Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-06
miscellaneous.
An Entertaining Companion.
A FIRST RATE STORY TOLD BY FLORENCE,
THE COMEDIAN.

4
THE COMEDIAN.
Once, during a tour in the Western
States. writes Mr.. Florence, the actor, an
incident occurred IN which / rather think
/ played the victim. We were en- route
from Cleveland to Cincinnati. an eight or
ten hour journey. After seeing nv wife
comfortably seated, ! walked forward to
the smoking car. and. taking the only un-
occupied place, pulled out my cigar case
and offered cigar to my next neighbor.
He was about sixty years of age, gentle
manly in appearance, and Of a somewhat
reserved and bashful mien. He graceful
ly accepted the cigar. and in few min
utes We were engaged in conversation.
Are you going far West o. inquired.
MERELY rs far az Columbus. (Colum-
bus, may explain. is the Capital Of Ohio }
And you, sir?'' he added. inierogatively.
Il am jonrneying toward Cincinnati. /
am theatrical man, and play there to-
MORROW night" / was young man
then. and fond Of avowing my profession.
..Oh, indeed, Your face seemed tamil
lar 10 me as you entered the car. | am
confident we have met before"
II have acted in almost every State in
the Union" said I. halt patronzingIv.
MRS. FL renee and are pretty generally
known throughout the Northwest"
BLESS me - said the stranger. in sur
prise. 81 have seen you act many times,
sir, and the recollection Of Mrs. Florence's
Yankee Girl with her quaint songs, is
still fresh in my memory"
''Do you propose remaining long in
Columbus ~
Eyes. for seven years. replied my
companion.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two
At length nv attention was attracted to a
little red faced man, with small. sharp
eyes, who sat Immediately opposite us,
and amused himself by sucking the knob
of large walking stick which he carried
caressingly in his hand. He had more
than ence glanced at me in knowing
manner. and now and then given a sly
wink and shake Of the head at me, rs
much as to say, "Ah, old fellow, | know
you, too"
These attentions were so marked that
finally asked my companion il he had nc
ticed them.
THAT man acts like lunatic,p said |.
soto roce.
"A poor half-witted fellow. possibly"
replied my fellow traveller In your
travels through the country however. MIR.
Florence, YOU must often have often met
such characters.
We had now reached Crestline. the din
ner station. and. after thanking the stran-
ger for the agreeable way in which he
enabled me to pass the journey up to this
point. + asked him if he would join Mrs.
Florence and myself at dinner. This pro-
duccd an extraordinary series OF z IMAGES
and winks from the red faced party afore-
said. The invitation to dinner was po-
litely declined.
The repast over, our train sped on
toward Cincinnati. | told my wife that
in the smoking ear had met a most en-
pertaining gentleman. who was well post
ed in theatricals. and was on his way to
Columbus She suggested that should
bring him into our ear, and present him
to her. | returned to the smoking ear and
proposed that the gentleman should ac-
company me to see Mrs. Florence. The
proposal made the red faced man under
go species of spasmodic commissions
which set the occupants of the ear into
roars OF laughter.
mo. thank you said my friend. Il
feel obliged to you for the courtesy. hut
prefer the smoking ear. Have you an
other cigar"
"Yes," said |. producing another Par
taga.
again sat by his side. and once more
our conversation began and we became
quite fraterhal. We talked about theatres
and theatricals. and then averted to po-
litical economy. the state of the country,
finance and commerce in turn. our in
timacy evidently atfording intense amuse-
ment to the foxy eyed party near us.
Finally the shrill sound of the whistle
and the entrance of the conductor indicated
that we had arrived at Columbus, and the
train soon arrived at the station.
Come" said the red faced individual.
now rising from his seat and tapping my
companion on the shoulder; this is your
station. old man.
My friend rose with some difficulty.
dragging his hitherto concealed feet from
under the seat. when for the first time |
discovered that he was shackled and was
n prisoner in charge of the Sheriff. going
for seven years to the State prison AT CO.
lumbus. London Era.
FIsHERMEN's SUrERsTrrIoNs-T
are many amazing superstitions still prev
alent among the herring fishermen of
England aud Scotland. For years the
Manx fishers dared not put to sea with
out a dead wren to ward off storms and
disaster. This was due to the tradition
OF ,Ies spirit which hunted the behring's.
and was attended by storms; at length it
took the form of dead wren and flew
away. Consequently dead wren was
thought to keep things straight, As late
ly as 1854. the herring fishery being very
bad at Bantf. Scotland, some fishermen
dressed a cooper in Il flannel shirt with
bars stuck all over it" and carried him
in procession through the town in hand
barrow. This was done To bring better