Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-12
Gales aud Sketfhts.
III LAST REHEARSAL.

PROBABLY the IneOIl VI osoiu.iou
received a more practical liuslration'
physically and mentally than in my case.
For whereas I am now portly. sedate.
well-to- do father of family, church war
den, overseer and guardian OF my parish.
some thirty years ago l was slender:
barum-scarum bachelor. impecunious, and
ready at q moments notice for any folly
which might present itself to my excitaoie
and mercurial temperament. vicious
certainly was not, but merely thoughtless
and incousiderate. Nv name is Matthews.
and | was christened Charles. after an I'M
Gle. from whom my father had pecuniary
expectations The late Charles Reade was
undeniably right when he said that versa
tili;y never paws. | was fair baritone
singer. a clever caricaturist, an admirable
mimic. and enjoyed great renown as an
amateur actor Yet at the age OF twenty
five | was entirely dependent on my fath-
er for the necessaries of life aud pocket
money. NV largest creditor at this time
was nv tailor, to whom | was indebted
in the sum of ninety-fve pounds four shii-
lIngs ard six pence. Unless my father
..stumped up had as much chance OF
being able TO paw the national debt as OF
defraying this amount. For some reason
or other my father proved unusuaiiy oo-
stinate at this juncture. and declined 10 40
ANYTHING in the matter; | remember NE
described his conduct as trmness nave
omitted TO mention that | was IN love win
a very pretty but portion'ess young iauy
by the name of Walker. My father char-
acterized this circumstance as another
sample of nv perversity. as among my
acquaintance were several young ladles
with very tolerable fortunes. hau
ouasi-riyal for Miss Walkers good graces
IT the name of hobbs. He was so very
plain and unpleasant in his manners, that
entertained no fears of being ousted by
him, and accordingly we were very good
friends. He employed the same tailor
(Binks) as myself, and one memorable
morning Mr.. hobbs came to me and told
me that Blinks had issued writ against
me for the amount of my debt. The law
against debtors at that cate was much
more stringent than it is at present,
and determined to leave London
and 90 into hiding for time
until | could prevail on my wealthy uncle
to relieve me of Bink's claim. had a
few pounds in my pocket, and informed
Nobbs that would start at once for a
small watering place which | will here
call "Seamouth." | had never been
there, but had heard a good account OF it
from a friend who had found 1t cheap.
quiet and salubrious. In an hour had
my modest portmanteau packed (Which
had my name duly inscribed on a brass
plate thereon), and was steaming at the
rate of 80 miles an hour for the nearest
postal town to Seamouth. When | left
the train found there was coach about
to start for Seamouth, distance of eight
miles. After an hours drive was de-
posted at the door of the "Red Lion"
was not puzzled as to the choice of my
hotel for the"Red Lion'was the only inn in
the place. Seamouth consisted apparent
ly of one long. struggling street, with
a few detached houses on the outskirts.
At distance of hundred yards the open
sea tumbled and tossed on the shingly
beach. In ten minutes | felt had "done"
Seamouth, and contemplated with some
feelings of dismay heightened residence
in this secluded spot. 1t had already Sc
cured bedroom. left my portmanteau.
and ordered steak and accessories prior
to nv stroll around the place. As crossed
found myself the object of special obser-
walton by the staff OF the hotel. The
rubicund Boniface saluted me with broad
grin. the antiquated waiter smirked in a
peculiar fashion as he fastened to open
the door of the coffee-roOm, while a house
maid on the stairs was evidently much
more occupied in studying my personal
appearance than sweeping the carpeted
stairs. A half length of what was evil
IDENTITY the cook pcered from the regions
below. | was about to seat myself at one
of the tables when the host advanced and
with very deferential bow begged that
would accept the offer of a private room
Anticipating my objection, he went on tc
say that no extra expense would be incur
red in consequence. So a few minutes=saw
me engaged in discussing juicy. tender
steak, some mealy potatoes, tlanked by a
tankard of nut brown ale. with an obse.
quous waiter as my sole attendant. de-
termined to write to my uncle immediate
" after dinner, as my slender purse would
soon be exhausted in defraying the cos,
of my present luxury. AS the waiter
placed an apple-tart on the table. he re.
marked, II think this is your first visit to
Seamouth, sir ?'' | replied in the affirma-
tive, muttering soto voce, land also nv
last; Seamouth appears to be a very
sleepy kind of place" The old waiter
drew himself up, apparently resentng
this stigma on the little watering place
Very quiet, sir, but very select. But we
we shall be very lively now you have hon.
ored US with visit, sir" failed to per-
celve how the presence of fugitive
debtor could add to the cheefulness of any
place. but made no reply. considering the
compliment would be charged for in the
bill. 'lt's hastonishing, sir, what a diff
ference the theatre makes when it is
hopen.' but SeamOuth can not support
a theatre replied. mo, sir; honlv
when a star comes; remember, when |
was boy, seeing Mr.. Mcready hact here /:
and people came tar and near to see i'm.
Our yard was full of traps OF every de-
scription and so it will be hon Thursday
next, when Mr. Chas. Matthews makes
his appearance" As he said these words
the old waiter made profound genufiec-
ton and left the room. A light dawned
upon me; my name was identical with
that of the great comedian. The waiter
had read the name on the brass plate on
my trunk, aud / had been mistaken for
the coming man. | was chuckling over
the singular error, and had resolved to
disabuse the staff of the Red Lion ac-
cordingly. whose curious reception of me
was not explained, when a circumstance
occurraJ N b;oh ,.poaJ ,,,o oLaro~o .-..-