The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-10
A Man Of Acquaintance.

THE original and only Intelligent Com
positor-all others being impostors
been in the city several days. He en-
tered the news-room of the HACK. Eye
and Immediately distended that valuable
department with information to such an
extent that the old tramp, who was try
ing to keep awake until lunch was spread
out, got out and, humbling himself in
utter abasement, publicly retracted every
personal narrative and general statement
he had made IN the room, and went out
of town on tie ticket. The original |
and only Intelligent placed himself in an
easy position of superiority by challeng-
ing the regular gentlemen at the cases to
spell Mussulman, and, as no one respond
ed to this challenge, he proceeded to
edify the congregation with short but
comprehensive lecture on the manners |
and customs, religion, politics and tradi-
tions of the Oriental nations. By this |
time the assemblage was hushed into the
most respectful silence, and when the |
gentleman who had Just finished 3X in
quired where the blacksmith had OK !
emptied, the whisper in which he pro-
pounded the query was heard clear to
the editorial room. Then the new man
polished his spectacles, for he beamed
on the humber ignorance of the
newsroom through Harvard gig lamps,
and corrected a few grammatical er-
rors he discovered in editorial copy.
1t appeared from his entertaining
conversation that he read proof eleven
years in the New York Tribune Of
fee, leaving that position when he was
ten years old to come West. He fell in
with Mark Twain, whom he affectionate-
ly referred to as dear old Sam Clemens"
and saved his life. Their acquaintance
deepened into the most intimate friend
ship, and Mr.. Clemens was very anxious
that the Intelligent should marry his sis
ter and live with him. This the Intelli-
gent, however, could not do, as he was
engaged to a daughter of a man named
Grant, fellow that used to own a tan
yard at Galena, Ill. But he broke with
the girl, moved away from illinois, and
never heard what became of the family,
although he understood that the old man
went into the army, andwas Colonel or
something. He was on easy terms with
everybody. He leaned in at the window
of the editorial room to say goodeven-
ing and ask US if we ever met i" Cholly?"
"Cholly?" we believed we never had
any acquaintance of that name.
Well, he knew lim well. Dear old
Cholly. Dead and gone now, poor fell
low. Died in the Intelligents arms. Old
Cholly Browne, the inimitable Artemus.
He knew all the photographers Of to-day.
Did we ever meet many of them? We
blushed at our ignorance as we con-
fessed that our personal acquaintance
with the good, pure men of that Christian
Association was confined to the saint
who said his prayers and told his beads
land lies) in the Hawk-B Eye office.
We didn't know Bah, then? he Queried.
We had never heard of the name.
Bah, he explained, of the Boston Post,
George Rabbit, but then he had never
called him anything else but Bah since
they were boys together. Did we know
Greg?
We had cousin named Gregg, we
said, bat he was physician in Sacra-
mento, and didn't belong to the Para
graphers' Association.
Aw, no. he said, he meant Greg, of the
Rochester Democrat. Gregory. Old
Greg, he always called him at college.
Well, this was quiet old town. He was
going up to Chicago. Run up and stay
with Pot day or two.
"Pot?" we asked, again ashamed of
our ignorance.
Yes. Pot Palmer. Always stayed with
him when he was in Chicago. Pot was
a cousin of his fathers. If he had time
he'd drop note to Bob Harris and get a
pass, but he guessed he wouldn't wait
He wondered, musingly, if Jack was in
Chicago now?
| We could only answer with another
look of ignorant wonder
Jack Logan, he explained. He wanted
to see him if he could. He had some
thing to tell him. There were no secrets
between him and Jack Logan. He was
in Springfield, had parlors at the Leland
last winter, when that matter was ar
ranged with that old Bloomington boy,
Dave Davis. Had we ever met Dave?
A CLEAN of grateful intelligence passed
over our face as we eagerly replied that
we never had, but we had seen his beau
tiful home and grounds at Bloomington
Yes" the Intelligent said, 81 laid
out them grounds, the plans of 'em, my
self. You can't tell me anything about
Dave Davis place" Well, he said, he
must go.
He looked blandly about the room,
and, as he cleared his throat with a con-
descending infection, we recognized the
old, familiar expression stealing over his
mobile features. We hastily handed
him take to hang on the hook; the mo-
ment his back was turned we gathered
the handiest hat in the room, and were
halfway around the block before he
could turn around and ask for the Gus
tomary half-dollar till nine O'clock
Burlington Haok- Eye.
Tho MaIanahnYv navS