Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21

Notes and Gossip Picked UP on the
Street.

IIervcy Spencer, Esq, was the orator at the
last regular meeting of the Great American
| Horse Club and in the course Of his remarks
told the following story A Middlcbury
horse Jockey, noted far and wide for his
sharpness In horse trades, got the better of a
Frcnchman down there to the extent of a
couple hundred dollars. The Frenchman
said nothing, but kept his eyes open for an
opportunity t. take his revenge. Al last one
day he made his appearance behind horse
which evidently possessed style, speed and
staying qualities, but whose coat was very
rough and who evidently stood in great need
of Il thorough grooming. The jockey, much
taken with the animals appearance, asked
Of the Frcnchman GLOW much do you
want for that horse 2" "Oh," replied the
Frcnchmau, ''you don't want him he no
look good" The next day the Frenchman
again drove ont and the jockey begged ride
with him. After going a short distance he
again asked the owner how much he
would take for tho horse, but the Frenchman
made the sam r1ply-"You no want him
he no look good" But the jockey thought
he dill want him. and finally offered $3.50,
which was promptly accepted and as prompt
ly pad. But the next day the jockey met
the Freuchman and said, "Contound
you, that horse | bought of you yester-
day is stone blind" "Well," replied the
Frcnchman, ''didn't told you you no want
him, him no look good ~ Sure enough he
dldn't-tho Frcnchman told the exact truth.
"The monumental brakeman or, virtue
rewarded That is the title Of the Idler's
next yarn and Blggagemaster George Bow.
tell is the hero Of it. George used to be
brakeman on the River rond aud at Bellows
Falls he had some such lingo as this to get
oif-thc ldlcr doesn't pretend to repeat /,
with absolute accuracy Passengers fol
Rutland, Burlington, st. Adams aud Mon.
treal change cars passengers for so-and-sc
take the rear car; this car goes to White
River Junction. etc. Well, George used to
wait until thee hal stopped and then repeat
his little verse clearly and plainly, so tina,
every one in the car could hear and
understand it. One day just as he had gone
through the usual performance passenger
came rushing out and said to him; "Youna
man, let me shake your hand. You are the
greatest brakeman of this or any age.
have travelled great deal, but never have
heard brakeman get off his lingo in thu
style you do. In behalf of all living trav
oilers aud mi lions yet unborn | thank you
If you die before | do | shall head a sub
scription paper to build YOU handsome
monument" The eloquent traveller ther
hoped into car leaving in Georges hanC
what he was subsequently surprised to fine
was ten-dollar bill.
Speaking of railroads, the boys the othe
night were c)n5ratulating Hon. John l.
Mason on the fact that one of the big new
engines had been named in his honor, ant
to give him an idea of the siz
Of the locomotive one of then
said that the fireman went out t
oil the cylinders just as the train was leav
ing Essex Junction, brt the distance was So
great that h. didn't get back into the ca
until the train was pu.lin-; into st. Adams
Another rairoa. yarn is that car loaded
with steel rails broke from the train at tn
Summit, near Ludlow, and ran four mile
down the grade in thrc. and one.half min
utes. One rail was accidentally thrown iron
, the car aud its momentum was such that
passed through a telegraph pole, making
hole in it as large as II mans body bu
leaving the pole standing, and final
stopped about half a mile from the poin
where it left the car. If these stories ar
true, they may be depended on as facts.