The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-03-24
MY FRIEND MEURTRIER.

vas ~ one Elrfle en- D1OTeQ n gov
ernment Office. Every day from 10 until
o'clock became voluntary prisoner
IN depressing Office, adorned with
yellow pasteboard boxes and filed with
the musty Odor Of old papers. There
hreakfasted on Italian cheese and apples
which I roasted at the crate I read the
morning papers. even 70 the advertise
ments; I rhymed verses, and I attended
% the affairs Of state 70 the extent Of
drawing. at the end Of each month. a
salary which barely kept me from starv-
ing
recall to-day one Of nv companions
IN captivity at that epoch. He was
called Achille Meurtrier. and certainly
his fierce look and his tall form seemed
70 warrant that name. He vas a great.
big fellow, about forty years old. with
OUT too much chest OF shoulders. but who
wore felt hats with wide brims. short
but ample coats, large plaid trousers. and
red neCkties under rolling collars. He
wore a full beard. long hair. and was
very proud Of his hairy hands. The
chief boast Of Meurrrier. otherwise the best
and most amiable Of companions. was 70
trlhe with an athletic constitution. to
possess the biceps Of prize-ighter. and.
as he said himself, not % know his own
strength He never made ges-
ture even IN the exercise Of his peaceable
profession that did not have for its object
70 convince the spectators Of his pro-
digiOus vigor. Did he have % take from
Its case an empty pastebOard box. he ad-
vazced toward the shelf with the heavy
step Of a street porter, grasped the box
solldly with a tight hand. and carried il
with a stiff arm as far as the next table
with ! Struggling Of shoulders and fruwn-
ing Of brow worthy Of Milo Of CrotOna.
he carried this manner 50 far that he
never used less apparent effort even 20
lft the Lghtest objects. and one da7
when he held IN his right hand basket
Of Old papers l saw him extend his left
arm horizontally as If % make a counter
poise % the tremendous weight.
ought 20 say that this robust creature
inspired me with a profound respect. for
| was then- even more tnan to-day, ph7s-
ically weak and delicate. and N c0nse-
4uence aled With admiration for that
energetic physique which I lacked.
The conversations Of Meurtrier were
not Of a nature 10 diminish the admiration
With which he inspired me. Above al.
n the summer. on Monday mornings.
when be had returned 20 the Office after
our holiday, he had an inexhaustible fund
Of stories concerning his adventures and
teats Of strength After having taken
Of his felt hat. his coat, and his vest. and
having wiped the perSpirarion from MS
forehead with the sleeve Of the shirt %
Indicate his sauguine and ardent temper
ament. he would thrust his hands deep IN
the pockets Of his trousers. and. stand
ing near me in Al attitude Of perpendicu-
lar s0liditv. begin = m0nol0gue some
thing follows
What 4 dag. my boy, Positively 10
fatigue can Lay me Up. Think Of II
Yesterday was the regatta az Joinville-le-
Ponr. At 8 Ocl0ck IN the morning the
rendezvous a. Bercy for the crew Of the
Marsouin- the sun Is up; We Jump into
our r0WIng-sJIIrs. and seize the oar and
give wav-0ne-tw0. 0ne-tw0-as far As
JOInvl--e- then overheard for q swim De-
fore breakfast. strip 10 swimming draw
ers. Jump overheard. and lookout for
squalls. After ny bath have the appe-
ure Of a tiger Good I seize the boat
by one hand, and call out 'Charpentier.
pass me small ham. Three motions IN
one time. and have finished It % the
bone C -Charpenrier. pass me- the flask
Three swallows. and III Is empty.
- the description would continue
dazzling H0meric.
The hour for the rs-arra-noon. the
sun Just overhead The boats draw un IN
line on -leriver before a tent gaudy with
streamers. On the bank lf the mayor.
with his s-arf Of Office, gendarmes IN vel
low shoulder belts. and a swarm Of sum
ner dresses open paras0ls. and straw hats.
Bang The signal gun d fired the Mar
SCUM shoots forward 1f her competitors
and gains rne first prize. and 40 fatigue.
We dine ~ CreteiL How cool the even
lng in rle duszv arcCr pipes glow in the
tarkness. and moths -inge their wings In
the fame Of the 0meletre an zirsch. Ar
the end Of dessert served on decorated
plates we hear from the ballroom the call
Of the c0rneL Take places for the quad
nile. Blr already rTal crew. beaten
-har same morning has monOpOEzed the
prerrIesr girls. 8 1-lr teeth broken.
eyes biackened- ugly falls and whacks
below the belt ID word. a poem Of phys
Ical enthusiasm. III noisy hIlarIrV 0f AMI
mai spirits; wirh0ur speaking u the re-
turn az midnight on crowded platforms.
with girls whom We lin into the car.
friends separated calling nom one end Of .
-raiH 70 the other and fellows playing
horn up0l the roof
And the evenings n nv astonishing
companion were EDt .ess fun Of adventure
than his holiday Coiiar and elbow
wrestling ID telt under the red
light Of torches. between him. simple
amateur, and Dubois, - lran-ua1 l.