The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-16
n. entertaining Companion.
lIondon Era.


Once during tour in The western States
writes MIR. Florence, the actoI) an incident
occurred in which I rather think i played
the victim. We we've en- route from Cleve-
land 10 Cincinnati, an eight or ten-hour
iourHey. After seeing my wife comfortably
seated walked forward TO the smoking.car,
and. taking the only unoccupied place,
puled out my cigar.case and offered cigar
IN nv next neiebbor. He was about sixty
wears Of age, gentlemanly IN appearance,
and OF somewhat reserved and basbful
mien. He gracefully accepted the cigar,
and In few minutes we were engaged In
conversation.
l." Are you going far west I" inquired.
8. Merely ms far a. Columbus" (COlum-
bus, may explain, is the capital OF Obio.)
And you, sir 2" be added. interrogatively.
a. am journeyiug toward Cincinnati.
am theatrica-man, and play there to'mor-
row night" was a young man then. and
fond Of avowing NV profession.
"Ob, indeed! Your face seemed familiar
to me as you entered tue car. ! am conf
dent we have met before"
81 nave acted in almost every State in the
Union," said ], half patronizingly. Mrs.
Florence and are pretty generally known
throughout the Northwest
"Bess me! !" said the stranger in sur
plise. 81 have seen you act many times,
sur, and the recollection OF Mrs. Fl0rence's
yankee Girl with her quaint songs, is
still fresh IN nv memory"
"Do YOU propose remaining long in
ColumbusF"
ayes. for seven years." replied my COM
paniOn.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two. Al
oft attracted In "A lIft Ia
red.faced man, with small. sharp ewes, who
sat Immediately opposite us and amused
himself by sucking the knob of large walk
ing.stick which he carried c1rtsSir gly IN his
hand. He had more than once glanced at
me in knowing msnDer, and now and then
given sly wink and shake Of the head at
me, a. much as to say, "Ah, old fellow, |
know you, too"
These attentions were 90 mar ed that ]
finally asked my companion if be had noticed
them.
"That man acts like Iunatc," said !,
soto UOce.
GA poor half.witted fellow, possibly"
replied NV fellow trainer. In your travels
through the country. however, Dir. Flor
ence you must have often met such strange
Characters"
We had now reached Creslline, the din.
ner station, and, afieI thanking The stranger
for the agreeable way in which he enabled
me to pass the journey up 10 this poini,
asked hirei if he would join Mrs. Florence
aud myself at dinner. This produced an
extraordinary series OF grimacfs aud winks
from the r,d.flced party aforesaid. The
invitation 10 dinner was politely declined.
The repast over. our train sped on toward
Cincinnati. | told my vile that in tie
smoking-caT had met most entertaining
gentleman, who was we'll posted in thea'ii-
Gals, and was on hi way 10 Columbus. S0e
suggested that should bring him into our
car and present him 10 her. ] returned 10
tue >moking.car and proposed thar he gen.
lleman should accompany me to see Mis-.
Florence. The proposal made the rrdfaced
man undergo a species Of spasmodic con-
vulsions which set the occupants OF the ear
into rOarS OF laughter.
"No. thank you," said my friend. 81
feel Obliged 10 YOU for the courtesy. but |
prefer the smokng.car. Have you another
cigar!"
"Yes," said /, producing another Par
taea.
| again sat by his side, and once more our
conversation began, and we bec1me quite
frateinal. We talked about theatres and
tbeatricals, and then averted to nolticIl
economy. the state Of the country, finance
and commerce i'm turn, our intimacy eyi.
IDENTIFY afiurding intense amusementsto the
f0Xy.ey ed party near Us.
Finally the sbrllI sound OF the whistle and
the entrance OF The conductor indicated that
we bad arrived at Columbus, and the train
soon arrived at The station.
"Come," hid the redfaced individual.
now rising from his seat and tapping my
companion on the shoulder, "this Is your
t 'tiOn. old man."
Ny friend rose with some difficulty. drag
sing bis hitherto concealed feet from under
the seat, when for The first time discovered
that he was shacked, and was prisoner in
charge OF the sheriff, going for seven years
10 the State prison at Columbus.