account of a worthy French
Archbishop who declared that railways were an evidence of the divine
displeasure against innkeepers, inasmuch that they would be punished for
supplying meat on fast days by seeing travellers carried by them past
their doors.

CLAIM FOR GOODWILL FOR COW KILLED ON THE RAILWAY.

A farmer living near the New York Central lost a cow by a collision with
a train on the line; anxious for compensation he waited upon the manager
and after stating his case, the manager said, "I understand she was thin
and sick." "Makes no difference," replied the farmer. "She was a cow,
and I want pay for her." "How much?" asked the manager. "Two hundred
dollars!" replied the farmer. "Now look here," said the manager, "how
much did the cow weigh?" "About four hundred, I suppose," said the
farmer. "And we will say that beef is worth ten cents a pound on the
hoof." "It's worth a heap more than that on the cow-catcher!" replied
the indignant farmer. "But we'll call it that, what then? That makes
forty dollars, shall I give you a cheque for forty dollars?" "I tell you
I want two hundred dollars," persisted the farmer. "But how do you make
the difference? I'm willing to pay full value, forty dollars. How do
you make one hundred and sixty dollars?" "Well, sir," replied the
farmer, waxing wroth, "I want this railroad to understand that I'm going
to have something special for the goodwill of that cow!"

THE INSURANCE AGENT.

An agent of an accident insurance company entered a smoking car on a
western railroad train a few days ago, and, approaching an exceedingly
gruff old man, asked him if he did not want to take out a policy. He was
told to get out with his policy, and passed on. A few minutes afterwards
an accident occurred to the train, causing a fearful shaking to the cars.
The old man jumped up, and seizing a hook at the side of the car to
steady himself, called out, "Where is that insurance man?" The question
caused a roar of laughter among the passengers, who for the time forgot
their dangers.

--_Harper's Weekly_, May 8th, 1880.

TOUTING FOR BUSINESS AND FRAUDS.

Sir Edward Watkin observed at the half-yearly meeting of the South
Eastern Railway Company, January, 1881:--"The result of this compensating
law under which the slightest neglect makes the company liable, and the
only thing to be considered is the amount of damages--the effe