A Sportsman 203 



The advance of the Japanese in intelligence and 

 comprehensiveness does not exhibit any weakness, 

 and will have an important effect on the Celestial 

 Empire, which, however slow in progress, will inevi- 

 tably advance. It is impossible to estimate correctly 

 the results of the Eastern war, which may be of far 

 more worldly importance than now estimated, and 

 may ultimately change the conditions of some Euro- 

 pean nations, and possibly affect our own. 



Upon Prof. Simonin's return to Europe he pub- 

 lished a series of letters upon Colorado, which had 

 extensive circulation in the Revue des Deux Mondes. 

 One incident by him mentioned reminds me of a din- 

 ner given us in Denver before his departure, com- 

 posed of a dozen or fifteen, in which I appeared in 

 his account, incorrectly, as an affluent miner, who dis- 

 tributed gold nuggets for dessert. This was a mistake, 

 the facts being that I, having purchased half a saucer 

 full of moderate-sized gold nuggets for a few hundred 

 dollars, exhibited them at the termination of the repast, 

 while we were conversing over our cigars. Occupied 

 in conversation, I did not observe the stupid waiter 

 had taken the saucer around the table, with an intima- 

 tion for self -helping, and before I discovered this feat- 

 ure, the circuit of the table had about been made, and 

 each diner had taken a selection and were making ap- 

 preciative comments. It was too late to make a cor- 

 rection without an awkwardness, and so I let it pass. I 

 did, however, feel like poking the ribs of a fat man 

 opposite, who, instead of taking a small nugget as the 

 others did, appropriated a full ounce specimen worth 

 at least twenty dollars, with the remark that he should 

 give it to his wife as a souvenir. This was very 



