"Billiard and pool tables continue to be a favorite pastime with the young man around town, but ivory balls are no longer available on account of the scarcity of elephants which makes the use of ivory as billiard balls prohibitive. A very good substitute, however, has been found to take the place of the ivory ball. "I notice that the Oregonian came out a few days ago and asked the question as to who were the three greatest presidents and who do you think the preponderance of opinion fell to? I'll tell you. Washington, of course, was the first, always first in war, etc. Then Lincoln was second and Grover Cleveland was third. I tell you this will greatly interest your people. "I forgot to tell you that we had a heavenly visitor recently. No, it was not the reincarnation of any of the Apostles, but just another visit from Halley's comet. It occurred about 1985 and was a very brilliant affair. Some of the oldest inhabitants remembered hearing their grandparents telling of the appearance of a comet along about 1910 and files of the Oregonian of that year were produced showing photographs of Halley's comet as it appeared in that year and a prophecy that it would come again in 75 years. There being well-founded proofs of its previous harmless appearance, the comet did not disturb the people and its visit was enjoyed and all were sorry that they would in all probability never see it again as its next scheduled time is A. D. 2060." CHAPTER IX. +Strange Occurrences.+ "_Henceforth my heart shall sigh no more, For olden times and holier shore, God's love and blessing then and there, Are now and here and everywhere._" "I must tell you of several most wonderful occurrences which have taken place since 1913," continued the old lady looking at some papers which she held in her hand. "It was deemed necessary, about the year 1951 to increase the water supply for the City of Portland and it was ascertained that the conditions at Mount Hood forbade looking to that place for a greater supply and it was decided to utilize the, as yet, great and untouched abundance of water offered by Mount St. Helens, and three years later the pipe line was completed, and water from beautiful St. Helens was turned into the new and immense reservoirs constructed for the ever increasing population. "It was fortunate for the city that this new supply was projected and consummated just at this time for it was but a year later that Mt. Hood, which had been 'groaning' for some time began to belch forth from its intestines a mass of smoke and lava which bared the mountain of snow and caused much consternation among our people. The volcano continued active for several weeks, at intervals, finally entirely subsiding and it has been on its good behavior now for 25 years. Repairs were made to the pipe line and Portland, today, is getting a portion of its water supply from Mt. Hood as of yore.