Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-16
Adysftlsine kessss
An Entertaining Companisn.

Once during tour In the western
States (writes Mr.. Florence, the actor)
an incident occurred In which rather
think-i played the victim. We were
en- route from Cleveland % CIncinnst,
an eight or ten-hour journey. Aftsr
) seeing my wife comfortably seated !
walked forward To the smokiug-car, and,
taking the only uuoccupled place pulled
out nay cigar-case and offered .
cigar to my next neighbor. BE Was
about sixty years of age, gentlemanly
in appearance, and Of somewhat
reserved and bashtul mien. He
gratefully accepted the cigar, and In
a few minutes We were engaged
in con sersallon.
,Are you going far west! . Inquired.
Merely as far as Columbus (Colum-
bus, I may explain, lie the capitol Of
OhioD 1'And you, sirv be added, IN
lerrogatively.
Il am journeying toward Cincinnati.
/ an theatrical man, and play there
tomorrow night was young man
then, and fond Of avowing my pro-
| gession. ao l'7f. saI
oh, indeed! Your face seemed
! familiar to me as you entered the car.
! L in confident we have met before
I have acted IN almost every Ststs
in the Ubion,' said l, half patronisingly
Mrs. Florence and I are pretty sener-
ally known throughout the Northwest
Bless me !''said the stranger In sur
prise. I have seen you act many times,
sir. and the recollection Of Mrs. Flor
ence's Yankee Girl,' with her quaint
songs, is still fresh in my memory
DO you propose remaining long ia
Columbus p t Hh
Yes, for seven years. replied my
companions. ''A
Thus we ehatted for an hour or two.
At length my attention was attracted
10 little red faced man, with small,
sharp eyes, who sat Immediately opposite
US and amused himself By sucking the
knob ofa large walking-stick which be
carried caresslngly in his had. He had
more than once glanced q. me In
knowing manner, and now and then
gave ely wink and shake Of the head
at me, as much as TO say, 'Ah, old fel.
low, I know you, too.'
These attentions were so marked
that finally asked nv companion If be
had noticed them. 80
2 That man acts like lunatie.' said
7, sottn roce,
"A roor half witted fellow, possibly
replied my fellow-trainer. 'Ir your
travels through the country, however,
Mr., Florence, you must have often met
such strange Characters
We had now reached Crestline, the
dinner station, and after thanking the
stranger for the agreeable way 10 which
he enabled me to pass the journey up
10 this point, 1 asked him Il he would
ioin Mrs. Florence and myself ct
dinner. This produced an extraordinary
series of grimaces and winks from the
red.faced party aforesaid. The invita-
ton to dinner was politely declined.
The repast over, our train sped on
toward Cincinnati. / told my wife that
in the smokiug-car had met q most
entertaining gentleman, who was well
posted in theatricals, and was on his
way to Columbus. She suggested that
I should bring him into our car and
present him TO her. l returned to the
smokiDg-csr and proposed thatt gen.
tleman should accompany me TO see
Mrs. Floreuce. The proposal made the
red faced man undergo species OF
spasmodic convulsions which set the
occupants of the car into roars q
laughter.
NO, I thank you,' said my friend. I
feel obliged To YOU for the courtesy, but
I prefer the smoking car. Have you
another cigarp %.
Yes said I, producing another
Partaga.
I again sat by his side, and once
more conversation began, aud We be-
came quite fraternal. We talked about
theatres aud theatricals, and thea aver.
ted to political economy. the state OF
the country. finance aud commerce 10
turn. our intimacy evidently aferdias
intense amusement to the foIy-eysd
party near US. '-''s
Finally the shriIl sound Of the whiseF
and the entrance Of the conductor
ldIcated that we had arrived at Colum6us
and the train soon arrived at the stas
lion. 's
Come said the red-faesd individual
row rising iron bis seat and tapping
ny companion on the shoulder, lthis 10
your station, old man.
Ny friend rose with some difaeuity,
dragging his hitherto concealed feet
| from under the seat, Bhen 'for the irst
time I discovered that he Vas sliscRfsd,
aud was a prisoner in charge Of The .
sheriff, going Tor seven years to the
State prison at Columbus.