,000 52--J. Ogden Armour United States Meat 30,000,000 53--E.T. Gerry United States Inherited 30,000,000 54--Robert W. Goelet United States Real estate 30,000,000 55--Don Luis Wizperrazas Mexico Mines 30,000,000 56--Earl of Derby England Inherited 30,000,000 57--Count Henckel Germany Inherited 30,000,000 58--J.H. Flagler United States Finance 30,000,000 59--Claus Spreckels United States Sugar 30,000,000 60--W.F. Havemeyer United States Sugar 30,000,000 61--Bishop Kohn Austria Inherited 30,000,000 62--F. Schwarzenberger Austria Inherited 30,000,000 63--Jacob H. Schiff United States Banker 25,000,000 64--P.A.B. Widener United States Street cars 25,000,000 65--George F. Baker United States Banker 25,000,000 66--Duke of Sutherland Scotland Real estate 25,000,000 67--Duke of Bedford England Real estate 25,000,000 68--Duke of Portland England Real estate 25,000,000 69--Baron A. de Rothschild England Banker 25,000,000 70--Baron L. de Rothschild England Banker 25,000,000 71--Duc d'Arenberg Belgium Inherited 25,000,000 72--Angelo Quintieri Italy Inherited 25,000,000 73--M. Nobel Russia Oil 25,000,000 74--Baron Leitenberger Austria Inherited 25,000,000 75--Prince Yusupoff Russia Inherited 25,000,000 76--Lord Mountstephen Canada Real estate 25,000,000 77--Queen Louise Denmark Inherited 25,000,000 78--Grand Duke of Hesse Germany Inherited 25,000,000 79--Prince Anton Radziwill Germany Inherited 25,000,000 80--August Belmont United States Finance 20,000,000 81--James Stillman United States Banker 20,000,000 82--John W. Gates United States Finance 20,000,000 83--Norman B. Ream United States Finance 20,000,000 84--Joseph Pulitzer United States Journalist 20,000,000 85--James G. Bennett United States Journalist 20,000,000 86--John G. Moore United States Finance 20,000,000 87--D.G. Reid United States Steel 20,000,000 88--Frederick Pabst United States Brewer 20,000,000 89--William D. Sloane United States Inherited 20,000,000 90--William B. Leeds United States Railroads 20,000,000 91--James B. Duke United States Tobacco 20,000,000 92--Anthony N. Brady United States Finance 20,000,000 93--Geo. W. Vanderbilt United States Railroads 20,000,000 94--Fred. W. Vanderbilt United States Railroads 20,000,000 95--Duke of Northumberl'd England Inherited 20,000,000 96--Lord Armstrong England Inherited 20,000,000 97--Lord Brassey England Inherited 20,000,000 98--Sir Thomas Lipton England Grocer 20,000,000 99--Ex-Empress Eugenie France Inherited 20,000,000 100--Queen Wilhelmina Holland Inherited 20,000,000 -------------- Total $6,760,000,000

WIT OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS.

A Garnering of Old Jokes from the Classics Impresses the Reader with the Fact that Modern Wit Isn't as New as It Ought to Be.

We moderns find it hard to improve on the ancients, except in such insignificant conveniences as speed in traveling. Even our humor is in large part no more than the re-tailored mummies of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian humor--which means, of course, that those ancients merely resurrected the jokes of their own dim ancestors. Humor comes before speech.

The Greeks had a pretty wit. And how modern the old Greek jokes do sound!

A truly didactic saying is attributed by Aelian to the Spartan magistrates. "When certain persons from Clazomenæ had come to Sparta and smeared with soot the seats on which the Spartan magistrates sat discharging public duties; on discovering what had been done and by whom, they expressed no indignation, but merely ordered a proclamation to be made, 'Let it be lawful for the people of Clazomenæ to make blackguards of themselves.'"

A number of apothegms, proverbs, or sayings of more or less wit occur in the collected works of Plutarch, although Schneidewin does not hesitate to attribute most of them to some impostor usurping his name. At any rate, they are handily classified, and form a bulky addition to Mr. Paley's translated specimens.

Here is a brief and bright saying which this writer attaches to King Archelaus, when a talkative barber, trimming his beard, asked him, "How shall I cut it?"

"In silence," replied the king.

The anecdote recalls one of Charles II's bragging barbers, who boasted to him he could cut his majesty's throat when he would--a boast for which he was only dismissed; though for a like rash vaunt, according to Peter Cunningham, the barber of Dionysius was crucified.

To return to Plutarch, he tells the following stories, both good in their way, of Philip of Macedon.

In passing sentence on two rogues, he ordered one to leave Macedonia with all possible speed, and the other to try to catch him.

No less astute was his query as to a strong position he wished to occupy, which was reported by the scouts to be almost impregnable.

"Is there not," he asked, "even a pathway to it wide enough for an ass laden with gold?"

Philip, too, according to Plutarch, is entitled to the fatherhood of an adage which retains its ancient fame about "calling a spade a spade."

Another story tells how Philip removed a judge, because he discovered that the man's hair and beard were dyed.

"I could not believe," Plutarch reports the king as saying, "that one who was false in his hair could be honest in his judgments."

Another sample of a witty saying from Plutarch's mint is one attributed to Themistocles, that his son was the strongest man in Greece.

"For," said he, "the Athenians rule the Hellenes, I rule the Athenians, your mother rules me, and you rule your mother."

Yet another is a retort attributed to Iphicrates, the celebrated Athenian general. Harmodius, a young aristocrat who bore a name famous in the early history of Athens, had reproached Iphicrates, who was the son of a cobbler, with his mean birth.

"My nobility," the soldier replied, "begins with me, but yours ends with you."

Another Athenian general, Phocion, was a man who preferred deeds to words. He compared the eloquent speeches of one of his political opponents to cypress-trees.

"They are tall," he said, "but they bear no fruit."

Elsewhere Plutarch tells of a man who plucked the feathers from a nightingale, and, finding it a very small bird, exclaimed:

"You little wretch, you're nothing but voice!"

And again, the repartee of a Laconian to a man of Sparta who twitted him with being unable to stand as long as himself on one leg.

"No," replied the other, "but any goose can."

An anecdote of Strabo gives a vivid picture of the clashing of a harper's performances with the sounding of a bell for opening of the fish-market. All the audience vanished at once save a little deaf man.

The harper expressed himself unutterably flattered at his having resisted the importunity of the bell.

"What!" cried the deaf man, "has the fish-bell rung? Then I'm off, too. Good-by!"

Tournament Scene From "Ivanhoe."

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was the first of the great romantic writers of modern England. As a boy he showed an extraordinary fondness for collecting and learning by heart the legends and old-time ballads which were current in that part of Scotland where he was born. Grown older, he found equal pleasure in studying the records and traditions of early English and Scottish history.

From childhood he had a remarkable gift for story-telling, and would weave together strange and curious bits of antique lore for the delight of his companions. Later, he became for a while the most popular poet in Great Britain by publishing a series of romantic poems, among which "Marmion," "The Lady of the Lake," and "Rokeby" have endured the test of time.

In 1814 Scott turned from poetry to prose and published anonymously the historical novel "Waverley," which took the whole English reading world by storm. This triumph was repeated in the splendid novels which followed in rapid succession. Between 1815 and 1825 twelve of these so-called Waverley novels came from his pen. They were translated into all the languages of Europe and exercised a profound influence upon the whole subsequent history of European fiction.

The Waverley novels may be grouped under two heads--novels of Scottish life, and novels based upon incidents of English history. Of the former, the greatest are "Guy Mannering," "Rob Roy," "The Heart of Midlothian," and "Old Mortality." Of the latter, the most famous are "Kenilworth," "Ivanhoe," and "The Talisman."