The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-04-07
J1gMmk Twain Tells q Story.

t)oTIMarkI TwainT Tells q Story. .rl
AZ re recent ta tdhiina dinner 81 the Boston Papv.
rus Club, Mark Twain, being called upon
for . speech, said:r. t,1,,
~ am perfectly astounded at the way
history repeats itself. /, find myself sit.
uated at this moment, exactly and pre-
cisly as was once before, years ago, to
q jot, ito. a stittlet+toa . very, hair. There
ism t a. shade, of difference, 1t is the
most astonishing coincidence that ever
but fwait! IIwilltell ,yoh9 the former
instance, and then you will see it your
self. Years ago arrived one day at
Saaamanca,IjN M Y,Iheastward- bound.
Must change cars there and take the
sleeper train. There were crowds of
people there's and ltheywere swarming
into. the long sleeper train and packing
it full, and It was perfect pt1rgatory OF
rush, confusion, gritting Of teeth, and
soft, sweet, and low profanity Iasked
the young man in the 'ticket-office if I
could have a. sleeping section; and he
answer sNO!' with a snarl that shriv-
eled me Up like burned leather. 7 went
off smarting under this insult to my dig
nitY,, and asked another local official,
suphcatingly, If I couldn't have some
poorIlittle corner somewhere in q Sleep
mg-car; and he cut me short with a ven
omous No, you can't; every corners s
full - Now don't bother me any more,' :
and he turned his back and walked off.
My dignity was IA a state now which
can not be described. / was so soruffled
that-well, said to my companion, If
these people knew who am, they -
but my companion cut me short there
and said. Don't talk any such folly; if
they did know who you are, do you sup
pose, ,itlWould help your high mightiness
to vacancy in a train which has no
vacancies III itp'y This did notimprove
my condition any to speak of, but just
then | observed that the colored porter
of the sleeping car had his eye on me.
| saw his dark countenapce4lightu up.
He whispered TO. the uniformed conduct
or, punctuating with mods and jerks to-,
ward me, and straightway this conductor;
came forward, oozing politeness from
every pore,E and ssaid ! l5reCan L
benqof any service?c. Will you
have place in the sleeperP' Yes,' I
said, sand much Obliged, too. Give me,
anything anything will answer. He
said, I'VE have nothing left but the big
family stateroom, with two Iberths and
a-eouple of armchairs in it, but it is, en-
tirely At your disposal. Here, Tom,
take these sachels aboardS He touchei
his hat, and We and the, .colored Tom
moved along. was bursting to drop
just oseIlittle remaBkito my companion,
butt held in and waited. Tom made
us comfortable in that sumptuotls great
apartment andi then said, 3 with many
bows and . perfect affiuence of smiles,
Nov, is dey anything you want, sab P -
case you kim have ljes9 anything you
wants +, 1t don't make any difference
what it is 1lsaid, sCan l have some
hot water and a tumblers at g. tonight,
blazing hot? YousknoW about the right
temperature for . hot Scotch punch
Yes; sab, dat you kin; you kin pen on
it. b1lp get it myself. . Good! Now
that lamp is hung too high. Can l
have a big coach-candle fixed up at the
head of my bed SO that can read COM
fortably r. Yes, sab, you kin. Ill fix
her up myself, an I'll fix her up SO
she'll burn all night. YES, sab; an
you can jes call me anything you wants,
and dish yer Whole railroad II be turned
wrong eend up an : inside out for to git
it for you. OATS so.' And he disap-
peared. Well, I tilted my head back,
hooped my thumbs in my arm-holes,
smiled q smile at, my companion, and
said, gently; well, what do you say
now?. My companion was not in a
humor to respond, and didn't, The
next minute that smiling black face was
thrust in at the crack OF the door, and
this speech followed: Laws bless you,
sab, I knowed you in a minute. I told
de- conductah so. i Laws! knowed you
de minute I sol, eyes. on you.' SIS that
SO, my boyP T Handing him a ouadruple
feel Who lambIrg tJennul Met Clellan,'
and he disappeared again. Ny com
panion said vinegarishly, well, well! /
you say now!' Right there
comes in the marvellous coincidence I
mentioned o while ago, viz: was
speeches. !; and that is my condition
now sPercelve It'll "a ..,..-.-