Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-01-21


side. CHEST E''F
I hadn't got more than half a dozen
yards when [ felt hand laid upon my
arm, and saw at my side very good
looking, well dressed man.
''My dear fellow" he said, chow are
you2"
[ didn't know but what I knew the
man, for one meets SO many people OF
his kidney; and for aught [ could tell
I might have been Hospitality enter
tanned by him somewhere or other up
the country, so that I 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 2"
said my new friend. ''Surely at the
Governor Generals ball at Calcutta. :"
stNever was at Calcutta in my life, )"
I.said; 'nine's the Bombay Presi-
dency.' o. sci .ee
'And I've been taking you all this
time for Colonel Scoop. Is it possible
that [ am deceived 81
[ always feel, with the least degree
of soreness, when in England, that my
friends in the military branch have
somewhat the pull over us civilians in
matter of titles but in India "col.
lector" is much more important title
than colonel, but people don't seem to
| understand that, and set US on a level
with the tax gatherer. Thus it was
with a slight degree Of acerbity that
replied [ was no colonel at all, but a
mere civil servant. fHla ASSOC.
+" Most wonderful - said my friend.
"Never was such an extraordinary re
sem blance. Pardon the unconscious
liberty | have taken.''l sra ..
Well, we were very polite to
one another, and asked after
this man and the other, whom,
perhaps, we might both know,
and got quite thick together. Major
Bilkins, 1t appeared, was the mans
name he was a nice, agreeable fellow,
| and we walked on together in very
amicable way. Bilkins hoped I'd come
auo look him up at his little place at
Surrey and I gave HIM my card and
said I'd be glad to see him at Seven
oaks.
e7"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 deadly hatred who lunch
at the Oriental daily; besides which
one gets enough of the Orient in In
d1a, and so told him. ,.s .-~..
"Quite right he said; ~ 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
| a capital place-Chuffn's next to Bill
lingsgate, and handy fora our trains.
Take the penny boat from Hungerford
-eh2" j ------
I willingly agreed to this, for I like
| to make the acquaintance of new
phases of life under competent guild
ance, although l haven't enterprise
enough to cut out anything of the kind
for myself. .r @ '"-
d 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,
I 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
embankment, gives a sadly tame and
formal aspect to the river. A stone
wall, accentuated with lamp posts and
door knockers, is an unworthy monu-
ment of British 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 regular chairman, and char
acters that, if were one of your pen
and-ink artists, I should have great
pleasure in sketching for you. We
had no end of fish Of the very best.
But the Maj or reduced me into extrava-
gance. A pint of champagne with our
fish, some brown sherry, and to wind
up, some iced punch-an Ubiquitous
sort of proceeding for man who had a
family dinner awaiting him at seven
but got into the spirit of the thing
somehow, and the Majors conversation
was really quite bright and enthralling.
Sc I must leave you now," said the
Major, calling the waiter and picking
out a n;nepenny cigar. He took q
handful of change out of his pocket.
Lou IL dllOW lAC w OCCblC 1OI Uu4D l1b-
tie affair ?'' saE
Couldn't think of it, said warm
ly ION no account" .-.,. ....
'Oh, nonsense! Well, 1 won't press
it, he said, seeing I was determined.
"Let's see-two and six, five, seven
and six, and six for the waiter, eight
shillings apiece shall 1 settle E" 70
EDO, If you please" [ said, hand
ing my friend holt sovereign.
The Major gave me two shilling
piece and lounged away to the little
desk where they took the money, and
made his financial arrangements, and
wants he'd with a parting wave of the
hand. .a
For myself, I confess that I felt a lit
tie muddled with the good things of
which I had partaken. 1 ordered
brandy and soda, and screw of to-
bacco, and INDUCED in long clay pipe
"a thing I very much affect when I
have chance