Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-07-25
John GIlbert's Boots.

Toward the close Of one of these
trips through the border States, the
company to which Mr.. Gilbert was at
tached played in st. Louis, then an in
significant town of a few thousand in
habitants, paved principally with mud
six inches deep, and boasting one
theater, transformed out of an old salt
house, the only entrance to which was
by way of long and rickety flight of
steps built on the outside of the end
wall. From his share of the receipts of
a performance in this establishment
young Gilbert bought pair of very
fine-looking boots, and, on account of
them, was for the moment the envy of
his companions, several of whom were
without adequate covering for their
pedal extremities. They said very lit
tie regarding his purchase. however,
until some days afterwards, when, on
the way down the Mississippi to New
Orleans, the boat in which they had
taken passage stopped at Vicksburg
for a load of cotton. There two or
three of the actors, knowing that the
boat would be detained all night, deter
mined to give a performance on their
own account, and hired negro to
make the announcement. Toward
evening it became evident that the
tumble-down shed in which the enter
ment was to be given would be filled a;
and old SOL =" Smith the original
Sol who was to be one of the per-
formers, came to Gilbert, and dolefully
displayed a pair of shoes through
which torn stocking was only too
plainly visible, said, in tones which
would have done credit to Forrest or
the elder Booth
John, friend of me youth, let me
have your opinion of these shoes"
They are very bad shoes" ;" replied
Gilbert, with equal solemnity exceed
ingly bad shoes, my friend"
- In fact it would be injudiciouS, as
it were, to appear before the culture
and fashion of Vicksburg in such
shoes queried SOL " and Gilbert be-
ginning to see what was coming, reluct-
antly admitted that - the culture and
fashion of Ficksburg" might indeed
object to so lavish display of worn
stockings.
''Then me friend, me noble friend -
continued the inimitable Sol - with
increasing animation, ''there is abSo-
mtely no help for it. Me very soul re-
volts at being compelled to ask the
sacrifice, but in the name of our friend
ship conjure-nay, command YOU
to lend me your new boots -
What warm-bearted man could have
withstood such an appeal? Certainly
not John Gilbert. Without further ado
he pulled off the new boots and gave
them to his friend They were several
sizes too large for :" Sol . still, happy
in their possession, he hurried away to
take part in the performance.
The house was well filled. Sol -
received nearl y $50 as his share of the
proceeds, and, having the night before
him, wandered about .'just to see the
town, you KNOW" happened into a
gambling saloon, lost his money, took "a
brandy-smash or two, became happily
oblivious to what was going on about
him, staggered out INTO the street to-
ward his boat, and at last arrived in
the very best of health and spirits, but
without anything on his feet.
He left John Gilbert's new boots
sticking in the black mud of Vicksburg.
During the rest of the trip to New Or
leans that eminent comedian was oh
liged to wear the 'holey " shoes of his
friend SOL" while - Sol himself
wiser, if not a sadder, man-was oblig
ed to walk about in a pair of dilapidat-
ed slippers furnished by the liberality
of the steamboat captain.