The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-16

MY CASUAL ACQUAINTANCES.

few years ago, it was hot in Piccadilly.
Must one dress?" l asked in pathetic
tones.
OF course" replied Tibbit. "You are
IN London, my dear Stumps You will
excuse my leaving you now, but have
important letters to write before dinner
Remember, half past seven to the fraction
OF second; till then, fare you we'll"
Important letters knew meant adjourn
ment to his chambers in the Albany, the
removal of his coat and necl1cloth, glass
of sherry and bitters, a cigarette, and a
sound nap till it was time to adOrn himself
for the event of his day; and | thought
that he might have kept company for once
with poor provincial, who had but his
hotel To go to when he was weary of stroll
ing about the streets. But still dinner
at the Apician is doubtless a very great
treat, and felt ashamed of my ungratefnl
repinings.
Ah, here was one of the blisS-hOuses of
my youth, still open, and showing by
large announcements that it continued to
cater for sight-seerS. Ny heart was forty
two, and did not beat on approaching the
Egyptian Hall - violently as it had done
thirty years before, but i. gave a decided
though slight wobble; so fresh do hearts
keep in the country. Any entertainment
would be more amusing than sitting alone
III the hotel smoking room reperusing the
newspapers. What the Victoria Cross
Gallery? Why, that was one of the things
| had wished 10 see directly heard of il.
An old schOolfellow had shot six Russians
with his own revolver at the affair of the
Ovens in the Crimea, and another had
spittcd several mutineerS in India with a
regulation sword: a wonderful feat to the
mind of a fcnccr, who finds one of those
weapons clumsy enough in his hand after
the foil. turned in, paid my shilling. and
assembled the well-rcmembered stairs, hOp-
inc that the room would not be crowded
that hot afternoon. The selfish wish was
graiificd; the only living being in the
place was an official seated behind a green
baIZc table at the entrance, who wanted
me to buy catalogue, and write nv name
IN large book spread open before him
for the purpose. To the first request |
gladly acccded, but not to the second. The
name of StumpS is not beautiful in itself
and could not fiatter myself that it would
awaken any particular enthusiasm in the
mind OF a subsequent visitor who might
read it; unless, indeed, he was Il mono
maniac about cricket. So left the half
filed page unenriched by my autograph,
ment OF a real treat The room was cool.
there were seats at intervals. and the pic
lures were just whct / enjoy; full of
action, and representing stirring scenes.
\ man named StunpS cannot be expected
to appreciate high art +; or at any rate
don't. | own with shame that like Music
with tune, and Painting with a story;
that / am a being without culture, in
short, fit t. make all Mr. Nv A-ds
nerves jar horribly if l came within five
yards of him. Now, with the exception
of few French works, like the Gorge
du Malakof" and the ''Prise du Mala-
koff," all the battle-pictures bad hitherto
seen were disappointing representations
of smoke and impossible horses, with
broken gun carriage and a few dead sol
diers in the foreground. But there was a
vivid, thrilling episode in each of the
paintings which now engrosscd my atten-
ton, and to study them seemed as good as
reading Napier.
I was reused from rapt admiration of a
couple of midshipmen in the ditch of for
titled place at midnight, one Of whom was
quietly lighting portfire with his cigar, by
the sound of voices and the rustling of
dresses, and turning round | saw five new
Corners clustered round the visitors book
They had no objections to signing their
names. Paterfamilias, who was round
and stout and pleasant-featured as the ideal
middle-aged gentleman in Panch, said
. Eh, what ?" and scratched his signature
with the rapidity of man who was con-
s.antly performing that operation His
wife, pOrtly lady with an imposing nose
and proud demeanor, took longer about it,
evidently reading the names which pre-
ceded her own. Her two pretty daughters
the relationship was written on their
ftces-signed next and then a young man
in flOwer-shOw apparel, with silky hair
parted in the middle, took the pen, whis-
pering something to the youngest girl
who simpered. I'd have taken slight odds
he uttered an allusion to a ceremony
which is performed in vcstries.
OF course, | was not staring, but took
this little by play in out of the corners of
my eyes, which were still apparently riY-
eted upon the midshipmen who were en-
caged in patriotic arson. Why only APP
parently? Because the proper study for
mankind is man because, though Art is
very fine, Nature sometimes beats it; and
because, even at fOrty-twO, if one lives in
the country, pretty girl is still pleasing
object.
/ soon discovered a fact, however, which
modesty and experience alike prevented
my calculating upon; ttey were noticing
me. remember story, told, | think, in
this journal, of a man who tiattered
himself that he was stalking a lion, and
hearing a rustic in the bushes behind him,
found that the lion was stalking him. |
sympathized with that sportsman. There
could be no doubt about it. Madam was
the first to gaze on me, as though she
thought she knew me, whenever she fan
cied herself unperceived; then she nudged
her husband, and whispered in his ear,
whcreupon he too inspected me, as if had
formed part of the exhibition then a
mysterious communication was conveyed
to the girls, and they examined me i'm q
quiet sort of way, shyly but perccptibly.
The young man, too, gave a glance in my
direction. but evidently did not think
much of me,-his attention being en-
crossed by the Younger looking of the two
sisters, though, indeed, neither OF them
appeared more than twenty. An incident
soon occurred which | am almost ashamed
to mention, lest it should appear to be in
sinuated that it was not entirely accidental
as of course it must have been. Tho
whole party, making their tour of inspec
ton, passed behind me in single file, Ma
terfamllias bringing up the rear; anu Jus'
as she passed me, she dropped the pencil
with which she was marking her cata
logue, without perceiving the loss unit
she was two pictures off, when she sud
denly called to her eldest daughter: " o
do look here, love here is dear Sir Henry
Slasher, whom you danced with the othc
night, cutting horrid natives head OFF
I must put "A cross against that. Dear me
what has become of my pencil?"
picked up the little golden toy, studded
with turquoises, which lay at my feet, ano
presented it to her. Her gratitude wa
amazing. She set particular value upo,
the article; would not have lost it 70
worlds; was so much obliged to me. PEI
haps you are aware how fascinating th
E1anners of proud matron with Roma
nose are when she condescends TO max
herself agreeable / was quite charmed
an1 beinp very sOciable i'm diSDOSitiOi