The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-28
A socIABLE rENDKRFoor.
TTexas Siftings.1

tEexAs Stitngs.l
 "I have always found Texans quiA and unosteutatious people," said the drummer.
 "QGiet and unostentatious? Good gracious Really mean that" said the pale man with scar on his chin.
 "Yes, l speak merely from my own observation and experience"
 Then you were never in Abiline in western Texas, were your"
 "Naw."
 Thought not"
 "Why did you thought not ?"
 Because there l met a gang of Texans who were so ostentat:ously ob- trusive that it's wonder Pm not now in A land that is faireE than this. Tell you how it was. l was on the road with The Wages of Sin.' We played one night at Abiline. It was a very small place then. The theatre was over a livery stable. There was half a dozen saloons in the place and not much else. Most of the people who made up the audience came from the prairie. The m gority Of them were cowboys and teamsters. Many of them without coats all carried revolvers and wore great dangling spurs. They were noisy and made audible comment on the actors and acting.
 "After the performance went across the street to the principal saloon to get drink. It was long narrow room with counter running its full length. When entered, the counter was lined with cowboys: All were drinking and talk ing loudly. ] walked to the further end of the bar and ordered a modest snifter. While drinking it realized that the eve of every cowboy in the place was directed toward me. The loud talking subsided.
 "' Bet you 5, Jim, you can't shoot a hole in it without hurtin' him.
 |" JlHa ain't drunk enough to miss mark as big as that
 Bstcher life ain't,' said Jim, a short light-haired man. 'I'll go ye, Tobe.'
 But the feller might kick
 "sOa, blast his kicEEin'.'
 "' know, but-but 'twould be more perlite to git his consent
 "l knew they were talking about me. and l wasn't very comfortable. started toward the door. The brigand, whom they called Jim, stepped out in front of me and said:
 "' Pardner, you're enc O them actor fellers, ain't you? We'll you're daisy, you are. You gave us a gosd show an now we want to be sociable.'
 C explained that would hke very much to be sociable.
 "' kerTect ye are. Cause the tender. foot what can be sociable an isn't soci- able must be made sociable. Now sing us song.'
 explained that couldn't sing: tha, my role was the heavy villain.
 q" Villain, eh? Horse thievin' an ourslaries reckon,' said Jim. Well that goes with us, b'A you jast siag us Way Down on the Svanee River" Tune up.'
 He held pistol under my nose SO close that could smell the grease on the cartridges. Another pirate ir leather Ieggins put his six shooter to my ear and said: Now proceed te warble.'
 "Toot,' said Jim, and 1 footed. Snow as little about singing as do about he internal economy of saw mill, but gave them " The SwAnse River" and got an encore.
 Now give us Otheier,' said Jim.
 "' But Othel!o isn't a song.'
 Doesn't make a dam bit O diESs- .nee; give her to us just as she is withA 'ut any fIills.' N "l gave them the Farewell-the. aumed Troops" speech from Othello.
 Uncle Billy's got to hear that said ome one. Yes, Unsle Billy's got to lear it, said they all, and they marched ne down the struggling street at |, ,'clock at night stopped in front of hanv, kicked in tho door, woke up JAcle Billy who sat on the side sf his 'ed aud in the dark, toz he couldn't find Unpublished to me while l repeated he Othello speech.
 Uncle Billy had demijoha sad set em up. Then my escort took me to the midnight train, and as got on board, :ach shook me by the hand and stated hat was the sociablest tenaerfoot' hey had met in years"