The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-08-07
+" References Required"

Between eleven and twelve o'clock
yesterday forenoon a middle-aged
man stood on the steps of a Con-
gress Street clearinghouse with an
old g1p-sack in his hand and a
cobble-stone and a lot of old pa
pers in the grip-sack. The papers and
the cobble-stone are mere suggestions,
but they were doubtless in there all the
same. When the strangers ring was
answered he INDUCED in bows, scrapes
and smiles and announced his readiness
to take room and board in the house
until he could transact some very inn
portant business which called him to
Detroit. M
Eyes, we keep boarders, but well,
You know-we have to be SO careful,
you know. Ipresume you have refer
encesp"
References! madam, have a thou
sand. am delighted to find that you
are so choice Of your guests. pre-
sumo you have heard of Senator Smithp''
" Smith! Smith, She wasn't quite
sure. "a
Don't know Senator Smith, he
exclaimed as he held up his hands.
i" Well. you Western people are so sim
gular. I've been in swimming with
Senator Smith thousand times. We
used to run bank together. I'll have
to tell him when get home that found
lady in Detroit who had never heard
of him. You must have heard Of Gen
eral ShermanP''
20. yes"
Well, Sherm and sleep in the same
bed when he can got an excuse for be-
ing out all night. We are always out
strawberrying tog0eher when I'm in
Washington. The day 1 left he came
down to the depot and wanted to pay
me an old debt of 81, 600. but 1 wouldn't
take it. just drop line TO General
Sherman and ask him If he knows
Judge Collins
She seemed to study over the matter
and he presently continued:
I" Maybe that would be too much
trouble: Desgou know the Mayor of
Buffalo?'
mo"
+" Sorry, very sorry, because it
wouldn't take ten minutes to telegraph
him. We rent the same pew in church
and our wives look like twin sisters.
Nice. man, he is, and / can't imagine
how he would look If some one was to
ask him if Judge Collins was all right.
Perhaps you know the Governor of In
| diana"
She seemed ashamed to confess that
she didn't.
"Really don't know him?' he went
on. How unfortunate, as am just
from his house, where he obliged me to
tarry for three weeks. The last thing
he said to me at the depot yesterday
was: /" Now. Judge, when you get to
Detroit don't 60 to any of the first-class
hotels, where all is hustle and confn-
sion, but put up at some quiet, modest
boarding house, where they are very
particular about their guests and where
the landlady has the appearance OF a
genuine aristocrat.' That's what he
said and that's why am here"
Some women would have softened
under that, but she had had two men
climb out of back window the night
before, owing her eleven dollars, and
the flattery didn't soften . line in her
face. She asked if he could give local
references.
"Why, madam, how can IP'' he re-
piled. 81 am stranger here. came
here to transact about $50, 900 worth Of
business with one of the banks. secure
plans for o new block on Woodland
Avenue and perhaps set my son-in-law
up in the wholesale dry-goods trade.
but several day 8 must necessarily elapse
before any one will come to know me
for what am
sour rule is to require references. 7
she said as she noticed his six-days-old
paper collar and almost buttonless vest.
Madam" he replied, as he backed
! down the steps, Il am both surprised