The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-10-20
A DANGEROUS VIRTUE.

"A UANUEhOUS vth1ths
Every one, perhaps, knows the story
of Presence-of-Mind Tomkyns, of Oriel,
who gained his prenomen from ham,
mering with an oar the fingers of the
young lady who chung to his boat, which
she would otherwise have overset and
drowned him; but his is not the only
instance wherein that admirable virtue
has been displayed to its possessor's
disadvantage. Except. indeed, in the
case of running away at once on the
first hint of danger (where it is almost
impossible to go wrong), ] am inclined
to doubt whether presence of mind is a
virtue. have known so many cases
wherein people endowed with this
highly eulogized quality have, in what
the French call supreme moments"
(Anglice marrow shayes," 'smuck-
ers'') done such things with sang-froid
and unprecedented good judgment as
they have repented of, but could never
atone for all their lives.
once performed an action of this
kind myself, which proved so far from
presence of mind" being only second
in point of advantage in railway ac-
cident to ''absence of body" that hard
ly anything can be less desirable; and
as the public travel great deal by
railway, the recital of it may interest
them.
l was passenger one night by the
Scotch express to Edinburgh, and, as
might have been expected from one
possessing the quality in question, had
taken care to make myself particularly
comfortable. Pullman and sleeping
cars were unknown in those days, but
/ had secured the seat opposite to me
for my feet and was as well fortified
against the cold as a late dinner at
1.-THE Rag" with glass of ''sixty-year-
old brandy to follow, within, and ul-
ster and rugs without, could make me.
j had friend (no, too suspicious read
er, not q lady--it was the limited mail
train) beside me similarly situated, and
in the third seat beyond was an urbane
stranger with his legs up, who from his
discreet silence and his having secured
the seats on the off side where nobody
could disturb him, concluded to be a
diplomatist. Having awakened at Car
Isle, got out for another petit Uerre
of brandy (much younger than that had
had at the club, and on returning to
my carriage found, to my horror, the
seat for my feet occupied otherwise, by
an intruder, and a person too of a class
to whom the term ''a rough customer"
would not have been inapplicable. Every
one who is any one can understand my
Indignation. Even in omnibuses, which
are licensed to hold good many
people, persons already in poses
sion, however few, resent, l am told,
the arrival of new corners; but the
present outrage was one that was intol-
cradle and Except on the Continent)
absolutely unparalleled. An English
mans house is his castle; but his two
seats in night train are even more
sacred and peculiar to himself. / was
astonished and amazedto the last de-
gree, but / was not speechless:
my good SIR" l said, ''you have
mistaken your carriage"
mo, l amt; and l mean to travel in
this un.''
''But it is my seal, SIR"
Then ! suppose you sits on your
legs"
My friend was asleep Zones friends
always are asleep when we need their
assistance), but l saw sly smile flicker
upon the countenance of the diplomat
list; it was the sort of difficulty (another
mans difficulty that amused him.
''You may not be aware, my good
man." resumed, ''that it is usual for
gentlemen on long journeys to reserve
two seats for themselves"
Then they ought to take two tick
cts" he replied, surlily; ''show me
yourn-herefs mine right enough" and
he ostentatiously displayed it. TWAS a
second-class one.
l flung down the window and ex-
claimed, with professional promptitude:
Guard, turn out should have said,
of course, Guard. turn out this man.;
but the official (who had half a crown
OF mine in his pocket) understood the
situation at once. The obnoxious in
truder was instantly hauled forth, ex-
claiming (falsely) that he had been in
serted in the first-class for want of
room elsewhere.
l had once more put up my feet tri-
umphantly. and was arranging nv
wraps as the train moved slowly on.
when l perceived carpet-bag in the
rack over the opposite seat. NY nature
is not malicious, and though still smart
ing from my recent wrongs, felt sorry
that the poor man should be parted
from his solitary article of baggage,
and thinkinu there was vax f;n1o ~
rather my immense presence of mind
not giving me time to think) plucked
the bag from the rack and threw it
out, as reckoned, upon the
platform; it fell, however, on the line,
about ten yards beyond it.
GOOD heavens" cried /, she'll lose
It,"
1T is no NATTER" said the. diplomat
lst in the softest and creamiest tone