National Republican., 1880-05-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
A European Tramp

can Register OF Paris, relates in pleasant way
an incident occurring In the American consu b
late at Aix-la-C -Chapelle, and tho familiar ring
in the composition will justify the suspicion
that Mr.. James r. Du Bois, formerly of THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,, and now consul at
Aix-la- -Chapellc, is himself the writer of the
sketch:
There is moro difference between an Amer
lean and European tramp than there is bo-
tween two peas, or oven three peas for that
mat tier. The trump Of America falls into a
business way of begging as easily as old Silas
Wegg with his peg leg dropped into poetry.
When he wants anything that he does not see
he asks FOR II. When he sees something that
ho really wants he takes it. The straightfor-
ward way he has Of reaching an issue, BIO IL
the pantry OF family plate, exhibits capacity
for promptness that is diametrcally opposite
to tho disposition OF q continental tramp,
which is proven by the following incident
that occurred not long since in tho consulate
at Aix-la-ChapeIle:
Wishing to secure risG TO my passport, |
called for that purpose at tho consulate, aud
while waiting for the favor a sudden and
hearty rap was made at tho Office door.
The consul gave tho usual response, "Kom-
mon Sic herein" when the door quickly
opened, and a softly modulated voice cried
out, II come, Misther Consul, wild tho top O.
the mornin to yc." Startled by this unusual
salute, turned to survey the visitor. There
stood before me human picture which time
cannot easily ofIace from my memory. A
mcek.appearing old Irishman, with u face not
unlike the face of st. Jerome saluted the con-
sui with solemn and somewhat novel bow.
In glance / observed that his pants, of which
he wore three pairs, stopped short of his ankles
and were pinned together with n rusty nail
His several coats were fastened with piece
of BEDFORD. His shoes resembled miniature
canal boats, and his stockings were not there.
The remainder of his wardrobe was rolled up
in red bandana and carolessly slung over
his shoulder while in his right hand was u
grmy slouch hat, and in his left hand yellow
cotton umbrella, quite large enough when
open to covcr-wo will say multitude of sins.
lie qutely placed the umbrella in an up.
right position, hung his hat ON it, crossed his
hands on his hat and said
"Axcusc me, sur, but I'm thravelod Irish
man."
"Well, Pat" said the consul, "being q
Travelled Irishman, what can you want here ?"
"Patl" exclaimed he, pat! Arrah, man,
but me name Is not that. It's me ouwn silf rs
is tho namesake and bud relative of league
O'Brien, who is a brother to ono archbishop
uncle to another and nephew TO three deans"
"Well, league" said the consul, at Is pleas
ant to learn that thore Is nothing worse tho
matter with you than that. but the question is
are you an American citizenp
Faith, mon," he replied, "it's not meslf as
wud be spanking lie wild genthleman like
yesilf. Pom honor and conscience, sur, I'm
not an American citizen, as ye wud call an
American citizen, but I've friend in Cork
phat has cousin in New York wild fourteen
children
"Teague, take seat" said the consul, with
smile.
1T wud be cold day, sur as wud find T..
O'Brien sittin' in the presence of ginthleman
like"
swell, Teague," interrupted the consul,
who seemed TO become more and moro inter
ested in the novel character before him, mot
being all American citizen, what do you want
here?"
"Wel, sur" he replied, ats me as wud like
to spake bit wild ye. wud like to spake
wild ye as how hee-sore and weary am, as
PLAT long reach I've been on fut; indade, sur,
I'm a thraveled Irishman in every sinse of
the wurd." He paused The consul told him
to continue, which he did in the following in
genious strain, leading me to a suspicion that
more than one consular officer had heard
nearly the same tale before: "If ye don't OBJ
ject, sur, wud like to AK ye If ye knows bit
about historyp
The consul remarked that he had a slight
knowledge of the outlines OF that interesting
| study.
"Do you remember the Franco Prussiau
warp
"Yesn
Were ye therc"
"Well 1 was there thin, and sau the Cir.
minis whn they bato the Frinch around tho
rimpots of Paris, sau the communists
whin they run the strates Of their own city
wild their own blud and braked up the splen.
did monuments of their own country. AK
cuse me, sur, but were ye iver in Span2"
Never"
"Woll wus there thin, sau tho byes whin
they had bit of u row wild Queen Isabel,
howly woman, and druv her from her throne,
and hunted her like the fox of Nam Turk
from his lair, wild the archghaid at his troath
and the pack at his trahuns, wild niver u
sorrow, soul or christian crature in the near
to lind the lift of n finger; endade sur its
foreign to me nature to be q throublin' of a
ginthlemin like yusilf, but were ye liver in
Italy?'
"Never, league"
swell / was there thin, saw King Eman
ueI, saw his dead corpse, / saw his bye a
king. Arrrah, mon, but ye wud scarcely have
knowed him. Now ye're thin and Im thin,
but so help mo Pater his thinner as both of us
put together, Place axcuse me sur know as
how ye are n busy mon, and league OBJ. is not
the lad as wud be making an interruption, but
were ye liver in Palestane 2'
"Ncver" again was the reply.
"Well | was there thin, helped to build
the Suez canal, and whin the job was through
took bit ofa run down into Palestano,
stud on Ararat and TUX nip of the crature
straight in the strate called straight in Da-
mascus, indade mon l thnvecd son Of oud
Ireland, I've been here and there, and every
where, I've seen mony and mony a sthrange
sight, and among them all of tho American
consuls on the continent. Faith, sur niver
yet axed one of them fur u tupencc but phat
he put his hand right down into the bottom of
his pocket and pulled it up again and said,
Here, league, me bye, here's a shillin'."
Greatly amused by the beggary ending of
this novel hSrangue, the consul said;
"Well, league, my boy, you shall not have a
single shilling from me to-day"
A shadow of disappointment stole over the
solemn countenance of the old man. aud then
the consul added, handing him ut tho same
time silver piece, "But here is bright double
one which is better yet"
The queer old tramp took the coin rolled it
for moment in his brawny hand, and, rs
smile chased the shadow from his face, he
pointed toward the famous cathedral built by
Charlemngnc which could bo seen from tho
Ath Nuin