The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-07-10
An Adventure in London.

pie among Wh0m he SolOurnS, even
though he himself does not appear to
the best advantage in the narrative; my
conscience will not permit me to with
hold from my reader the following bit
of adventure, though the simplicity of
John Bull, about which have had
something to say, may not be made so
apparent by It as the creddlity of ,Jona-
than.
1t was an attempt on the part of two
sharpers to play upon me an old London
confidence game which gave me my only
chance to see John Bull as a rogue. In
this character he proved no bungler but
most consummate actor. Indeed, the
circumstance proved to me more clearly
than almost anything else, how much
we have got to learn of this people, and
how "mellow" and considerate John
can be even in the character of a London
highwayman.
For some reason or other, the conf
dence-men have always taken shine to
me. About the first time l went to
New York, Peter Funk sold me watch
though L saw what he had done in n few
moments afterward, and went into the
next place where watches were being
slaughtered, and advised the innocent
bidders standing about (?) not to pur-
chase, as things were not what they
seemed and privately showed some of
them my own time-keeper. And in very
recent years, during halfhour's walk
on Broadway, L have had at least three
long forgotten acquaintances rush up to
me with extended hand and hearty ex-
clamations of surprise and delight. But
on these occasions 1 have always been
able to command Bret Harte's famous
smile, which have found as effective as
a policeman's badge.
The London confidence-man found
me one night at public place of amuse-
ment, and of course, knew me at a
glance He was a German (my visor
always goes up when 1 see German
and was curious spectator of things in
and about London, like myself, and ex-
pected soon to visit America. hardly
knew how we got acquainted. 1 think
some accident in the crowd, as we stood
near each other in the area, caused us to
exchange glances and then remarks. He
evidently "took" me at once. Travellers
are quick to know travellers, and always
find themselves in sympathy they are
in one boat, while the stay-at-home
world is in another We were soon ex-
changing notes about London and other
matters, and after the performance was
over, walked out of the theatre together.
We were good deal jostled by the
crowd, but an empty pocket is never
afraid of being picked, and the frail
creature who did her share of the iost-
ling, and who declared we looked enough
alike to be brothers, played her part well
but to little purpose. We did not sep
arate till we had exchanged cards, and
my delightful German had made some
inquiries about my hotel; he was not
suited where he was, and was on the
lookout for a chance to improve his
quarters, and as he had an especial lilz-
ing for Americans, ,-"they were so much
more like Germans than the English
were''-and had so many questions to
4 ask about that country, he should be de-
lighted to stop beneath the same roof
with me, if the locality suited him, etc.,
etc.
Accordingly, next day, at 12 NJ, he
called around. We had lunch together
and much interesting conversation. He
proved extremely well-informed about
England and the English, and was ex-
tremely entertaining. He had much to
say about a London friend of his, "a bank
er, who had lived in America, and whom
ought to know. After an hour spent
in this way, he proposed walk, and
said, if I wished it, he would present me
to his friend.
To this, after some hesitation L assent
ed, and we set out for Kings Cross, a
part of the town had not yet visited.
After walking about half an hour, dur
ing which time my companic4 beguiled
the way with very lively -ccount of a
steeple-chase he had rece' ny taken part
in through his friend the banker, at his
suggestion we stopped at one of the nu-
merous ale-houses for some refreshment.
1t was not very inviting looking place
and l felt disposed to take our ale stand
ing at the bar, American fashion, and
pass on; but my German was not going
to be so coolly matter-of-fact as that, and
led the way to the coffee-reom, which,
however, we found locked; but one OF