American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-12-20
THE MAD BARBER.
A TRAVELLERS STORY.

Some weeks before the completion o
the Pacific Railroad, / was called to San
Francisco on urgent business, and neces
sarily chose that route as the quickest
and, in fact, the only available one from
my location at the time.
| AS every one remembers, the trip be
tween the unfinished points was the one
| most to be dreadsd-both from the tardi
| ness of the conveyance employed and thu
terrible rough roads which were encoun
tered on the way. So when, after severa
hours of unceasing rout and roar, over {
| comparatively easy line, the train stopped
and the conductor sting out, "All ready
for the stages," could see frOwns anf
grimaces spring up and diffuse themselves
| all over the countenances surrounding
me, with but one memorable exception
This very fact drew my attention more
particularly to him, as even my generally
smooth temper had experienced some
thing of shock at the mere mention OF
the vehicles in question.
Turning to me, he remarked: You
seem surprised that am not chagrined
and ruff1ed as much as the rest of our i'm
patient passengers. To tell you the truth, >
he continued, in his easy, ready style, Il
have learned to put off unpleasant antici
pations until the very moment of their
probable visitation. What is the use ~
countenance upon the ranting, growing
passengers, who, in their hurry to get out
and secure comfortable seat, damned
and pushed on every side; "there is no
doubt more than sufficient accommoda-
ton for twice as many people. I've been
over this road before, when the gap, in
stead of fifty, was two hundred miles, and
you can we'll imagine how one felt after
the effort. In fact I must confess that my
temper was little worsted then. But
pshaw what will this little jaunt amount
to? Pretty scenery, magnificent views,
healthy exercise, all for the price of your
fare"
We reOccupied our seats, and after a
few moments of patient waiting the car
was cleared, and we got out without fur
ther adventure or trouble. AS we reached
the temporary platform, l accidentally
observed an old gentleman, who had evil
IDENTIFY spent most of his time in the min
ing districts, make frantic leap at the
stage door, and in so doing his coat be-
came entangled in some iron hooks at
tached to the rear of the stage, and now
presented very deplorable appearance,
to say the least of it. He looked at it in
tently for few minutes, and then, as if
suddenly struck by the magnitude of the
calamity, burst into the most terribly ir-
reverent denunciatiOn of railroads and
stage-coaches that it has been my fortune
to hear for many day. His companion
looked at him imploringly, as he took an
adjoining seat, but without beneficial re-
suit; the old fellows ire was up, and he
was bent on making the best of it.
by the way" said my acquaintance,
whose name was Armadel, this is just the
thing for us. l would not miss a ride
with that old customer for the liveliest
fox chase in the whole of 1ngleside." He
evidently was an Englishman.
But" protested l, ''you certainly can
not be in earnest? We would not have a
moments peace the whole way"
Indeed l am" he replied; don't you
mind that little exhibition; he is just like
any other overheated boiler-his steam
must escape. This won't last long"
And even as he spoke, the miner, for so
we shall consider him, gave evident signs
of letting up, and in a few minutes had
quite subsidized, with the exception of an
occasional grunt.
We now turned our attention to getting
our baggage aboard, which was accom-
plished in a few moments. We then got
into the coach with, l acknowledge, some
fears on my part as to the possibility of
our neighbors proving pleasant company.
| now had an opportunity of examining
Armadel's features, and | fear that the
impression produced upon me at the time
was anything but favorable; still his
vivacity and evident reconcilableness to
unpleasant circumstances went far to,
ward restoring him to my confidence and
consideration.
What most surprised me about his
countenance was a deep line or scar, eX-
tending from the lower part of his right
eye entirely across his cheek, disappearing
under his chin. If a scar, he had certain
lev, do at
some past time. felt an almost irresisti-
BILE desire to inquire into his past history,
and especially as to the accident mention
ed, but before l could make up my mind
to approach so painful a subject, my at
tentiOn was diverted to the conversation
of the two passengers opposite us, tete-
a-tete which, singularly enough, led to Il
solution of the very problem over which
had been puZZling myself.
The old fellow had evidently broken
out afresh, but instead of ranting, had
quietly merged his Indignation into a
general discussion with his friend con
corning economy and the ever-recurring
necessity of a new suit of clothes. Arma-
del had also become interested, and seemed
very much amused at the earnest manner
and emphatic CALCULATIONS of the miner.
As soon rs he paused Armadel looked
over encouragingly, and, by an occasional
facial assent to the miners views gradually
ingratiated himself into their notice, and
finally ventured to enter INTO the CONVEX
sation.
"The trouble" said he. ''is that we are
so careless at times that it would take a
remarkably stout quality of goods to with
stand it. Would you believer" he con
tinued, 81 have worn this nose for over
ten years, and, as you see, it gives no signs
of wearing out yet"
He laughed and replied, 90, that is a
very different matter altogether"
No" said Armadel, 81 am not joking.
Look closely and you will see that the
greater part of my nose is artificial; in
short, nothing more nor less than India
rubber"
So, upon looking more closely, we saw
that he really spoke the truth, as the juno
ton was very distinct, the India rubber
being held in position by some artificial
means.
eff you would like to hear the history
of that accident | am at your service.
The circumstances are rather singular
and will probably interest you" said he,
turning to me.
We all gave our consent. He settled
himself into a comfortable position, and
after some little pause began the narrative
of his misfortune. AT first | was some
what inclined to smile at his seemingly
disinterested manner of treating the mat
ter; but, as his story advanced, he gra-
dually became more earnest, ana quite
absorbed my attention, as well as that OF
our fellow passengers. He commenced
thus:
Ten years ago l was residing in Paris,
that is for month or two, for l never
stay longer in any place One evening, Il