Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-29
An ENTERTAINING COMPANION.
A FIRST RATE STORY TOLD BY FLOR
ENCE THE COMEDIAN.

Once, during IA 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 hours journey. After
seeing my wife comfortably seated, |
walked forward to the smoking car,
and, taking the only unoccupicd place,
pulled out my cigar case and offered u
cigar to my next neighbor. He was
about sixty years of age, gentIemanly
in appearance, and Of somewhat re.
served aud bashful mien. He grace
fully accepted the cigar. and in few
minutes We were engaged in conyersa-
| ti0n.
Are you going far West?" | in
quired.
Merely as far as Columbus" Co
lumbus, may explain, is the capital
of Ohio And you, sir?" he added
interrogatively.
81 am journeying toward Cincinnati.
am n theatrical man, and play there
tomorrow night" | was young
man then and fond OF avowiDg my
profession.
"Oh, indeed Your face seemed
familiar to me as YOU entered the car.
am confident we have met before"
81 nave acted in almost every State
in the Union" said /, half patroniz.
ingly. Mrs. Florence and are pret-
ty generally known throughout the
/ Northwest"
Bless IN" =" said the stranger, in
surprise. IL 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 mem.
ory."
do you propose remaining long in
Columbus = | inquired.
"Ges, for seven years" he replied.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two.
At length my attention was attracted
TO Il little red-faccd man, with small,
sharp eyes, who sat Immediately or.
posie Us, and amused himself by suck
ing the knob Of large walking stick
which be carried caressingly in his
hand. lie had more than once glanced
at me in knowing manner, and now
and then given y sly wink and shake
Of the head at me, as much rs 20 say,
"Ah, old fellow. | know YOU, too"
These attentions were so marked that
| finally asked my companion If be
had noticed them.
THAT man acts like lunatic," said
|, in low voice.
"A poor halfwitted fellow, posi-
bly," remarked my fellow-traveler.
"ln your travels through the country,
however, Mr.. Florence, you must have
often met with just such strange char.
acters."
We had now reached Crestlue, the
dinner station, and, after thanking the
stranger for the agreeable way in
which he enabled me to pass the Jour
nep up TO thi. point. | asked him if
he would join Mrs. Florence and my
self at dinner. This produced an ex-
traordinary series of grimaces and
winks from the red.faced party afore-
said. The invitation to dinner, bow
ever, was politely declined.
The repast over, our train sped on
toward Cincinnati. | told my wife
that in the smoking car | had met a
most entertaining gentleman, who was
well posted in theatricals, aud was on
his way to Columbus. She suggested
that should bring him into our car,
aud present him TO her. | returned to
the smoking car and proposed that
the gentleman should accompany me
to see Mrs. Florence. The proposal
made the red.faced man undergo a
species Of spasmodic convulsions which
set the occupants Of the car into roars
of laughter.
"No, ! thank you" said my friend.
Il feel obliged to you for the courtesy,
but | prefer the smoking car Have
you another cigar =
"Yes," said /, producing another
Partaga.
again sat by his side, and once
more our conversation began, and we
became quite fraternal. We talked
about theatres and theatricals. and
then adverted to political economy,
the state of the country, finance aud
commerce in turn, our intimacy evi.
IDENTIFY atfording intense amusement 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, aud
the train soon arrived at the station.
"Come, said the red.faced invidual,
now rising from his seat and tapping
my companion on the shoulder, 'this
is your station, old man."
NV friend rose with some difficulty,
dragging his hitherto concealed feet
from under the seat. when for the first