Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-02-06

SCORCHING A SCOTCHMAN.
.CaUny" CnmbclI and his Confidence
Game.

.Cauny" Cnmbcl and his Confidence
Game.
A century ago, Scotehmen were the
"merchaut princess Of Richmond, Vir-
GINA. The race is Of hospitable fame, and
rlght royalty was the national reputation
maintained by the Richmond representa-
tives of that ancient day. But u genera
ton ago, tho glory of the great Scotch
merchants had departed, with a few ex-
ceptiors. II may here be remarked that
the kindly Scottish heart not only "warms
to the tartan,0 but to the sound Of the
home tongue as we'll Scotchmen never
lose their clannish love for "brither
Scot" whatever else may be lost to them,
no matter where be may be found.
Among the gonial-hearted Scotchmen
in Richmond, say thirty years ago, was
John Barr, wealthy and much-esteemed
citizen, who was largely interested in
the coal properly, and carried on an ex-
tensivc business at that time. He was a
widower with two charming and accom-
plished daughters, who presided at his
hospitable mansion.
1T will not do to omit mention of "Our
House, -" public" as Meg Dodds would
term it, famous for its fine liquors and
general good oheer,-locuted on 18th
street, and under the charge Of Charlie
Thompson. Now in those days at least,
hot whlskey punch was considered the
natural beverage, IN moderation, flr
full-blooded Scotchman. For that matter,
this is not altogether obsolete, even now
And as Scotchman Barr owned the
building whore Charlie Thompson dis
pensed his liquids and Savory solids, it was
but natural that "Our House should be
the man fountain at which the constitu.
lional Scotch thirst should be slaked,
when the stomach struck the right hour,
say about II O'Clock A. NJ, for the first
deyotious. And so, in n calm, orderly,
uniform way, the days and nights Of John
Barr moved on,-wlthout even ripple Of
unusual things, until one oyenttul day
which came bigger with events to the
unsuspecling coal merchant than often
come down upon that moral and peaceable
city. 1t began without cloud, but there
was much hidden thunder in that sky
One day, as good John Barr was slipping
his punch, in the handsome room where
"Our llouee beverages were dispersed
and partaken, bis quick ear caught the
pleasant sound OF q Scotch tongue, calling
for the national connection at the bar.
The party, upon whom the eyes of Mr.,
Barr were Instantly turned, was "A large,
imposing gentleman of about sixty years.
He was evidently stranger, no common
person, and Scutchman,- the last the
best of all He took his drink like gem
ileman, paid for 1t like gentleman, bow
cd like gentleman, and retired like
gentleman.
Tha next day, at about the same hour,
this now distinguished stranger again APP
pearel ut "Our House. took bis tod,
paid, bowed, and went his way Promptly
on the third day came the mysterious but
most interesting gentleman. but he was
IN less haste than before, and rested him
self upon u chair That John Barr should
be eager to open a chat with tins unknown
brother Scot that he succeeded in this
aud that they should take "a little some
thing jointly and soyerally,-was Just
inevitable. To say that the stranger
proved to be q very pleasant man would
be unjust to the subject. lie was simply
fascinating. Evidently Of much cutiva.
ton he had also travelled extensively IN
.u.uy parts of The world, and had that air
of rrduom aud dignity which indicated
habltuul association with educated society.
And : the ice once broken there follow
ea daily chats between the two Scotsman,
that soon ptrtook of intimacy aud it
naturally and easily ripened into this in