It is a Spanish tradition that the fate of Columbus once hung on a game of chess, says the New York Ledger. For years the schemer had haunted the Spanish court, trying to interest some one in his cause, but at last, despairing, he determined to leave and go to France. The night before his intended departure he sought an audience of the queen to communicate his intention and to take his leave. the queen asked him to wait while she made one more effort to interest the king, and left the room for that purpose. She found Ferdinand engaged in a game of chess, and, disturbing him b her entrance, and thus causing him to lose a piece, he let fly a volley of oaths at seamen generally and at Columbus in particular and then informed Isabella that the result of her petition would depend on the result of the game. It grew worse, and things looked blue for the discoverer of America, but Isabella, overlooking the board, whispered too his majesty a suggestion as to a move that could be made; the king adopted the suggestion, and America was saved.

It is a queer story, but not stranger than the one told in Rome at the time of the divorce of Henry VIII. was under discussion that the negotiations were broken off by the earl of Wiltshire's dog. This unmannerly cur had followed his master into the court, and when the pontiff, at the close of the audience, put out his foot to be kissed by the earl, the dog bit it and so angered the pope and horrified the court that the negotiations were suspended.

The story may be true or false, but in either case is an excellent demonstration of the value of the trifle, when the trifle occurs in the life of an exalted personage, and gives point to the remark made by Paschal along the same line, that if the nose of Cleopatra had been an inch longer or shorter the course of the world's history might have been materially changed.

Washington, Nov. 8.—The human race is nearly ten centuries older than science had knowledge of before, as a result of the extensive explorations of the ruins of Niffer, near ancient Babylon, as described in a report to the state department by minister Terrell at Constantinople. These explorations are being made at the expense of Philadelphians, and Dr. Peters and Prof. Hilpricht, of the University of Pennsylvania, have supervised the work. Many tons of tables, vases, inscribed brick, sarcophagi and the like have been exhumed, the sensual and revoting worship of the god Bel is more clearly known. His colossal temple, with its 130 rooms, has been exposed, and the religion, government and customs of men who lived 5,000 years before Christ have been revealed by the translated inscriptions. Minister Terrell says that it will require sixty volumes to contain the descriptions of these marvelous discoveries.

It takes a hustler for the newspaper business in this locality just now, but the Bugle is equal to the emergency. We can write a poem, discuss the tariff, umpire a ball game, report a wedding, saw wood, beat a lawyer, describe a fire so that the readers will shed their wraps, make a dollar do the work of ten, shine at a soiree, address a horticultural society, measure calico, abuse the liquor habit, test whisky, subscribe to charity, go without meals, attack the free silver, defend bimetallism, sneer at snobbery, wear diamonds, invent advertisements, overlook scandal, praise babies, delight pumpkin raisers, minister to the afflicted, heal the disgruntled, fight to a finish, set type, mold opinion, sweep the office, praise the widows, run for office, speak at prayer meeting and stand in with everybody and everything.—Tamora (Iowa) Bugle

Sioux Falls, S. D., Oct. 24.—It became known yesterday that an attempt was made last Monday night to wreck the south-bound freight on the Great Northern road, between this city and Garretson. Ties and rocks were so arranged that the engine would run up onto the obstruction ad cause a wreck. It so happened that the train from the south did not leave Garretson until the train from the north had arrived. The engine on this train struck the obstruction, tearing away part of the pilot, but did not derail the engine. The railroad's detective has been working on the case for a week, but failing to find any cue to the would-be wreckers has notified the police, and in this way the story of the attempted wreck became known.

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Cincinnati, Oct. 24.—The residence of Casimir Work, in West Wood, seven miles from this city, burned this morning. Mr. Work, deeming the house fire proof, shut the room up and waited for it to burn out, refusing to admit the firemen. Instead, the whole house was soon burned and nothing was saved. Loss, $50,000; insurance, $8,500. A valuable collection of diamonds was included in the furnishings.

The gambling instinct is strong in most men, but it is seldom that one hears of a man with sufficient nerve to bet a sum of money on his own life. A wager of this kind has just leaked out in which two prominent members of a Walnut street club are concerned. These two men have been close friends for years. One is a doctor and the other a lawyer. A year ago the lawyer, who had previously enjoyed the best of health, began to complain of feeling run down. He consulted his friend, the doctor, who, after a minute and thorough examination, told him frankly that his lungs were affected, the action of the heart was impaired, and that he wouldn't live a year. The lawyer, who is man of indomitable pluck and will power, was naturally stunned for a moment. After the first shock has passed off, his true nature asserted itself. "I’ll bet you $1,000 you are wrong and that I do live over a year!" he exclaimed. He was in deadly earnest. The doctor was positive that his diagnosis was correct, and was forced to accept the bet.

The money was placed in a safe deposit vault, and the lawyer went abroad. In six months he returned. The year was up last week and he won his wager. And what is more, he says he is open for more bets of a similar nature.