Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-15
LONDON SHARPS.
." Harry the Maid" and Churcher''
Meet Their Match.

In February last year, Icame to Lon
don for the day, on business which
took me into the city. Having accom-
plished the purpose of my visit more
quickly than.I expected. was stroll
Eng leisurely along st. Paurs Church
yard, with the view of working my
way into the Strand. The time of day
was something after twelve at noon.
and of all the busy stream OF people
that flowed city ward or ebbed past
me, it seemed that was the only loi-
terer. A man. however. walkingnear-
ly as slowly as /, seeing me smoking as
he passed, at last stopped and asked
for light. gave him a match. He
fell back a little out of the stream of
traffic into the shelter of shop Win
dow corner to Light his cigar in peace.
He was q short man about six and
thirty, with brown beard and whisk-
>ers, face q tritie marked with small
poX, welldressed, of gentlemanly APP
.pearance and spoke with a strong
indeed, much too strong) American
,twang.
AS 1 continued my stroll, l soon be-
'came aware that / was followed by this
.geutisman- The slower L walked the
slower he walked. 1t is not comforta-
BILE to be foliowed-so l pulled up to
let him pass. Instead of doing so, he
no sooner came up with me, than he
pulled up. too.
He set his head Just thought out of
the perpendicular, and looking me full
in the face, said: "Guess this is a tall
city? Rather tangled to get about in,
though? Now, it amt like Philadel-
phy. where our critters knew what they
was going at before they begun to build.
and ruled all the streets straight ahead
in right lines. No. sir
Mop l said CURLY, and was NOV
ing on.
mo. sir" he continued. walking by
INV side, land its useless for Il stranger
in yure city to give his mind to going
anywhere, for he amt likely to get
there Now. if it ain t re-ude Of IA strang
er asking it, because he Is stranger
(and Uc know how to treat strangers
in our country, sir), where air yeu
going to? Happen yen can put ME i'll
the way where I'm going to.
Il am making for the Strand l
said; ..if your way lies in that direction
/ can show it to you; if not, can tell
YOU how to find it.
Just where I'm castin' about to get
to-" he returned; my moorins is at a
hotel opposite Somerset House, and as
soon as | get into the Strand. l can fix
myself right up. SO I'll just couple on
to YOU"
| allowed him to do so. l limited
that had no wish to show diScOurtesy
to citizen of that great Nation to
which he belonged. My companion
had plenty to say. He ratified on about
the States being this and the States
being that. so that it was needless for
me 10 do any more talking than an oc-
.casional interjection of surprise or sat
isfaction. each of which was acknowl-
edged with .'Yes. sir" or a NO.
sir completely final. He told me he
had only been in England for a fort
night-just taken run over to see the
old country-and should be back in
Moo York again in a couple of months.
When we had passed through Temple
Bar. l told him he could be in no
further doubt as to his way, since he
was now in the Strand.
I'm considerable obliged" he said.
-.Tll do as much for you when you
come to Moo York. But you amt goin'
to part company like tha;?"
had freed my arm and held out my
hand to wish him good-morning.
You'll just do spell?" he con-
tinued.
"A what?' said /.
..Du not make myself clear to the
British intellect? Reckon you'll liq-
uor?'
No, reckoned had rather be ex-
-cused.
WAL" he said, chewing his cigar so
that it assumed rotary motion. and
its point described Il circle over his
face. '.Wal, sir. it's a custom we hev
in our country, and we think it rather
scalv manners to refuse. Reckon you
Britishers do not think it scaly to slight
friends hospitality in the street. We
du."
As he persisted in regarding my re-
fusal almost in the light of a personal
insult. and would not listen to any ex-
PLANTATION that we do not regard the
declining of drinks" in q similar