Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-19
S1r~H,
WHAT A BORE HE WAS.

NA''i"t Was smoking pipe Win an Oiu
chum Of mine whom had left spruce young
married man.
"By the Way said after q general
exchange of yarns a ID experiences, lust to
finish up with. tell me about our old friend
| Smith. whom used to call the bore
Ny companion. Jones. laughed heartily at the
mention Of the old name and said. But do you
mean to say you've never heard the yarn:
Well was very nearly letting the cat out of
the bag straight of: but as you evidently don't
know anything about it. fill your pipe again
and I'll tell it you. Mind, it's a bit egotistical;
but since you've asked me to tell you the story
you mustn't accuse me of blowing my own
trumpet or of talking about matters which
modest men generally leave to other people 20
tain about. You'll be astonished when YOU
hear the end oft
:" We relilicd cur pipes. and Jones began.
''You know that Smith was always treat
friend Of mine-that is to say lie and lurchcd
together in the city every day at a famous old
coaching inn at BiShOpsgatc street which has
some time since gone the way Of most of the
famoU> old London coaching inns Smith
was very good fellow. but he had weak
point. ana the undue prominence Of this weak
point al all places and under all circumstances
caused him to he looked upon a. an instlf-
fcrabic bore. However a. he possessed Il
great number OF good points, and rs hr was
clu enough to be my father and held rather IL
prominent position iii the City OF London and
could give ne excellent advice and help me ma
ff!!aIiy in my upward struggles as junior part
ne. in young City house, Winkrl at Smith
I'll" Bore. and stuck to Smith the honest eyperj-
eHc"d, and @ood-natuTcd.
'9tnith : hobby Was Roman England Now.
had II been anything elSe-Sav pictures OF.
orchids. or old china. or Curios-I should not
nave been 50 unsympathctic. but as was never
OF very romantic disposition having been
brought Hp from al earl age in that most prosaic
and uHsenimcntal of Verbs the CITY, Smiths
intcrm.nahle iargCn about Roman ENGLAND az
times even oVtrca!ae my patience. A. an in
stanc" OF his boring system, he would happen to
HIGHT upon name in the newspaper say Tad
caster: down would 20 the paper and he would
stsrt Of.
'"Tadcaster dear me- Tadcaster The ancient
CaCaTid. You know of the Ii erarieS on the
Carlisle branch of old ETInine street. Ofcourse
You know how the Ermine street ran. No?
Well. il started from Iurnoyaria that Is Dor
crstrr. ras>cd through soTbiodunum Salisbury
/ hy AnG0yrr and Cacya Attrrl,afum Silchester
| that Is. thence over Bagshot Heath by Bibracte
which l. ETham, Staines, to London. From
/ London it went through iiertfordshire Joined
the present north road at Puckeridre and on
hy Euntlngford. ROyStOn. Wendy. and CaXtOn
to todmancle5ter near Huntington. then called
'urOiipons: thence by Water Newton. Durobriysp:
Castor. Bur0maugS; Stamford and Grantham
Her" one branch @OeS on to Lincoln, the ancient
i-indJlln. and York. whilst the ether that with
witch We are interested, goes to Carlisle by Pom
tcfracrs TadCaster. and SO on
He would detail every station. discussed the
disputed questions of their whereabouts, talked
OF the antiquities dug up. until was fairly sick
"f II. and heartily wished that the Romans had
stuck to the defense Of their own rotten empire
instead OF coming to England in order to 90
away again an leave fuel behind them to light
the enthusiastic fires OF SuCn bOrcS as Smith
He had been at the trouble to draw man Of
Roman England with the four great roads de
ln2ated in different Coors and this map he al
ways carried about with him and brought out
- readily that | almost had to pick nv words
and to avoid mentioning any names into the
composition of which the syables caster
or street entered, Tor fear OF giving him al ex-
cuSe for unfolding his piece OF paper
''At last II grew intolerabie. No matter what
topics OF absorbing public interest were in the
paper, no matter how seriously wanted totalk
WITH him upon business affairs Roman England
asserted itself. and my weakness i'll showing
myself a patient listener only served TO tan his
flame. 80 | missed one day at lunch. ! missed
two. and when met Smith in the streets as |
was sure 10 do after these absences | had to
fai'TiCaie an excuse. and to make a promise to
be ar the usual place the next day. and when
! that next day came it may be imagined how |
had to bend beneath q concentration Of the bore
which should have been flung upon me at the
meals lad missed At length l resolved to
cut him altogether; and sneaked up and down
byways and alleys for fear OF meeting him. like
fclOu.
Il saw no more of him for quite year. One
day however. liz the month OF July, met him.
Why, Jones, old fellow! he exclaimed
shaking my hand heartily. 4 made sure that you
were dead. or that you had retired upon your
fortune, for hear your firm have been making
tremendous strides lately. Now, old fellow, for
the sake OF Auld Lang Syne, take pity on me;
IN lonely bachelor. as the wife and daughter
have gone to the seaside. Come and dine with
me, and I'll put you up for the night-changed
my address, you see
But the awful vision of many hours in Ro-
man England stood before my eyes in Its old
horrible shape: and told him-and hope as an
act Of self-defense that it has been pardOned
me-tnat was going to start the next day for
my holiday.
Later on. however did 90 for nv holiday
l had been Very hard worked during the past
year. and ! felt in need Of genuine rest and
recreation-that rest and recreation which are
denied those who employ their annual breathing
space in hurrying and scurrying over countries
ana towns at lightning pace. and whose time is
occupied In packing and unpacking. in catching
steamers and trains, in squabblng with land
lords and paying long bills.
" found what needed at Boulogne where
had as much gayety or solitude rs | chose. the
finest OF air. and was within easy hail Of bust
ness; and very thoroughly enjoyed myself
lillie sIeu ny very peaSant!y. BOuOInp
walked on the jetty. especially on rough DAYS
about the hour of the tidal boats arrival: and
So did !. Boulogne disported itself yariousy
on ne sands. attended balls at the Casino.
looked on at balls in the Tintellerie Gardens:
did likewise. BoulOgne was not much given
to exploring the river Lame. because Bou-
/ lOgne knew very well that there was nothing
to be got for the trouble; but did as tar az
/ Pont de BriqUes. where was upset by the cur
rent and FASTENED back just in time to stick fast
! on sandbank for an hour in full view Of the
/ quays and the bridge. BOulOgne knew very
| little about its surrounding country so resolved
to teach myself and returned with the conviction
that. with the exception of Alden. rustic BOulogne
was about the most God-forsaken spot with
! which hwas acquainted.
But the chief allurement and endowment of
| Boulogne was the bathing. Everybody knows
! how they battle at Boulogne and other French
watering places. SO that there is no need to
describe 1t. Suffice it. therefore to remark that
! II the system is not abused by Frenchmen and
women. there is 10 reason to suppose that it
would be abused by En@lshmen and women
/ Everybody knows also that bathing at Boulogue
/ III our LrGllehinan SENSE of the word Is dam
grrous- That is to say there is u nasty under
| tow out about In line with the sandbar at the
jetty head, which has proved fatal to many a
| strong sV INNER, and strong swimming therefore
| Is almost out of the question although the
I patrons of the bOb-up-and- down at and in "a
| circle style OF bathing as safe here as any,
! where else. He who thinks to have a good
! fla