The _competency_ of the witness thus appearing, the foreman
proceeded:

"Now, Mr. Sniffle, do you, under the solemn sanction of an oath,
undertake to say that my son Josiah was _engaged_ in that game?"

"I dun know as I adzackly understand the meanin' of bein' engaged in
the game; but I seed Josiah a-dealin' the papes, when his time come
to fling a card he flung it, and uv'ry now and then, _he rech
out and drug in the chicerokum._ I dun know as I adzackly understand
'bout bein' engaged in the game, but if _that_ were bein' engaged,
then Josiah were _engaged!"_

JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE

Seldom have more significant words been uttered than those of John
Randolph of Roanoke, when told that a certain man had been denouncing
him. "Denouncing me," replied Randolph, with astonishment, "that is
strange, _I never did him a favor."_

The voice of but one John Randolph of Roanoke has mingled in the
contentions of the Great Hall. That was no cause for regret, as
for a lifetime he was the dread of political foes and friends alike.

A colleague from "the valley" probably remembered him well to
the last. That colleague, recently elected to fill a vacancy caused
by the death of a member of long service, signalized his entrance into
the House by an unprovoked attack upon Mr. Randolph. The latter, from
his seat near by, listened with apparent unconcern to the fierce
personal assault. To the surprise of all, no immediate reply
was made to the speech, and the new member flattered himself, no
doubt, that the "grim sage" was for once completely unhorsed.

A few days later, however, Randolph, while discussing a bill of
local importance, casually remarked: "This bill, Mr. Speaker, lost
its ablest advocate in the death of my lamented colleague, _whose seat
is still vacant!"_

HORACE GREELEY

It will be remembered that the will of Stephen Girard of Philadelphia,
after a splendid bequest for the establishment of the great University
which bears his name, provided that no minister of the Gospel should
ever be permitted to enter the grounds of the institution.

It so happened upon a time, that Horace Greeley, wearing white hat
and cravat, and with his ministerial cast of countenance well in
evidence, sauntered up to the gate of the Girard institution and
was about to enter. He was instantly stopped by the keeper, who
bluntly told him that he could not enter.

"What the hell is the reason I can't?" demanded Greeley.

"Oh!