Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-09-22
Hilbert Charles Stuart, the Man OF all
Trades.

He was travelling in England in stage
coach with some gentlemen who, were
strangers to him, but all were sociable and
lively. The party stopped to dine at an
inn, and after dinner the conversation be-
ing aailraled and various, Stuart became
conspicuous in il, not only for his wit and
humor. hut for his correct judgement rapid
Thought and apt phrases. The curiosity OF
lis companions WAS aroused, and with
Yankee like Inuuisitiveness they desired to
know ,clO and tchdt he was.
Mr.. Stuart with grave face, and ina
| serious tone of voice, replied that he
| sometimes dressed gcntlenian's and ladies
hair
ooh, You are hair dresser then ?" re-
turned one of the company with some
what derogatOry stare.
"What do look like barber" de-
| manded the incognito artist, STORMY.
81 beg your pardon, sir, replied the
subdued cockney. "but inferred it from
what you said. IL mistook you, may /
take the liberty 10 inquire what you are,
| then"
s'Why. sometimes brush a gentleman's s
| coat or hat, aud adjust his cravat."
''Ol you are valet, then, to some no.
bleman?"
1
| Indignation; Indeed, sir, am not. L am
not servant. To he sure, | make coats
and waistcoats for gentlemen.
"Ah you are tailor"
"Tailor DO You take me for a tailor3 I'll
assure you never handled goose other
than roasted ono"
BY this time the joke was beginning to
| be fully appreciated, and the whole compa-
4 Of lnrxrr
"What in the world are you, then Z de-
manded another gentleman, taking up the
Office of interlocutor.
al viii tell you," said Stuart, with great
apparent sincerity: 'be assured all have
told you is strictly true. l dress hair,
brush hats and coats, adjust cravats. and
make coats, waistcoats and brooches, and
| likewise boots and shoes, at your service ?
| sOho | n boot and shoe maker. after
All r. contemptuously returned the ques-
toner.
.'Cuess again, gentlemen" continued
Stuart, good humoredly. 81 never han
,lod boot or shoe but Tor my own feet ,1id
legs; yetall / have told you is true"
''We may rs well give up guessing; 1t Is
of no use"
THE fm-loving painter, checking his
own laughter, which was on the point oi
bursting forth, and stimulating fresh flow
OF spirits by huge pinch of snuff, said,
gravely, rs if bringing the matter to sat.
isfactory conclusion:
Now, gentlemen, / will not play the
fool with you any longer, but will tell you
upon my honor as a gentleman. my bond
fde profession I get my bread by pHkias
fdces.
He then screwed mp his countonanco and
, twisted bis features in n manner the mos
skillful clown might have enyied.
When the loud peal of laughter had sub
sided, the company. with one accord, de
clared that they had all the while suspect
= cd that the gentleman belonged to tn,
thea,ar:" they all '.knew he must be
Z comedian by profession But when Stuar
cooIly informed them that he never WAS OF
the stage. and very rarely inside of play
house, their chagrin and astonishmen
equaled their previous merriment.
Gentlemen" said Stuart to his compan
IONS as he was about To leave them, ''yo'
viii find all have said in regard to my va
rious employments il comprised III thes
few words: / am a portTai. painter. Ii yol
= will call upon mo at York Buildings, Lon
don, shall be ready and willing to brusl
Won coat or hat dress your hair a Ia mode
supply You, il you need, with a wig of an
fashion or dimensions, accommodate yo
with boots or shoes, give you ruffies or cra
watts and make faces for you."
While taking parting glass at the inn
the gentlemen begged leave to inquire {
the artist in what part of England he wa
born. He told them he was not born j
England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales.
"where, thenY' persisted the Englis
YankeeS
Il was born in Narragansett," replie
Stuart.
"And where is that?'
"Six miles from Pottawoone, and te
!, from Poppasquash, and about four mile
: !, west Of ConDonicut, ard not far from th
, spo. where The famous baltic with th
= warlike Pcquots was fought" was the il
! stant reply.
: "In what part Of the East Indies
: that, sir q inquired a pompous English
= | man.
.East Indies, my dear sir! 1t is in I'll
state of Rhode Island, between Massachl
setts and the Connecticut river"
And with this novel lesson in geograph,
:, Gilbert Stuart took leave of his travelin
! companions.