Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-02
DECEIVED.
THE INCUMBENT OF BAGsHoT.
[Concluded.l


In the coffee-room, where we sat talk
ing for half an hour, expressed my sur
prise at the Vicar entering public bill
lard ROOM rts.
"You do not know me, he said. :"
am like Paley; am never afraid of hum
bugs. like to see the devils schemes
that may counteractt them. We Church
ofEngland men know too little of tn,
world; that is why the Belials and As
modes of cities cheat and fool us so Otter
and outrageously. | make point wheI
/ visit the metropolis Of going to sucl
places. Another night you might have
met me at the Cremorne, or at thu
equally dangerous Alhambra. 1t is my
duty, sir, and, however unpleasant, ! g
everywhere to see sin and folly in theil
hood-tide. You will at least admit tina
my experience of rascality has been use
full to you tonight.
81 owe you thousand thanks" | re
piled. II had heard of billiard shapers
but had never met any before.
Il think I'll wish you a good night
now" he said "as | am accustomed tc
early country hours, and begin to fee
what children call the sandman busy
with my eyes. Tomorrow, then, at 7:l5
we meet. Good night
So wished the Vicar good night, and
we parted. / was out nearly all day
making calls and transacting business.
| got back to the hotel about halfpast
six, ordered down my luggage, and asked
if the Rev. Mr.. Atkins was gone. The
porter said he was on the platform wait.
ing for me. He had just paid his bill
and taken his luggage forward.
took my ticket, but did not see him.
got my luggage labeled for Exeter; still
he did not appear; but when the guard
opened the door of first-class carriage
for nae, / found plaid and some books
on the opposite seat.
There's a gentleman, sir, q clergy
man, taken that seat He's been look
ing for friend / suppose that's you,
sir. If he don't look sharp he'll miss
the train.
The guard had already come for his
tickets. The sharp cry Take your
seatl" had just gone forth when the Vicar
came running up and said, Open this
door, guard The guard opened the
door, and the Vicar took his place, laugh
ing, opposite me. hardly knew him at
first, for he wore a large dark overcoat,
and had on travelling cap drawn over
his eyes and flaps over his ears. de
had a roll of papers and two magazines
in his hand.
"How hate this fuss and furry he
said, as he folded his plaid over his legs
how hate this destruction of individ-
ualityl When was young, the coach
journey was deliberate, quiet affair
the traveller was recognized individu-
alityl The coachman and guard knew
you, and chatted the ostler chatted; the
inside and outside knew you, and chat
ted. There was interest in every VII
lage; the people came out to see you
pass: the inn dinner was amusing. Now
you are a mere parcel sent by train.
The pointsman, the signalman, are mere
machines, not cared for by you, and not
caring for you. Whiz, rattle, battle
scream, hissl away you are flashed, and
the only thing to break the journey is
the name of station so pronounced as
to be unintelligible.
| laughed, and limited at the annoy
ances, delay and dangers of the old sys-
tem-the overladen coaches, the exor-
bitant landlords, the endless fees.
We'll, he said, perhaps in future
age of balloons or eleetric-spark ex-
presses people will talk of the delight of
railway travelling. The past is always
praised in order to spite the present
Then we fell to reading. We had
scarcely begun before-whirrl = the
darkness of a tunnel fell upon us.
1T is always so, said my amusing
companion. 81 never began TO read in
a railwayin my life that we did not pass
through tunnel.
NV travelling companion was an extra
ordinary person. He had been every
where and seen everything. No capital
of Europe but he knew intimately.
"You seem surprised at my having
travelled so much, but when was at Ok
ford spent all my long vacations in
travelling; and during the time | was in
the army, before serious convictions in
duced ne to enter the church, l saw
something Of the colonies.
The Wears S information seemed bound
less. He discussed the geology of De
and the mineralogy Of Corn
wall. He had views on military tactics
and artillery. BE was interested in en-
and chemisssT. and seemed
quite conversant with all the latest dis,
coveries in thelatter science
y went the other day" he said to me,
as Il began to grow dark, to a lecture
II. Il
his belief in great discoveries shortly to
be made in something that would super
cede coal and steam, in erial navigation
and in transmutaiion Of metals. But !
tire your
Not at all
A" He expressed his own and Liebigs
belief that shc manufacture of diamonds
and gold would soon be possible by the
merest tyro. He showed us small rubies
that had been produced by chemical
action. There seemed no bound TO the
discoveries this thoughtful man did not