Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-09-13
KEEPING THEIR END UP.
How the Great Vests Marvels Are
Apt to Multiply.
From a San Francisco Paper.

As last Tuesdays west bound train
passed Cape Horn, a large party of
Englishmen, of the stsdirect-from-
I.unnon'' variety, crowded out on the
platform and loudly expressed their
dissatisfaction at the scenery, which
was mot at all up to the guide books,
you know, by Jove!"
As they returned to their seats to
enjoy a jolly good British all-around
grumble, entirely oblivious OF the in
dignant glances of the native passen-
gers, a meek-;ooking, gentle-voiced
journalist from Frisco approached
from the other end of the car and
volunteered to give the tourists some
valuable facts concerning the country.
In an ingenious and plausible way he
answered their questions in q manner
that reduced our critics from over
the pond to a condition Of profound
amazement, not to say awe.
The next morning the journalist
was informed by the reporter that a
committee of gentlemen wished to
see him in the t~aggage-car. As he
entered the latter he found a dozen
travellers, all native and to the man
or born, waiting to receive him hat
in hand. The spokesman advanced
and said:
"You are the party who was giving
those globe-trowsers in the rear sleep
er some points about the coast, l be-
lieve?"
II am, SIR" said the quill-driver,
m~odestly.
"You told them, I understand"
continued the chairman that Mount
Shasta was u 5000 feet high?'
THE same"
"You divulged the well-kno wn fact
that trains on this road were often
detained four days by herds of buff
falo, and that they frequently have to
use a Calling gun On the cowcatcher
to prevent the locomotive being push
ed off the track by the grizzly bears?''
Eyes, sir"
"You further acquainted them
with the circumstances that the Dig.
ger Indians live to the average. age
Of 204, and that the rarefcation Of
the air on the plains is such that ar
ordinary pin looks like a telegraph
pole at the distance Of forty-twe
miles?"
II think I wedged that in,' res.
ponded the newspaper-man.
"And We are informed they al
made a memorandum of your state.
ment that at the Palace Hotel an av.
erage Of two walters per day wert
shot by the guests for bringing colo
soup-eh?"
"They did,"
"And, finally, We believe you arr
the originator of that beautiful-tha'
Decentralization regarding tina
fallen redwood tree up at Mariposa-
1 mean the hollow one into which th,
six-horse stage drives, and comes on
Of a knot-hole 165 feet furthe
along?"
81 told them all about it."
"Just SO! just SOL" said tn
committeeman, grasping the patri
OTIS hand and producing a well-fllet
buckskin bag, land I am instructed
by this committee of your fellow
countrymen to present you with thi
slight token Of our appreciation o
the noble manner in which you hav'
indicated the honor of our nobl,
land; God bless you, sir!"
"Gentlemen," said the true Cal
~ifornian, much affected, 81 under
stand your feelings, and although
blush to be rewarded for simply do
ing my duty, I accept the gift as
sacred trust to be devoted to the fur
Their exaltation of our common coun
try"
"In what way?'' asked the chair
man earnestly.
"Why, I am going back to rop
those fellows into a little game o
%studhorse poker" And as he left th
car they gave him a cheer that nearl,
shook the train off the rails.