The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-11-15

W5tmin0ton, ". Ocs. 1859. tff .s
The COxcomb. Puniahed.
In the year 1903 the peace of Tilsit ter.
minated the conquest Of Napoleon in Ger
many, and gave the people Of those coun-
tries short respite. Prussia, thoroughly
exhausted by the tremendous efforts she
made to carry on the war with France, was
compelled to reduce her army to peace
footing.
Several officers Of that power having OBJ.
tanned an unlimited leave Of absence, met
very often at Hamburg, to enjoy in COM
mon the various pleasures of military idle.
ness.
Ono day in September, six Of them having
dined together, and made more than one
libation to Bacchus, they, at the approach
ofnight, repaired to the Cafe de Ia Bourse,
one of the most noted in the city, and made
their entry in the most noisy manner. The
Baron N, . lieutenant, twenty three
years of age-the youngest Of the joyous
band-rich, handsome, and ofnoble carriage,
but foppish, selfconceited and insolent,
having noticed an individual of small stature,
dressed in black, sitting at table alone,
holding in one hand a newspaper, and in
the other long pipe, who had paid no at
tention to him on their arrival, and, being
offended, no doubt, by the indifference
bordering on contempt, which he exhibited,
approached him with the intention Of aven-
ging the fanciei insult. To that end he
laid his hand in . familiar manner on his
shoulder, swinging himself back and forth,
and said to him, with an ironic smile:
"Ah, coed evening, my little school mas.
ter"
The man in black raised his eyes and
fixed them for two or three seconds or his
iuterlocutor, then looking again on his pa
per continued to read
"God bless me he don't answer. All,
my droll fellow, won't you answer me?
see-that pipe is tho cause. Come, come
l must, however, hear that voice."
In second, with flip ofhis finger, the
pipe flew to pieces, the lieutenant laughing
loudly at the same tune.
Without putting down the paper, or show
ing any symptoms of being affected by the
insult, he turned toward tho counter and
said
"Waiter, another pipe"
"Thats right. He has at last opened his
The pipe was lit and the reading resumed.
"Ah, sol What country are you from
In what village do you exercise your tai.
snts 2"
Here the INTERCEPTED raised again his
eyes and looked at him as he whitfield two
or three mouthfuls Of smoke, and lowering
his eyes slowly he seemed rather willing to
give all his attention to his paper.
~ believe you are some kind Of sauant.
You appear to learn by heart all the news.
SO as to inform all your friends and neigh
bors. But you smoke like Dutch,nan.-
That confounded pipe causes you too much
abstraction"
And, as before, the pipe was again rude
" broken.
Without making any movement, without
showing the least sign of emotion, tha So
styled schoolmaster merely repeated his first
order
waiter, another pipe" ~
"What fine voice. Little man, you have
the patience Of an angel, or the devil. 1
would give much to see you mad it would
amuse us deliciously. There"
An old major, with ane German physi-
ognomy which showed much frankness.
true courage and loyalty, and who came in
with him, now said. in low voice, but loud
enough to be heard by those near him
.You comfort yourselfl like man without
brains. tell you this game begins to tire
me, and the foolish hilarity of our comrades
adds to my impatience, and hardly covers
the murmurs of indignation which your con-
duct hiss provoked in the minds of those
present. Quit, quit, tell you, il is now
time" la
After saying this, he turned his back to
him and retired into an adjacent hall, whith.
ss he was followed by his companions, ~ho,
BY their thoughtless shouts of laughter,
covered his reproaohes. Seated around the
gaming table, they began to play. The
young lieutenant judging BY the noise pro-
duced BY his folly, had forgotten the insult,
played deeply and Was winning largely
But IN hour had hardly elapsed whena man
in black entered the hall (of play), and, ap-
preaching him, tapped him on the shoulder,
demanding . private interview. The young
lieutenant, looking ct him over his shoulder
laughed in his face.
monsieur officer, /" said the man 10 black,
~ am not . schoolpaster, as you were