The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-08-06
HICKMAN AND CANADA BILL.


after successful gambling trip on the
steamboats, of the Western and Southern
rivers. The thought struck him that he
would stop and see Beau Hickman, the
great wag, then world-famous as a clever
trickster. The two sports met on the
steps of the huge marble Capitol Hick-
man had been pointed out to Canada
Bill by bootblack.
".Is your name Hickman, pard p' in
quired Bill, extending his hand.
"The same, sir. Whose hand might
j have the honor of presslngY' return
ed Hickman, thinking that his new ac-
quaintance was newly arrived West
ern member of Congress.
"The hand you grasp, pard, y respond
ed Bill, is one generally known as be-
ing more able to deal cleverly than fair
ly. 1, like yourself, am one of society's
razor strops. am"
"Canada Bill, by gum I"
"Shake the number-two-times = for
I'm glad TO meet you Hickman"
" How long are you going to stop in
town p''
"Stopped Off expressly to make your
acquaintance"
care you known in this city ?"
"No."
Then I'll turn you to good account.
How much money have you to venture
on q sure thing ?"
"Got $6,OOO."
With you ?"
Fright here" and Canada Bill pulled
forth two huge rolls of bills.
How would you like to turn that
into $4,000 within the next three
days ?"
Name the job, and Pm your man ?"
"Shp Well take drink" and Hick-
man led the monte-tosser into the card
room of a fashionable sample-room.
The next day genteel, solemn-look-
ing man entered the gentleman par
lors at Willard's Hotel, which were
filled with Senators, Congressman, and
oflice-seekers and holders of all grades.
He carried small notebook in his
hand, and as he approached each group
he would bow and say:
Gentlemen, am collecting money
for widow lady and her three children.
They belong to once proud but now
cast-down family. If you will aid them
please ask no further questions, but give
what you see fit."
In this entire hotel the gentlemanly
beggar only received three donations of
twenty-five cents each. The others
waved him impatiently aside, while
some plainly told him he was an impos-
tor. Before leaving he said quietly to
the three gentleman who had given him
money:
"This will be repaid to you ten-fold
tomorrow evening at this hour"
He then took the address of each, ask
ing them to not fail to be in the parlor
next evening to get their money, and
cautioning them to speak to no one of
his promise-that he was Sir Orlando
Matterson, President of the Royal Lon
don Society for the Encouragement of
Benevolence.
AS a matter of course, before he had
got block away from the hotel, every
one knew all he had said and done, and
all considered him some crazy fanatic.
Then report got abroad that he was an
immensely rich but insane Fnglishman,
who spent yearly hundreds of thou
sands in seeking those out who were
willing to lend aid to the needy, and in
rewarding them afterward, SO that ac-
cording to his cracked brain, the cause
of charity might be in general way ac-
celerated.
The next evening he came again ask
ing aims, and every one was on the look
out for him. He first singled out the
three gentlemen who had given him
twenty-five cents each, and very quietly
passed each an envelope containing ST.
so, and small card, upon which was
printed: "Give and you shall receive"
"Cast your bread on the waters, and it
shall be returned to you tenfold." IRE
member the example of Sir Orlando
Matterson as you journey through life."
Sir Orlando Matterson took $73 in
donations from the house that night,
and it was noticeable that those whom
his example had thus quickened were
very careful that he should have their
correct address. The same result fol-
lowed in each of the score of the hotels
and sample-rooms which he had initia-
ted on the night before. The third night