The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-03
Commercial BulIetin.l
A Jack.at.a l-Trades.
ssme Hdca of n Mans Profession.

/ "16s, SIR, remarked SmartingtoD, 81 can
tell mans occupation in five minutes by talk
| ing with him-hes sure to let it out in some
| way-can't keep silent about business he's
| interested in."
Don't say CO., remarked his friend Crank,
| as they both settled themselves upon the top
seat OF White Mountain stage coach, swell
now here's this new conner, he in the straw hat
and spectacles, that's going to ride beside us,
suppose you try him."
IAN right my boy he's an easy one, by his
looks" and so when the stranger had settled
himself in his seat, be proffered cigar to each
of the two, which was accepted, and lighting
his OVID, Smartngton began:
"Mighty fine cigars, sir, get 'em in Boston ?''
"Yes, some Judge Gay of the Supreme Court
gave me just before started"
(Smart, winking at his companion), "You
gentlemen of the legal profession always use
a good article of this kind"
"The article is good one, but am not in
the legal profession" replied he of the straw
tile.
"Oh, beg pardon. Splendid morning this
for stage coach ride, isn't it?''
Yes, but much better one for tramp
through the country"
l.
yon are used to it-don't mind fatigue, eh?"
"Oh, no. said straw hat; "Pve walked hun
dreds 50 Of miles; rOde toe, on horseback as well
eyed him sharply-he couldn't be a tramp.)
down South, during the war;"
Indeed Did you see any of the Union
generals?"
Certainly" said the stranger smiling,
'knew Burnside well, he's a good pedestrian
hlmself-little Phil Sheridan, too; he looks
better on horseback than on foot-saw him in
that ride-Sheridan's ride, you know; was at
Winchester Fighting Joe Hooker's splen-
did fellow; with him in two campaigns; rides
well; talks well; walks WE'LL"
"Ah, then You are soldier. / see," Esaid
Smart decidedly.
ooh no, sir! wish I had been, but never
shouldered musket in my life"
Smart looked little disappointed as his
friend nudged him and gave a subdued chuckle
at his second failure, but he returned to the
charge again. 81 suppose business and amuse-
ments will both be lively this fall"
Yes, there's every promise of heavy freights
from West to East this fall. L think Wander
bilt will try to make some changes in his line
that will require fresh combinations East. He
ls more reticent bout his plans than Tom Scott;
I'd rather talk with Scott ten minutes than Van
derbilt half an hour, as far as information is
concerned
"Well, which on the whole, do you railroad
men think the ablest, Scott or Vanderbilt?"
well, knew the old Com modore better
than Scott, although the latter L always found
very sound and practical-but bless you, I'm
not railroad maD," said the new conner,
laughing.
"Inoeed! then I suppose you don't object to
the stage as travelling conveyance"
mo, sir; net in this part of the country-nor
the dramatic stage as an amusement at home"
Nor L, but prefer good Shakesperean play
to the variety show and burlesques of the pres
ent day-don't you?"
"Generally though both may be epjoyed,"
said the straw hat wearer.
"But you certainly have seen Edwin Booth,
Barrett, and John Mccullough, have you not?"
''Oh, yes, know 'em all well, and Forrest and
the elder Booth, Charles Kean, elder Vanden-
hoff, Macready and others, such as Gus Brooke,
Gustavus Vaughn Brooke, you knOw-and Jim
Murdock, an excellent Hamlet, now q reader
Why, Pve helped Brooke dress and make up
for his part in the CorsiGan Brothers-poor fell
Really said Smart "You appear well
posted about actors"
'Yes, sir; knew them all, before and behind
tie curtain"
''Not in the profession yourself?'
"Oh no sir, never spoke line in that way, or
faced The footights.'
Think there Will be much speculation in
stocks this fall?"
"WeIl, there may be some in the silver
stocks-ln San Francisco, they'll steam up
mining stocks well this fall, and Wall street
is hungry for ''Outsiders" after its long fast.
Gold speculation is fattened out; moneys
easy; Englsh consols "a rs, and our bonds
shade firmer, say % for the new IS, and see
Northwest and St Paul have advanced at the
New York bosrd.''
"Y-e-e-s But if you have dealt in stocks 1
s'pose you would feel enceursge1-eh?"
"Well, don't know how L might feel, but 1
don't deal in them l leave that to the brok-
ers."
Another nudge and snicker from Crank, and
Smart began to have a dim perception that the
stranger might be quzzing him, but he rallied
again-
''rhe currency question appears to be pretty
important one just now"
''Yes, so it is. L had long talk with Sher-
man before left Washington. [ thiuk he is
on the right track, and hope he will stick.''
Hope it won't offend you if | say some of us
business men would like it if Congress would
take SIX months more vacation"
''Not bit; L wish they would-.t would save
me lots of work."
"How so? Are you member or a govern
meut officer?"
Good gracious! no, hope not 1 like my
own business better"
"Well now" said Smart, fairly run to earth,
"Im blessed if l shouldn't Ike to know what
your business is You seem TO bs familiar with
every one, and yet not in any. A supreme
court jndge gives you cigars; you walk and ride
with generals in the army; are posted on rail-
road freights, with free access to Vanderbilt
aud Tom Scott; know all the actors on
the stage, and yet are not one; are
posted on stocks, and don't deal in 'em faml-
excuse me if l ask you plump what you do for
living?"
"Certainly," said the stranger, "although l
should have thought you would have surmised
from my conversation. an the reporter of a
daily newspaper"