cause for alarm. He
found the supports of the floor in so bad a condition that the
slightest applause would be likely to bury the audience in the ruins of
the building. Returning rather leisurely to the platform, he whispered
to Choate as he passed, "We shall all be in ---- in five minutes," then
he told the crowd that there was no immediate danger if they would
slowly disperse, although he thought it prudent to adjourn to a place
where there would be no risk whatever. The post of danger, he added,
was on the platform, which was most weakly supported, therefore he and
those with him would be the last to leave. No doubt many lives were
saved by his coolness.

Many distinguished foreign and American statesmen were present at a
fashionable dinner party where wine was freely poured, but Schuyler
Colfax, then vice-president of the United States, declined to drink
from a proffered cup. "Colfax dares not drink," sneered a Senator who
had already taken too much. "You are right," said the Vice-President,
"I dare not."

When Grant was in Houston several years ago, he was given a rousing
reception. Naturally hospitable, and naturally inclined to like a man
of Grant's make-up, the Houstonites determined to go beyond any other
Southern city in the way of a banquet and other manifestations of their
good-will and hospitality. They made great preparations for the
dinner, the committee taking great pains to have the finest wines that
could be procured for the table that night. When the time came to
serve the wine, the head-waiter went first to Grant. Without a word
the general quietly turned down all the glasses at his plate. This
movement was a great surprise to the Texans, but they were equal to the
occasion. Without a single word being spoken, every man along the line
of the long tables turned his glasses down, and there was not a drop of
wine taken that night.

A deep sewer at Noyon, France, had been opened for repairs, and
carelessly left at night without covering or lights to warn people of
danger. Late at night four men stumbled in, and lay some time before
their situation was known in the town. No one dared go to the aid of
the men, then unconscious from breathing noxious gases, except
Catherine Vassen, a servant girl of eighteen. She insisted on being
lowered at once. Fastening a rope around two of the men, she aided in
raising them and restoring them to consciousness. Descending again,
she had just tied a