The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-02-03

hadn't got more than half dozen
yards when / felt hand laid upon my
arm, and saw at my side very goed
looking, we'll dressed man.
" My dear fellow he said, show are
you?"
I didn't know but what I knew the
man, for one meets so many people OF
his kidney and for aught could tell
| might have been Hospitality entertain
ed BY him somewhere or other up the
country, so that didn't like to confess
my ignorance of his name and quality.
And we walked very cordially together
towards St. Martins Church.
'When was the last time We met =
said my new friend. ''Surely it was at
the Governor Generals ball at Cal
cutta.''
meyer was at Calcutta in my life,
[ said; mines the Bombay Fresi-
dency."
''Aud I've been taking you all this
time for Colonel Scoop. Is it possible
that | am deceived ?"
I always felt, with the least degree
of soreness, when in England, that my
frierds in the military branch have some
what the pull over US civilians in matter
of titles but In India collector is a
much more important title than colonel,
but people don't seem to understand
that, and set us on level with the tax-
gatherer. Thus it was with slight
degree cf acerbity that [ replied l was
no colonel at all, but a mere civil SER
want.
Most wonderful |" said my friend.
Never was such an extraordinary re-
sembance. Pardon the unconscious lib
erty have taken.
Well, we were very polite to one an
other, and asked after this man and the
other, whom, perhaps, We might both
know, and got quite thick together.
Major Bilkins, it appeared was the mans
name he was nice, agreeable fellow,
and we walked On together in a very
amicable way. Bilkins hoped I'd come
and look him up at his little place at
Surrey. and | gave him my card and
said I'd be glad to see him al Seven
oaks.
''And what are you going to do now?''
said the Major. Come and lunch with
me at the Oriental
Now, there are six or seven men to
whom I've a deadly hatred who lunch
at the Oriental daily besides which
one gets enough of the Orient in India,
and so l told him.
90 lite right" he said: 81 like to
get out of the regular groove. What do
you say to going into the city and having
a bit of fish together? know capital
place-C hufin S, next to Billing sgate. and
handy for our trains. Take the penny
boat from Hungerford-eh 2"
I willingly agreed 20 this, for like
to make the acquaintance Of new phases
of life under competent nuldance, al
though | haven't enterprise enough to
cut out anything of the kind for myself
The tide was we'll Up. and we had a
pleasant sail down the river. There is
no more charming vista than that from
Hungerford bridge. The embankment
makes handsome sweep just there,
and the bridge of Waterloo-surely the
handsomest bridge in England and
Somerset House and St. Paul's looming
over all but lower down the EN- bank
ment, gives sadly tame and formal
aspect to the river. A stone wall, accen
tuated NTH lamp posts and door knock
ers, is an unworthy monument ofBritlsh
taste. You might have taken hint from
the Hindoo ghauts. or landing places, to
advantage.
We landed close to London Bridge,
and the Major introduced me to Chuf-
FMS. A very nice place, with an ordi
nary and a regular chairman, and char
acters that, if | were one of your pen
and-ink artists, | should have great
pleasure in sketching for you. We had
no end of fish of the very best But the
Major reduced me into extravagance. a
pint of champagne with our fish. some
brown sherry, and to wind up, some iced
punch-an Ubiquitous sort o. proceeding
for a man whu had family dinner
awaiting him at seven: but | got into
the spirit of the thing somehow. and the
Majors conversation was really gate
bright and enthra!ling.
Il must leave you now, said the
Major. calling the waiter and picking
QUE ninepenny cigar. He took hand
Z