The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-17
AN ENTERTAINING COMPANION.
A First Rate story Told BY Florence. the
Comedian.

First Rate story Told BY Florence. the
Comedian.
From the London Era.
Once. during q tour in the Western States,
writes MIR. Florence the actor, an incident
occurred in which 1 rather think played
the victim. We were Ell route from Clevc-
land to Cincinnati, an eight or ten hour
Journey. After seeing my wife comfortably
seated, l walked forward to the smoking
car, and, t,king the only unoccupied place
pulled out my cigar case and offered & cigar
to my next neighbor. He was about sixty
Years Of age, gcntlenanly III appearance,
and Of a somewhat reserved and Eashful
mien. He gracefully accepted the cigar
and in a few minutes we were engaged in
conversation.
''Are you going far West?" I inquired.
Merely as far as Columbus columbus, I
may explain, is the capital Of Ohio.) And
you, sir? he added, intcrlogatively. :.
II am jou.neying toward Cincinnati,
am a theatrical man, and play there to- NOR
row night" I was young man then, and
fond Of avowirg my profession.
"Oh, indeed! Your face seemed familiar
to me AIS you entered the car. [ am conf
dent we have met before. -
I have acted in almost e:ery state in the
Florence and / are pretty generally known
throughout the Northwest
''Bless me!' said the stranger in surprise,
II have seen YOU act many times, sir and
the recollection Of Mrs. Elorence's Yankee
Girl with her quaint songs, is still fresh
IN my memory.
do you propose remaining long in Co
lumbus?'
"Yes, for seven years, replied my COM
panion.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two. At
length my attention WAS attracted toa little
red faced man, with small sharp eyes, who
sat Immediately opposite us and amused
himself by sucking the mob of. a large walk
ing stick which he carried carelessly in his
hand. He had more than once glanced at me
given sly wink and shake Of the head at
me, as much as to say, "Ah, old fellow,
know you, too"
These attentions We're SO marked that
finally asked lny companion if he had no.
ticed them.
THAT man acts like a lunatic." said I, sot-
to voce.
"a poor half witted fellow, possibly" re-
piled my fellow trainer. I'm your travels
tlrous b the country, however, MI. Florence,
you must have often met such strange char
acters."
We h;u1 now reached Crestlinc, the din
ner station. and. after thanking the stranger
FOR the agreeable way in which he enabled
ME to pass the journey up to this point,
asked him if be would join Mis-. Florence
and myself at dinner. This produced 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 smok-
ing car had met q most entertaining gen
tleman, who was well posted in theatricals
and was on his way to Columbus. She sug-
gested that I should bring him into our ca.
and present him to her. I returned to the
smoking car ana proposed that the gentle
man should accompany me to see Mrs.
Florence. The proposal made the red
faced man undergo It species OF spasmodlc
convnl! ions which set the occupants Of the
ear into rpars Of laughter.
mo, I thank YOU, SAID my friend / feel
obliged to YOU for the courtesy, but pre-
fer the smoking car. Have you another
cigar?'
Yes, said I, producing another partaga.
again sat by his side, and once more
our conversation began and We became
quite fraternal We talked about theaters
and theatricals, and then averted to politi-
cal economy, the state Of the country
finance and commerce in turn, our init
macy evidently attording intense amusement
to the foxy eyed party near us.
Finally the shrill sound of the whistle
and the entrance Of the conductor indicated
we had arrived at Columbus, and that the
train soon arrived at the station.
"Come," said the red face individual, now
rising from his seat and tapping my COM
panion on the shoulder: this is your sta
ton. old man..
My friend rose with some difficulty, drag
ging his hitherto concealed feet from under
the seat, when for the first time l discover
ed that he was shackeled, and was prison
er in charge of the sheriff, going for seven
years to the state prison at Columbus.