The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-09
John Gllbert'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 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 rickcty flight of
steps built on the outside of the end
wall. From his share of the receipts of
performance in this establishment
young Gilbert bought a pair of very
tinc-looking boots, and, OH account of
them, was for the moment the envy OF
his companions, several of whom were
without adequate covering for theil
pedal oxtremities. They said very lit,
tie regarding his purchase, however
until some days afterwards, when. O,
! the way down tho Mississippi to New
Orleans, the boat in which they had
taken passage stopped at VicEsburg
for load of cotton. There two or
three Of the actors, knowing that the
boat would be detained all night, deter
mined to give Il performance on their
own account, and hired IL negro to
make the announcement. Toward
evening it became evident that tho
tumble-l0wn shed i'll which the enter
ment was to be given would be filled ;
and old "Sol " Smith, the original
Sol "-who was to be one of the per-
formers, came to Gilbert, and dolcfully
displayed Il 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"
Ihey are very bad Shoes" replied
Gilbert, with equal solemnity exceed
lngly bad shoes, my friend"
In Tact 1t would be injudiciouS, as
1t were, to appear before the culture
and fashion Of Vicksburg in such
shoes ? querlcd "Sol )" and Gilbert be-
ginning to see what was coming, reluct-
antly admitted that "the culture and
fashion of Vicksburg - might indeed
object to so lavish a display of worn
stockings.
Then me friend, me noble friend ~
continued the inimitablc Sol " with
increasing animation, "therc is abso-
lutely no help for it. Me very soul re-
volts at being compelled to ask the
sacrifice, but in the name of our friend
snip L conjure-nay, command you--
10 lend me your new boots -
What warm-hearted 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
tako nart - 49, Il "a
i nt house was. well filled. HSol ),
received nearl y $40 as his share OF the
proceeds, and, having the night before
him, wandered about "jiist 10 sec tile
town, you know" happened into Il
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.
lie left John Gilbert's new boots
sticking i'll the black mud of Vicksburg.
During the rest of tho trip to New Or
leans that eminent comedian was OBJ
liged to wear the "holey" shoes of his
friend "Sol," while 4" Sol himself-a
wiser, if not a s;sdder, lman-was oblig-
ed to walk about in a pair of dilapitlat-
ed slippers furnished 10y the liberality
of the steamboat captain.