Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-25
GaIes ar.o Skettbts.
A CLOSE SHAVE.
CONTINUED from yesterdsy.l

CONTINUED from Yesterday
He dined at the fayorite club. 1.-The
Owls which has since disappeared and
left no progeny. You may seek ia vain
for its like nowadays. though the events
chronicle are barely five wears old. There
has been a time when to belong to THE
Owls was in itself somewhat coveted
distinction. Most of its members were
men Of decent standing in the literary and
artistic worlds. There is, believe, a
standing order.of the House OF Commons
mot 20 well kept as it might beg to the
effect that no member shall speak i'll OF
another. The unwritten law of the Asso-
citation of Owls was that each Of its mem
bers should hold and disseminate the best
possible opinion of every other member.
and to be an Owl meant to have great
things prophesied of you by your brother
birds Of night. Future poets laureate and
Presidents Of the Royal Academy were to
be found in the smoke dimmed precincts
Of the clubhouse, and the aureole of tut.
ure fame gilded the least successful OF its
habitues.
1t was in mild and not altogether un-
agreeable spirit Of sadness that George
EyLOu IOOk Dis scat at tiC ldNOtitC tAoiC.
His visits to the old place were numbered.
and many pleasant memories we're en-
shrined within its walls. Already dow
cred with the affection Of the old club
waiter, the dinner he ordered on this Oc-
casion was such as to deepen the tender
interest felt by that venerable servitor in
his young client, and past and future
looked doubly fair, viewed through the
medium OF bottle of choice Burgundy
Presently entered to him Mr.. Thomas
Courtenay, brother Owl, to whom a
casual and sarcastic reference had been
made on that eventful afternoon. a month
ago. Mr.. Courteney aspired to be jour
nalist. He was young man of consider
able talent. but of an erratic temperament
which somewhat initiated against his sue
cess.
"Hillo, Eyton, where have you been
hiding for the last month ?''
II have been to Shropshire, attending
on my uncle"
peace to his Names" said Mr., Courte
nay, and took a gulp from a soda-water
glass, filed with liquor of faint COLDER
tinge. II. alas ! am uncleless. BY the
way" he continued, II suppose l may
ask hear that you are engaged to Miss
Boswell. Is that SOP"
II am, Professionally. am to see thu
General tomorrow"
Success attend you! Fear nothing
from me. Iretire."
That's very good of you," said Eytor
gravely.
mot at all, Responded Mr.. Courtenay
with equal gravity. Don't mention it
A.. Z Il a.. 90 L.. ,.,l, Il.
General. my boy. and all happiness"
Thank you," answered George. cor
daily grasping the hand extended tC
him.
What kind of man is the General p
asked Courtenay.
IL never met him. He has been in In
dia for the last IL years. Nelly-Mis'
Boswell-can only just remember him
But think it will be all right. Mrs
Tresham promised to blow my trumpet. y
Charming old lady, Mrs. Tresham =
said Courtenay.
Eyton assented. "And what have you
been doing since I saw you lastp''
working. l hit ON great idea. a
magnificent notion, sir. The way to liter
arg success. Novel ideas in old forms Of
expression. Novelty is what is wanted
nowadays. | wrote an article to prove
that great criminals are merely mistaken
humorists, people with a strong desire
but no capacity, to be funny. supported
my theory by historical examples: Cain
Nero. Cesar Borgia and King Theebaw
II was beautiful paper. three Latin quo
tations per manuscript folio. You
wouldn't believe, If I told you. the amount
Of time and trouble l spent on it.
smoked pound and quarter of birds
eye over the revision alone, and when il
was finished sent it to the "Ecumenical
Review"
well P"
1T was rejected, sir. got it back by
return of post. with note from the editor
expressing his inability to use it, as the
.Ecumenical' was not comic paper"
"What are you going to do tonight p
asked Courtenay half an hour later, as
gestive cigar. Have you any engage
ment9'
"No. was thinking of turning into
one of the theatres later on
.Come with me instead. and I'll show
you something"
"What Is FTP"
"Did you ever hear of Elijah Short p
Never. What is he P"
HE Is temperance orator. And he
Is an orator. too. the only one | ever
heard who really deserves the name. I'm
going to hear him to night. Come with
me-you won't regret it. heard him two
years ago. when was doing that series
on the East End-the series that was t.
make my fortune, and never came out
He's one of the most wonderful men alive
He hasn't an n in his composition. his
grammar is worse than lady novelist's,
his accent is thing to marvel at. and Eve
seen him make crowd of 1900 people
laugh and cry for three hours at a stretch
He told the story of his own life, and
Dickens never did anything finer. for hui
NOR and pathos. 1t was down by Rother.
hithe, and the place was full of those
hulking longshore blackguards.' and
saw dozens of 'em crying like women,
I'm not so sure that didn't shed a furtive
tear myself. and as for laughing-my ribs
were sore for week after. Come and
hear him. There's nothing like him al
any Of the theatres"
HE must be good" said Eyton. laugh.
ing. He has positively made Tom
Courtenay enthusiasticn'
ssCome and hear him." repeated Court
enay. land he'll do the same for you"
..Where is this paragon to be SEEM"
I'm the Brooklyn Hall, Taylor street