National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
A TRUNK wIrn A HISTORY.


An Actors Experience with n Baggnge-
smasher-Proof Saratoga.
The Dramatic Ne,cs tells story, good enough
to DO true, of T. Gpttan Riggs, who appears
with the Park Theatre Comedy Company at
tho Academy this week As will be seen
Rochester plays a prominent part IN the tale.
which Mr.. Riggs Is reported as relating him
self:
while travelling through tho country SOW
eral seasons since rs star actor, became"
says Mr.. Riggs, "dceply impressed by tho ap.
pallng brovity of life of theatrical trunk. I
found that the toughest aud most solid pack.
ing.caso only lasted one season. What with
the brutality of baggagemen aud the unfcelng
severity of hotel-keopors. theatrical trunks.
discovered were as short-lived Us q boys first
love.
when, therefore, got back to New York,
/ went to an establishment on Broadway aud
ordered its proprietor To make me trunk, re- =
gnrdless of cost, that should be sbsoutelya
proof against tho most desperate efforts TO do
stroy IL. Let IL be tough enough said, to
Withstand railroad collision
VERY WELL At the end Of three weeks ]
was notified that my trunk had boen finished,
and would he sent around to my address, II I
so ordered. did so ofder-and IL arrived on
an immense dray, such ~ is used in the trans
IOftAllOn OF l1cTTlnBb SaltS, uflWn ny IOur
horses. Six able-bodied men accompanied it.
The foreman Of the party $50 he aiterward
turned OUT told mo ho had taken the contract
for the job, and would be responsible for all
the damage that might be caused by handling
IL. He added that he questioned very much
if the second floor would stand the weight Of
the trunk.
Great Cesarv cried, what does It wcighf
"Well,' said the man, you wanted it mado
extra strong, so they put IL up in half-inch
rolled steel plates. with cement lining and
edges | should think it weighs close OH 750
pounds.'
"'Scven hundred and fifty pounds = cried.
What use Is n trunk TO me that weighs $50
pouuds2
The man said that was none Of his business
| had ordered an especially and particularly
| strong trunk; he han taken the contrac. "a
move II, and all that was left Toy "a TO do waa
to designate the window T,nch ho should take
out to provide access for the trunk to the SOC
ond s.S,y. .. ....
What could l do2 Nothing but meekly
request him not to put too heavy weight
upon the second floor, because q very nervous
old gentleman lived under it.
THE trunk was duly placed in my room,
and then the bill for its cost and moving was
put in my hands. The price of tho Internal
thing was S3l5, and $50 was charged for labor,
sc. ." *
II Immediately skipped round to the trunk
store and asked for the proprietor
"Ho came forward with bland smile.
"'Scc herev / cried, Pm badly stuck on
this internal trunk-bnt it's no use squcaling.
I'll pay you $500 on account, on this condition
that you shall stand all the expenses Of
moving it from place to place when | COM
incnce my next professional tour
Very good, said the proprietor as hc
blithely pocketed my $500.
We'll, my first engagement was in Roches-
N " ~ hp M I'M ad
curses OF all the baggage-masters OF the coun-
try fall upon the head of its makerD was re-
moved, with much noise and damage at the
expense of the Broadway store. The railroad
company, however, would only take it as
freight, and charged mo three cents pound
for ID.
an Rochester business, unhappily, was very
poor, and ut once made arrangements for
quick and quiet departure. had Il big four
horse dray waiting for me on II side street,
near the Osborn House, and eight trusty
Wallets engaged to pick my trunk up when, in
| the customary way, should roll it out of the
| window.
ALAS had failed to calculate on the mo-
mentum of the accursed trunk. Taking ad-
vantage of the fact that the whole household
was stepped in slumber, and even tho night
clerks eyes were closed, pushed tho hdeous
machine to the edge of the easement with ex-
IRENE difficulty, then gave 1t final shove aud
sent II topping into the street, like boulder
| from q crag.
Imagine my horror and CONSERVATION when
I saw il plunge to the ground with loathsome
crash Embedding itself deep in the very middle
of the sidewalk
"Tho noise was SO great that everybody in
tho house woke up and thought meteorito
had fallen. l did not stop to explain, but,
taking one last furious look at the trunk as 1t
partially projected out of the ground, seized
my valse and ran like deer, leaving the vile
thing to Its fate.
Some months afterward learned that In
consequence Of their failure TO excavate it, tho
executive board of Rochester blasted it with
dynamite"
IL = LEI kHQNl NC