Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-23
How Henry ward BeeChcr Lost his
Boots at the American.

The following is in Henry Ward Beecher's
best vein:
The difference between and is not very
great; only single unit And yet that diff
ference has power over a mans whole temper,
convenience and dignity. Thus, at Buffalo,
my boots were set out at night to be blacked.
In the morning no boots were there, though
all the neighboring rooms had been served.
| rang. | rang twice. "A pretty hotel
nearly eight o'clock, going out at nine, break
fast to be eaten, and no boots yet" The
waiter came, and he took my somewhat en-
phatic order and left. Every minute was an
hour. 1t always is when man is out of tenn
per. A man in his stocking feet, in the third
story of hotel, finds himself restricted in To-
comotion. went to the door, looked up and
down the hall, saw frowsy chambermaids; saw,
afar off, the master of the coal scuttle; saw
gentlemen walking in bright boots, uncon-
scious of the privileges which they enjoyed,
but did not see any one coming with my boots.
A German servant at length came, round and
ruddy-faced, very kind and good natured,
honest and stupid. He informed me that
gentleman had already taken boots No. 7s,
(my number) He would hunt him up;
thought he was breakfasting Here was new
my number and gone for my boots? Some
body had them on warm and nice, and was
enjoying his coffee, while | walked up and
down, with less and less patience, who had
none too much at first. No servant returned.
| rang again, and sent energetic and staccato
messages tc the office. Some water had been
spilled on the floor. Istepped in it, of course.
In winter, cold water feels as if it burned
you. Unpacked my valise for new stockings.
Time was speeding. 1t was quarter past
eight; train at nine, no boots and no break
fast. | slipped on pair of scandal-rubbers,
too large by inches for my naked feet, and
shuflled along the hall, they played up and
down ou my naked feet. First, one shot off; /;
that secured, the other dropped on the stairs
people that met looked as if they thought
that was not well over last nights spree.
1t was very annoying. Reached the office
and expressed my mind. First, the clerk
rang the bell three times furiously, then ran
forth himself, met the German boots, who had
boots 20 in his hand, narrow and long, think
Ing, perhaps, could wear them. Who knows
but 20 had my boots? Some curiosity was
beginning 10 be felt among the bystanders.
Ii was likely that should have half the hotel
inquiring after my boots. | abhor a scene
Retreated TO my room. On my way, thought
/, | would look at room Us boots. Behold
they were mine. There was the broken pull
straps; the patch on the right side and the
very shape of my toe-infallible signsl The
fellow had marked them Il and not 7s. And
all this hours tumult arose from just the diff
ference between and s.
lost my boots lost the train, lost my tenn
per, and, of course lost my good manners.
Everybody does that loses temper. But boots
on, breakfast served, cup of coffee brought
peace and good will. The whole matter took
a ludcrous aspect. / moralzed upon that in
trinity that put a mans peace at the mercy
of a Dutchman's chalk. Had he written 7S,
| had been a good-natured man, looking at
Niagara Falls in its winter dress. He wrote
~, and fumed, saw only my own falls, and
spent the day in Buffalo
Are not most of the pets and rubs of life
as undignifed as this? Few men could afford,
tomorrow, TO review the things that vexed
them yesterday. We boast of being free, yet
every man permits tue most arrant trihes to
rule and ride him. a man that is vexed and
angry, turns the worst part of himself out of
sight. and exhibits himself in buifoons coat,
and fools cap, and walks forth to be jeered [!
And yet ones temper does worse by him than
that. And men submit TO IL, not once. but
often, and sometimes every day wonder
whether these sage reflections will make me
patient and quiet the next time my boots are
displacedg