The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-14

life often likes to run away from the dull
routine of home surroundings to experience
| for a while the hustle and unrest Of great
city.
l never travel without money. Some
people tell me it is dangerous TO carry
about with me as much as do on these &C.
casiOns. Perhaps it is, but having had a
sad experience in my youth of journey L
undertook without being burdened with
the circulating medium, l have arrived at
the conclusion that q fair allowance OF
money in on - 10 cket is az Essential ing g.
dent TO ones enjoyment when out N the
pursuit OF health or happiness.
| did not cucumber myself with much
luggage, but merely filled my pocket book
with moderate sized bills, took little hand
valise with a necessary change OF CLOTH
ing, and full of good spirits and phllan-
thrOpy duly installed myself at the Aston
House.
like lounging about the Astor House
rotunda and steps. One can pick ones
teeth, meet an occasional acquaintance,
and delight ones gaze with the motley
collection of human beings to be met there
upon any day in the year.
It was old DR.. Johnson, i think, who
said, when asked for material for thought
and description: "Let US take walk down
Fleet Street" Now, if the old doctor were
alive in these days, and on a lecturing tour
III AHeIhCd, anu IL dShcu "udO puO4iS
promenade he would suggest to engt.lder
food for mental reflection he would, in my
opinion, certainly reply, "Let US take a
walk on Broadway"
l don't exactly know whether l was
thinking of the learned Doctor or not, or
whether l was allowing my mind to
wander fancy free, as | strOlled up Broad
way to make call upon friend. For
convenience, had placed lot of papers
and other matters in my hand valise, and,
having plenty of time at my disposal, L
loHnged along, gaping from one side to the
other and rejecting meditatiyely on the
babel of sounds and the immense throng
of people who surged and rushed In all
directions.
| think | had just passed Canal Street,
when | was accOsted 10y n rather genteel
kind of man, who timidly stretched his
hand out as if to greet me, and then,
gazing at me with deep intent, said: "How
dye do, SENATOR"
"You mistake, nv good fellow" said l,
elevating one hand and warding OFF his
advances. 81 have not the honor OF being
a member of the Legislative, but am only
a plain citizen and a mere visitor In this
city"
"Well, well, WELL" repeated the shabby
genteel party, 9 it's really extraordinary.
| could take my oath you were Senator
Spoonful; the same height. side-whiskerS,
long hair and dignifed, gentlemanly APP
pearance. Excuse me, sir, but you are not
really jOking!"
81 assure YOU, on nv honor" said /, i'm
presSively, as l withdrew out of the throng
of passers-by, THAT l was never more
serious in my life. | am not Senator
Spoonbill, but plain John Smith, OF San
dusky, o."
Dear me-" CALCULATED the rather gen.
teel party, u should never have thought
II j.
tricities is always to carry in his hand a
black travelling bag with many of his val
uables inclOsed in it, just such one as
YOU have in your hand ut present"
''My FRIEND" said l, Il know nothing of
the Senator's peculiarities, and further
more | am not the man to carry my money
or valuables in hand bag, which might
be snatched from IN eby the first desperate
| should meet. No, sir; whatever money
1 carry about me is safely inclosed in my
pocket-book, where the thief or design
ing rascal can not even see or lay a hand
on it,
You do quite right, SIR" meekly replied
my new acquaintance, and | hope you will
excuse me for the mistake made in stop
ping you"
Don't mention it, my FRIEND" 1 replied,
encouragingly. 1.-THE likeness, as you said,
was so striking that you are not to blame,
but before leave you let me give you what
we call down in Sandusky a pointer
Never carry your vaIuabes in hand bag
like your acquaintance, the Senator. Keep
your money safely rolled up in your inside
vest pocket, and then you can laugh at the
thieves, ha! ha! ha."
With a chucke of satisfaction at my own
humor and a bow of respectful recognition
at parting, l continued my walk up Broad
way.
l can't exactly say how | ever cultivated
the taste for looking into shop windows. |
know that every window | passed during
the next half hour was scanned by me
with such attention that | almost seemed
to myself to be indulging in the process of
appraising the value of goods set out for
show. As l was turning the corner of
Fourteenth Street, entering into Union
Square, a foreign-looking young man,
somewhat dudeishly attired, recognized
me, and rushing over, grasped me firmly
by the hand saying: Hello, Mr.. Smith;
by Jove, you here? What in the name OF
wonder brought you down from San
dusky?"
1 was little nonplussed at this warm