The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-02-10
THE MOURNFUL MAN.

\ few weeks ago man registered at
an Oshkosh hotel aud was assigned
room, and every body noticed that he was
a most mnurntui looking nan. lie never
said word, but t!lsre was that about his
and his actions that showed he was
lLboring under some greet sorrow. lie
had his supper taken to his room! and the
waiter said the man never spoke, and
seemed to We the saddtst locking man lie
ever saw. Tne guests all talked the mat
ten over. and they decided that man was
going to commit suicide \ travelling
man who had room next door to the
solemn man, and who had previously &C.
cupied adjoining rooms III three different
hotels to three meu who had committed
suicide, felt that lie WAS about to exper-
fence Il fourth shock of the sam kind,
and he lay i'll his bed all night and never
slept wink, believing that the next mo-
ment he should hear revolver shot or
the death struggle of his neighbor, from
poison. He never heard a sound all night
and when he got up in the morning he
told the clerk that he was sure the man
was dead. They passed the room and
listened. but could hear no noise, and it
was decided to look over the lransom to
see if the man was dead. 1t was not a
pleasant thing to lock over a transom in
to a mans room. not knowing whether
your eye will fall on a corpse or live
nobody seemed to yrarn to be the first to
climb the step ladder. Finally it WAS de-
cidea to throw a cat over the transom,
on to the bed, and, if they did not hear
any noise it would be certain that the
man was dead. and they could 90 on with
the fuEeral. \ cat was procured, and
the porter. who knew just where the bed
was located. was detailed to toss the cat
over. He went up the ladder few steps
not enough To look over. because he was
not prepared 10 look suddenly upon a
corpse, and taking the cat in both hands.
by the legs, he gently tossed her, or him
as the case nj ,ht be, over the transom
on the bed occupied by the mournful-
looking man. The cat was heard to fail
With a dali thul. there was sound as of
scratching and rippiu", il heavy form was
heard to strike the floor. the cat "pur-
meoul," ani spit and the half dozen
people out in the hall looked at each other
wnnieringly when suddenly the maddest
man that was ever seen iii Oshkosh came
ont into the hall in his night shirt. lie
had the cat by the hind legs with one
hand and revolver in the other. and as
he struck at the assembled multitude
right and left with the cat, there was the
worst getting Gown stairs that ever was
and the cat was TIN own ut the last person
turned to his room. He dressed himself
went down to the Office and paid his bill
and took the first train South. never hav-
ing spoken 4 word while in Oshkosh, and
the people ale TO this ;iay wondering
whether he was . prohibition speaker,
travelling man 10: 4 corset factory. or an
arr1.t cora deaf and dumb as, luIn. The
travelling man who was 50 nervous for
fear his neighbor was going to commit
suicide wishes he had, the landlord fears
that he has displeased a guest who might
have rem ,incd longer. aud the potter " no
threw tie cat says that'it is the last time
he will ever try to find a corpse by the
aid of a cat.