Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-10
A BASS DRUMMER.
Or Boss Liar, Either .ef thu Sswdust
Or0f the New York Newspaper
SaEcluhs
Get sterett to Laughing and
Applauding.
New York Tins.

His life had been blasted by mis- failure,
in moment OF observation-disclosures to hit
the bass drum at the proper moment.
So the old msn said, and he loosed
truthful. II appearances went for any
thing his life had certainly been blasted.
He and fortune undoubtedly had been on
the outs for long time, and he seemed
20 2e convinced that the lane he was
travelling had no turning. His shoes
were disreputable and his hat was shock
ing. His tailor had never been fash
ienable one, but the worst suit Of clothes
he had ever pslmed of on country Gus
TONER was 8 work of art in COM
rarison to the wretched toys that
row did duty as q protection
against November breeZes. There
were lines in the old mans face that told
Of privation rather than age, and many of
these took flight as he slowed away q
comfortable meal of roast beef and baked
potatoes. But when ne had topped of
with d pony of brandy he looked actually
youthful. The old man had not had q
really square meal for months, end to
the lack Of the good things CT life Wes
due his generally worn out and down at
the heel appearance. he wasn't really
so old after oil, for ne had only Just
passed the half way century house, and
had the world gone well with him fifty
years would have been mere feather
for his shoulders.
His history was curious tale. Hard
knocks had made him uncommunicRtiYe /;
bat the generous meal, to say nothing of
the pony of brandy, had put new life into
him and oiled his tongue. His compsn-
ion was in every way contrast. He
wasn't old or ragged, and he had not
reSched the brandy stage. He was good
listener, too, and his object in providing
for the immediate wants of the ancient
tic counter was to hear his story. That
promised q half hours distraction, II
nothing more. There was something
very much out OF the common in the idea
that mans career had been destroyed
simply because he had hit bass drum at
the wrong moment. The more thought
the old mans companion devoted to the
ides the more ridiculous 1t seemed. Fin
ally he expressed wish to hear the story.
Lighting cigar with which he bad Just
been presented, and leaning back in his
chair with degree OF ease that spoke
well for the dinner just dispatched, the
old man blew cloud OF smoke from his
mouth and musingly said: "I remember
the night just as well as if it was only a
week old"
How cid is it?" inquired the younger
n an, sand where did it all hsppen?"
The old man was in no hurry. He felt
much as cat does after luxurious meal
Of mice. The hest Of the blazing coal fire
added to his enjoyment, his cigsr was OF
very respectable brand, and, all things,
considered, life had not held so much ct
traction for him for many years
as it did this particular evening.
Everything was so pleasant that he
was determined not to disturb the status
quo until he could 5ro longer avoid it.
But everything comes to him who waits,
and the old man finally aWoke to the
knowledge that he was indebted for a
pleasant hour to stranger, and that the
stranger was sitting at the other side Of
the fireplace quietly awaiting payment.
The latter could not be made in coin; of
this fact both were sware, but it was ex-
pected in the shape of story.
With shake the old man got rid of his
musing fit, sat bolt upright IN his chair,
then leaned forward as if he were about
to tell what he saw in the fire, and said:
"I can see it ALL" Then he raised his
right arm, Just as if he were preparing to
give the brass drum the biggest blow OF
its life, and pitched into his tale without
further sdo.
"It happened down in Texas" he said,
sat Fort Worth. Queer town that. l
often felt if was tired of life I'd like to
settle down there. They're an enterpris-
ing people there, and mighty handy with
a gun. They've got q way, too, that car
ries 'em anywhere except on through
train. How many of 'em got into the
circus by offering the ticket tsker the
barrel end of S revolver don't know, but
there must have been good many of
them, or the ticket tAker lied. We
pitched the tent on the northeastern out
skirts of the town. There was plenty of
room, for the town WAS just dropped into
the middle of prairie, and there's
breathing space around 1t for million.
People In Texas like plenty of room,
and they generally get it We
looked for big house at Fort Worth, for
we were told that more people lsnded
there han in al the other towns in Texas
pat together. This may be true, but we
aiterward found that they only landed.
They generally took the next train aud
got ous Of the place, for Fort Worth is s
sort Of railroad center and distributing
point. But Pm not saying anything
against Fort Worth as q circus town.
There were plenty Of people there to fill
z bigger tent than ours, and they filed
ours until nothing but the ring was va
cant. OF course everybody connected
with the show was tickled at the size OF
the house, and the manager promised 8
wire-Rhine wine-supper after the last
performance"
"Dld you get theIsupper?"
"Ho-there was no wine supper that
night"
CHOW WAS that?"
"Well, that was my fault, 1 suppose
They all said it was my fault, and I've
been told that SO often that long ago
made up my mind 1t must be so. It hsp-
pened this way. We carried six acrobats.
The bills said twenty-five, but we only
carried six, and one Of them performed So
the woman with the steel jaw. They
were sll good and never missed sn act,
whether our last journey was made in a
Pullman or cattle car. or course we car
ried band. The band showed twenty
i've stroug on street parade, but eleven
of 'em were dummies"
"Dummies?"
"Yes; fakes; couldn't blow q horn for
"a a. Ill -