The Red Cloud chief., 1878-06-20
TIE OLD PROFESSOR.

] DO not wish Ia speak of professors
In general, or To make u my hero the
prototype Of those honorable men who
devote themselves Ia n noble cause-
the instruction Of youth. Nv objer, is
merely To sketch of the features and
characteristics " an individual who, I,
Is true, might ~ well have belonged la
any other class II society.
Late one afternoon. seated La NV
room IN the Boulevard de Luxembourg.
busily occupied with work for the NOR.
row, ! was startled by loud knocking
on the door. Knowing that no friend
would have troubled himself 10 knock
nj all. ! was certain that some stranger
awaited sn entrance. To my summons
Of Come in" which repeated nj least
three times, there appeared on the noor
n most singular specimen of humanity
who hesitated n moment, doubtless anx.
Ia see what his reception would be. Al
last he came up and handed me a note
from a friend. The lines read thus;
IL send you u poor. unfortunate old
man; help him II you can"
In reality. the man before rue did pre-
sent n most melancholy picture. lie
was poor In appearance. even miserable
looking, ! nigh, say. with clothes in
rags and shoes quite worn cut while
his shirt WAS torn Mt the sleeves In front
besides being black ~ ink. There was
an apology for a cravat. nothing more
than u dark string. and a hat--sucb n
hat!--stained red, white and black in
color, used up. smoked. and decid. dly
flattened. This was the object Ut pity
~. fr,...t k...V 500. a.. ....s
And Yet. with all his soilcd clothing
and odd figure the old man came proud
ly up. holding erect his head. and look
ing at me from bright. intelligent eyes.
"a clear, honest gaze. was interest
ed in spite Of myself.
Before I could ask him "a be seated.
he had coolly taken possession Of a
CHART and addressed me In a mos pleas
ant tone Of voice.
''Sir. | beg you will excuse my seem
ing q n gene in thus seating myself;
but ] am quite exhausted. for remem
Der. five flights Of stairs Is no small un-
d~ertaking for n Of nv years.
bowed assent. aud he continued:
~ feel sure you are good aud chRrit-
able. like your friend. II you only knew
how kind he has been 10 me! ! W him
So much gratitude that l car be
able to repay It. When I am sick he
always nurses me in my hospital. and
when ! leave there he does all he n
for me outside, with his limited means.
But before interesting you In my behalf
let me tell you who am. where | come
from. and what circumstances conspir-
ell to plunge me into such complete
misery"
Here he gave me his name. and said.
furthermore:
Having finished my studies at the
lycea Mt the age Of eighteen. without
fortune. without prospect for the future.
l was thep forced TO leave Bordeau, my
native city. OF course. like every other
provincialist. ! started for Paris, imag-
lining gold VAS to be picked up In in
streets, readily enough. That such was
not the case, and that misery haunts all
cities alike. ! soon found out. After ma
ny months Of struggling and poverty, ]
finally became usher in q college near
Paris. Of my life there, the abject slav-
cry I had to contend with. ] will not
speak; the suhject n too painful; enough
10 know that I became disguised, and
left the only asylum where l felt sure
Of bread 70 eat or q bed To sleep on.
Once more launched out In the cold
world, I tried hard 10 find something;
but only succeeded In getting some
small remuneration for my efforts by
writing for the newspapers. And yet ]
wrote in the peoples cause. and en-
deavored by 50 doing to work out some
good for suffering humanity. wrots,
too. in the Cause 1t liberty. and for the
downfall Of oppression and tyranny.
oh, glorious libertyr'
As he uttered these words, his whole
face liz up and his eyes shone forth bril-
liantly--sparkled, even; while his form
was drawn up 70 ito full hight, and
trembled with excitement. The man
positively appeared sublime, and I felt
sad to think such me naturs was
thrown away-body aods mind Skater
cd by toll and hardshonu
He. then told me Hiaa he had been
usheR, professor and Wviter for the ps-
.pers. In Paris, in theproyinces, abroad.
As a proof Of his ststefDeets he laid on
the table the owe Of ; dirty atlas, mp
on which were affixed the different GER
tificates, in order and dste, from the
principals Of the ins6t1tionU and col
Ieges where he had bend smpl0ynent-
The methodiesl wsyf1aWhich - took
can to arrange nd clSspjfy ths certafi-
Gates and recomm eudaa)60 excitsa my
curiosity. and nouciag - he informed
me that they we're the ueens Of NJ ut
ting q livelihood. hIryt I
..You see, sir. = ne went "a. -vsfylew
have the heart TO refuse me scqH6N ttle
help. when they VerceiyeI q Aquest
although . beggsr, andthet lry1ly did
work when able 10 do nA@A16V zoos
will buy me . glss q Sbefntle, "a an
irresistible longing alter that xq2pf in
duces me 10 gpsadk my topn6g - the
cafe instead Of 1t t~hs,bStMs.w
At an expression q ~ On my part,
"AhtyQu ethers, rich. paaced beyond
care, you can cry down the poor wretch
driven TO despair. and cell ebsinthe and
brandy the most subtle an poisonous
Of drinks; and ] supposs they are; but
then 70 q poor mortal in8myself, what
have l to live forP Andh me drink IL
p9Ssoning me, its effects are by degrees,
and give the suicide many . happy mo-