New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-05
"MY FRIEND, THE JEDGE."

II was under curious circumstances that l nrst
met my friend the Judge, more properly accord
Ing to his own rendering of it, " the Jedge.' Ohe
Sunday last summer. being in Munich. ltook run
down to the Starnberg Lake. The tram was
crowded Everybody who could conveniently
leave town Tor the afternoon appeared to De doihs
40 for il was dreadfullv warm and there was a
formulation in the mere thought of the cool breezeS
a the lake only an hour or so distant.
As | stepped oil the train at StarnbeIe the
steamer from down the lake was landing her pas
sengers at the jotty opposite the station Az the
wharf gate a motley crowd of pCrters, hackmen
md nv. ISLANDERS generally had gathered around an
individual in a straw hat and linen dusIer who
was gesticulatiug violently in their midst. l drew
near to find what was the matter.
81 tell We what. gentlemen, faint no use what
ever" heard the man in the buster e1caiu in
deep husky voice, with good Illinois accent
'Taint no use Eff l hev to stand var TIL Dooms-
day then there n confused hub0uo OF eJacu-
latipns from the crowd and manifest disposition
to hustle the stranger unceremoni"usly'
SAINT thar no man about var who can talk Eng
N,b ~ roared the husky voice in tone ot mingled
defiance and despair.
ayes. here said |. stepping forward on the frst
impulse "Can lie OF any service r
| vas instantly the centre OF observation' anu
no
oivinr me AN opportunity to inspect the individual
IN whose behalf ! had volunteered as interpreter
I saw ponderous man of about fifty, broad
shouldered and tall. with a round, full moon,
cherub face and an eye which, even in his present
embarrassment was not without its twinkle OF
yood- humor His broad-brimmed straw hat was
rather far over toward the back of his head his
linen buster fell from his shoulders to his knees
like crumped rag, his collar aRd shirt-tosoul
were badly demoralized by the weather. his striped
linen pants hung on his elephautlne legs III limp
and baapv folds-in short, his entire appearance
indicated brave and prolonged but unsuccessful
strnggle with the August Thermometer
He looked at me as approached, and the cherub
face Lie up with smile of triumph as ne extended
n broad hand. palm upward aud fingers distended.
and exclaimed, or rather roared: Hurrah.
stranger Put it there. Now we'll show these
Wandals thing or two"
The crown laughed outright at his exultant
manner. and had all could do TO repress broad
nmlle AS | took his prOfered hand and asked what
the matter was.
This ere chap with the gold band around his
cap.D he said pointing to a porter who stood by
holding ght to "a rusty looking leather valise with
collapsed Sides as if there were noting in it" this
,ere chap grabbed my valiSe as ! came Of the boat.
and / want it again. that's all You can les tell
him that for me- If you please, stranger"
"What are you doing with that vallse 7" asked
the servant.
@The Herr told me to carry it for him," was the
reply.
y But how could he tell youi You see lie doesn't
speak German"
ayes. but he pointed to it. as much as to tell me
to take it,"
q" Nonsense. Drop it and GO said /; "or I'll
call an officer here for you in two minutes"
The fellow saw that was in earnest, so he sui
lenly dropped the vase and disappeared in the
crowd.
aSich a set O. thievin' scamps l never did see"
said the cherub, with goOd-natured laugh. 81
only wish could talk this lingo. I'm everlastin'ly
Obliged to ye stranger My names ledge johnson,
of Reshtigo, Wisconsin. You are American, too ~
told him was and gave him my name adding
that 1t afforded great pleasure to have protected
a fellow countryman from imposition.
sCome and let's hev somethin'," he exclaimed
impulsively.
felt obliged to decline. for the boat was about
starting and had to hurry gu board. "You don't
stop over here. do you" / asked.
4Tm goin' to take the first train for Munich"
he answered. Here's my through ticket"
sYou'd better be getting on, them told HIM.
"That is your Irain and 1t leaves in about three
minutes"
So he and / shook hands again. Mister -"
said he in u pathetic tone as he gIasped my hand
and struck dramatic attitude Mister -, Pm
pleased to'vo met We. Whether meet again
or no. don't yer forget it, I'm always yer friend. the
Jedge" and giving my hand parting squeeze that
sent twinge up to the very collar bone he seized
the rusty vase rushed fantically the track,
and in another moment had vanished into the
interior of third-class car. And that my first
ACQUAINTANCE with my friend the Jedge."
/ really never expected to have the pleasure Of
meeting his Honor again. Time passed by, ana
when memory now and then brought him back to
me, | pictured him and happy once more on
the bench of his Wisconsin Courthouse dispensing
impartial Justice among the pines Of Reshtigo or
RECALLING his associates with spicy recitals OF his
periences among the Wandas" of Europe. But
last autumn business called me to Bordeaux and 1t
so happened that found myself there with a week
10 wait before the matters had in hand could be
consummatod. How to fill up the week was
question. There was ArcachOE- but il was rather
late in the season. There was Royan-but every
body had gOne and the hotels were closed Why
not take a trip into Northern Spain and 500 the
Blscay Provinces, suggested Nicollet, my landlord
The idea took my fancy at once and so, one Octo-
ber morning found Inc at the st. Jean station with
thrOush ticket for Bilbao.
The first part of the ride through tie pnewood
clearings is. as everyone knows who has been that
way tame and stupid enough / had certainly
begun TO find 1t SO even before we arrived at
LamOthe, the junction point for Arcacbon. The
only passengers beside myself in the compartment
were an elderly couple who sat at the further end
and looked out of the window scarcely ever OK
changing WORD, aud stout, rather hashily
dressed man OF about thirty-fve whom from the
nature and extent Of his baggage / took TO be- a
commits roydgeur He had yawned away the first
half hour after departure from Bordeaux and
had finally dropped asleep or appear TO, in the
corner seat opposite mine.