The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-31
WHOLE NO. 1862.
A Companion i'm the Cars.

Once, during tour in the Western
States, an incident occurred in which
| rather think 1 played the victim.
We were en- route from Cleveland to
Cincinnati, an eight or ten hours
journey. After seeing my wife COM
fortably seated, [ walked forward to
the smoking-car, and, seating myself
in the only unoccupied place, pulled
out my cigar-case and offered a cigar
to the person next me. He was man
about sixty years of age, gentlemanly
in appearance, and Of reserved and
bashful mein. He gracefully accepted
the cigar, and in few moments we
became engaged in conversation.
Are you going far West?" L in
quired.
Merely so far as Columbus;" said
he. columbus, l may explain is the
capital of Ohio.) 'And you, sir?" he
added interrogatively.
II am journeying toward Cincln-
natl. | am theatrical man, and
play tomorrow night at Cincinnati"
| was quite young man then, and
fond of avowing my profession.
"Oh, indeed? Your face seemed
familiar to me as you entered the car.
[ am confident we have met before"
81 have acted in almost every State
of the Union said l, in half-pat-
ronizing tone. "Mrs. Florence and
myself are tolerably well known
throughout the Northwest"
"Bless meT replied the stranger in
surprise, lis this Mr.. Florence the
comedian? l have seen you act
many, many times, sir; and the recol-
lection Of Mrs. Florence's Yankee
Girl, with quaint songs, is still fresh
in my memory"
do you propose remaining long in
Columbus? ?" | asked.
"Yes, for seven years." replied my
companion.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two.
At length my attention was attracted
to little red-faced man, with small,
sharp-looking eyes, who sat immedi-
ately opposite us, and amused himself
by sucking the knob of large walk
ing-stick which he carried nursing in
his arms. He had more than once
glanced at me in knowing manner,
and every now and then given sly
wink and shake of the head at me, as
much as to say: "Ah, old fellow. 1
know you too"
These attentions were so marked
that | ultimately asked my fellow
passenger if he had noticed them.
''That man acts like lunatic," said
l, soto UOce.
"a poor, half-witted fellow, posi-
bly," replied my companion. I'm
your travels through the country,
however, Mr.. Florence, you must have
often met such strange characters"
We had now reached Chrestline,
the dinner-station, and, after thank
ing the stranger for the agreeable
way in which he had enabled me to
pass the journey up to this point, l
asked him if he would join Mrs. Flor
ence and myself at dinner. This pro-
duced an extraordinary series of
grimaces and winks from the red
faced party aforesaid. The invitation
to dinner was politely declined.
The repast over, our train sped on
toward Cincinnati. told my wife
that in the smoking-car l had met
most entertaining gentleman, who
was well posted in theatricals, and
was en- route for Columbus. She sug-
gested that l should bring him into
our car, and present him to her.
to the smoking-car, and pro-
posed that the gentleman should ac-
me to see Mrs. Florence.
The proposal made the red-faced and
party undergo species of
spasmodic convulsions which set the
occupants of the car into roars of
laughter.
mo, 1 thank you," said my friend.
Il feel obliged to you for your court
ssy, but l prefer the smoking-car.
Have you another cigar?"
eyes," said l, producing another
Partaga.
1 again sat by his side, and once
more our conversation begun, and we
became quite fraternal. We talked
about theaters and theatricals, then
adverted to political economy, the
state of the country, finance and COM
merce in turn, our intimacy evidently
intense amusement to the
foxy-eyed party near us. Finally, the
shrill sound of a whistle and the en-
trance of the conductor indicated that
we had arrived at Columbus, and the
train soon pulled up in the station"
"Come," said the little red-faced in
now rising from his seat and
tapping my companion on the shoul-
der, this is my station, old man."
Ny friend rose with some difficulty,
dragging his hitherto concealed feet
from under the seat, when for the
first time l discovered that he was
shackled, and was prisoner in charge
of the Sheriff, going for seven years
to the State Prison at Columbus.