The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-12-21
A Young Man From Keokuk Takes Z
Smoke.

Smoke
II was on Burlington and Cedar
Rapids train. The tall passenger, when
he got on, was in that happy frame Of
mind that doesn't care whether Con-
gress Is in session or not. He held on
70 the railing very carefully as he climb
ed into the smoking-car, and appeared
TO be little annoyed at being the object
OF general attention. He ceased TO
smile and assumed an expression OF
profound thought and dignity and back
ing into seat with great elaboration,
sat down in mans lap. He got up in
some confusion, and when he shot into
the adjoining seat, he straightesed him
self up and assured himself that 1t was
unoccupied by carefully feeling all over
the cushion with his hands. He then
made an elaborate apology to the wrong
man for sitting down ID his lap, and cast
stern, but withal an unsteady glance
up and down the car, to reproach or
repress the smiles that were going
round.
For he was not the kind Of man 10
be laughed mt. He was we'll dressed and
had certain air Of dignity about him
that, under ordinary circumstances,
would command respect. He at still
Tor few moments and then took of his
hat and hung it up q few inches outside
the rack, and was apparently amazed
70 see il reach the seat before he did
Presently the entrance Of the train boy
bearing box of the soothing Indian
weed, reminded him Of something. and
he Owed into his vest pocket and brought
forth hall q dozen matches, and then he
dived into an inside coat pocket for the
other materials necessary to comforta-
BILE smoke.
He bad great difficulty at the very
outset, biting off the end Of his cigar
lie was little undecided, 10 begin with.
which end to bite of. lie turned il over
and ever in his fingers and looked AT
this end and that, but finally came TO a
decision and acted upon il promptly. II
was a little tough. but he chewed
away at il manfully and persistently and
got II off at last Then he spit the end
iiercely against the window, and when IL
just struck against the clear glass in
stead Of going clear through, he looked
foolish, and rubbed it OF with his hand
kerchief.
Ills smoking did not progress very
rapidly. lie couldn't make the old
thing work. Itwouldn't light well. II
didn't seem TO draw. and his agonized
grimaccs, as he pulled and sucked at il,
were enough TO make a snake laugh. !
But nobody in the car dared laugh very
loud, for every time the tall passenger
heard a litter, he would pause, and
holding the smoking material in one
hand the burning match in the other. /
and glare around the car in the most I
manner, until the tittering
ceased, or the match burned his fingers.
He soon burned up all the matches he
had, and then, casting his eyes about
Tor some one of whom to borrow light,
ne spied the train-boy, smoking like a
Folcano, and beckoned him up.
Gimme light, young man, il you
please" he said
"LightP" demanded the astonisLed
light? What We want 4
light forP"
For my c-c-cigar," replied the tall
passenger, with great gravity.
Snothered laughter went up all
around the car, and the train-boy, drop
'ing into seat In his hysterical excite
nent, threw up his hands, and fairly
houted,
"CigarP Oh, bloody Nero, that is a
banana you're tryin' 70 smoke.''
The tall passenger bent a glance OF
aim contempt upon the shouting bow
md the writhing passengers that filed
he car with an oppressive silence, and
hen, IN tones Of conscious and superior
wisdom he said,
I" An don't know that, young man?
n c-c-coursa IL is. n-nevcr s-s-smoke
my other kind. It's genuine han
made imported banana, an DON YOU
orgiz it,"
Then the passengers threw their hats
Ierccly on the floor, and climbed up on
he backs Of the seats and in one wild
naddening howl Of laughter, lifted the
oof clear off the car.
A CURIOUS case as 10 the rights Of the
ndcr OF lost property, whose owner Is
Unknown. is reportpd from RhoJa