The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-21
A LONDON ADVENTURE;

OR,
The True Story or the lugennOul
Eng!lshmsn, The Friendly Ger
man, and The Condoning Amer
lean.
As an honest traveller Is bound to re.
late all that befslls HIM, illustrative o.
the manners and morals of The people
among whom he sojourns, even thUugt
he himself does not appear to the be-,
advantage in the narrative, my con-
science will not permit me to withhold
from my reader the following bit OF sd
venture, though the simplicity of John
Bull, about which have had something
TO say, may not be made so apparent BY
it as the credullty of Jonathan.
1t was an attempt on the part of two
sharpers to play upon me an old London
confidence game which gave me my
only char CO to see John Bull as rogue
In this character he proved no bung er,
but q most consummate actor. Indeed,
the circumstance revealed to me more
early than almost anything else, how
"mellow" and considerate John can be
even in the character of London high
wsyman.
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 sfterward, and went iLto
the next place where watches were be-
ing slaughtered, and advised the limo.
cent bidders standi & about o. not to
purchase, as things were no: what they
seemed. and privately showed some OF
them my own time.keeper! And in
very recent years, during half-hours
walk An Broadway, have had at least
three long forgotten acquaintance rush
up to me with extended hand and hearty
erclsmations of surprise and delight.
But on these occasions have always
been able 70 command Bret Harris Ia
NOUS smile which have found rs efec
tive as q pollcemsn's badge.
The London confidence man found me
one night at public place of amuse
ment, and, Of course, knew me at d
glance. He was German (my visor
always goes up when | see a German },
and was q curious spectator OF things IN
and about London, like myself, and ex
pe,ted soon to visit America. hardls
know how we got acquainted. think
some incident in the crowd, as We stood
near each other IN the area, caused us t.
exchange g!.nces and then remarks. he
evidently "took" to me at once. Travel.
ers are quick to know travellers, and al.
WAYS find themselves in sympathy they
are IN ono boat, while the stsy-st 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 theater together.
We we're q good deal jostled by the
Gro wd, but an empty pocket Is never
afraid of being picked, and the lrsll
creature who did her share OF the lost
ling. and who declared we looked enough
alike to be brothers, played her part well
but to lite purpose. We did not seps
rate till we had exchanged cards, and
nv del ghtful German had made some
INQUIRIES about my hotel; no was not
suited where he was and was on the
lookout for a chance to improve his
quarters, and Ms be had an especial lIk-
ing Tor Americans, -"they were go much
more like Germans than ths English
were,"-snd had many questions to ask
about that country, he should be de-
lighted to stop beneath the same ROOF
with me, il the locality suited him, etc.
etc.
Accordingly, next day, at IL NJ, be
called around, We had lunch together
and much interesting conversation. He
proyed extremely we'll informed about
Eng and and the English, and was ex
tremely entertaining. He had much tc
saw about a London friend OF his, /
banker. who had lived In America, snC
whom | ought to know. Alter an hour
spent in this way, he proposed u walk
and said, if l wished II, he would pre-
sent me to his friend
To this. after some hesitation, as
sented. and we set out for Kings Cross
a part of town had not yet visited
Alter wa king about half an hour, dur
ing which time my companion beguiled
tn. wsy with very lively account OF 4
steeple chase he had recently taken par
in through bis friend the banker, At HI
supgestio we stopped ut one of tie nu
m.rUus ale houses tor some refreshment
1t vss not very inviting-looking place
and l felt disposed to taxi our ale stand
ing ut the bar, American fashion, snt
pass on; but MY German was not goin'
n be 40 coolly matter OF fact as tbs ant
led the wsy to the coffee room, which
however, we found locked; but one O
the bsr maids handed him the key, AM
we went IN. 1t WAS dingy, unused
looking room, with leather cushione'
he, ches around the sides, and 'sbles II
front of them. 1t struck me that tner
WA. some incongruity in our being Il
such q place 1t seemed better adapte'
N some secret nocturnal revel. The tw
vindoys were high, shutting ont all vie'
of the street, and admitting but scant,
Gyhr. I sat down on chair near tn
door. feeling little constrained, ou
nv companion passed over to IN
mrtber corner Of the room, and sat dow
with such hearty, mastery air that
followed him, and had soon slmed
blow ~ my lsmentsb BILE reserve IN
bumper of ale. While wa. engaged l
looking over some admirable Berli
photographs which my friend hande
me. ne made an excuse to go out. NO
LONG thereafter there entered the roor
4 man who drew my attention oy q
bew,ldered, excited manner. He too
- of his hat, nopped bis brow with b
bsnderkerchiet, and rushing around tn
room, gave each OF three bell handles
violent jerk.
1.-THE worst part Of town I've been