Sparkling Gems of Race Knowledge Worth Reading Part 15

JIM KEY.

In many respects this is beyond all question the most wonderfully trained horse in the world. He was foaled near Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tenn., May 1, 1888, and was reared and educated by Dr. William Key. Seven years of close attention were given to his education. He is a graduate, and is said to be the finest scholar of the equestrian race, or possibly in the animal kingdom.

He gives all the symptoms of the common diseases to which the horse is heir, prescribes the remedy for same, gets and delivers the medicine, collects the money, makes the correct change (when needed), and puts it in the cash drawer as correctly as any clerk.

He takes a silver dollar out of a full bucket of water without upsetting the bucket or drinking a drop of the water.

He delivers mail correctly, allowing any person to call for it by number.

He can play a number of pieces on an organ as correctly as an Italian.

He knows every piece of money from a one-cent copper coin to a one-hundred-dollar bill, and can change any bill as correctly as the average clerk.

He knows the deck of cards perfectly, and will get any suit or size called for.

Jim is also a mind reader, and after reading the mind of a man, woman, or child he will go to his wheel of fortune, turn it, and get the true character of the person as well as any clairvoyant in the country.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Jim Key, Shelbyville, Tenn.]

Every coin from one cent to one dollar can be laid on a table promiscuously, when any one in the audience may name the coin he wants removed, telling Jim to give it to his owner or place it in the cash drawer, and he will comply with the request promptly and correctly.

Kerchiefs of different colors may be tied on each hind foot, and this intelligent horse will remove the one desired by any one simply by naming the color.

If Dr. Key should say, "Jim, I am going to sell you, provided you are a sound horse," Jim will immediately get so lame that he can hardly move; but on being a.s.sured that he shall not be sold he is miraculously cured of his lameness.

The above are only a few of the wonderful things this horse performs.

Dr. Key, his owner, has his horse now on exhibition at the Tennessee Centennial, and he challenges any or all the hors.e.m.e.n of the world for a wager of $10,000 to show on these grounds his equal, the winner to donate $5,000 to the Centennial Committee.

Seven thousand dollars has been offered for the horse since the exhibition commenced, but was promptly refused. We have learned that $10,000 will buy him.

A SOUL AT AUCTION.

BY REV. JOHN HENRY d.i.c.kERSON, OCALA, FLA.

There is a very good story told of Rowland Hill and Lady Ann Erskine.

You have seen it in print perhaps, but I would like to tell it to you.

While he was preaching in a park in London to a large a.s.semblage, she was pa.s.sing in her carriage. She said to her footman, when she saw Rowland Hill in the midst of the people: "Who is that man?"

"That is Rowland Hill, my lady."

She had heard a good deal of him, and, desiring to see him, directed her coachman to drive near.

When the carriage came near Rowland Hill saw the insignia of n.o.bility, and he asked who that n.o.ble lady was. Upon being told, he said: "Stop, my friends, I have something to sell." The idea of the preacher suddenly becoming an auctioneer made the people wonder, and in the midst of a dead silence he said:

"I have more than a t.i.tle to sell, I have more than the crown of Europe to sell--it is the soul of Lady Ann Erskine. Is there any one here who bids for it? Yes, I hear a bid. Satan, Satan, what will you give?

"'I will give pleasure, honor, riches--yea, I will give the whole world for her soul.'

"Do you hear another bid? Is there another one? Do I hear another bid?

Ah! I thought so; I hear another bid: the Lord Jesus Christ--what will you give for this soul?

"'I will give peace, joy, comfort, that the world knows not of--yea, I will eternal life.'

"Lady Ann Erskine, you have heard the two bidders for your soul; which will you accept?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Rev. John Henry d.i.c.kerson, Ocala, Fla.

Deputy Grand Master of Florida Free and Accepted Masons.]

And she ordered the door of her carriage to be opened, and came weeping and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear reader, will you do the same?