Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-10-27
THE VENTRILOQUIST.

~O~~-~~N%NB
together one evening. laughing over the
amusing scenes of ventriloquism with
which that clever comedian, Toole, had
just been edifying us.
A journalist present complimented him
somewhat ironically on what he called his
"little society talents"
"These same little talents, ;" said Toole,
In grave tone, ''have sometimes o great
utility in life; do not despise them. An
infinitely small talent may save world
of trouble; nothing is unproductive here
below. Let me give you simple Illus
tration:
Some years ago / was passing one
evening through Drury lane on my way
to the Gaiety theatre, where was at that
time playing role.
my attention was suddenly attracted
by pathetic voice imploring charity. l
stopped and looked around me. The voice
proceeded from a misshapen being, ap-
parently cripple, crouched In the corner
of an archway leading into one of those
winding alleys SO numerous in this popu-
lous quarter. His winter hair and beard
and his cracked voice indicated clearly
that the beggar was an old man.
GA few pence for poor old man, sir,
said the tremulous voice. i am cold and
hungry-oh, SO hungry! I have eaten
nothing since yesterday
''The sight of O young man, however
miserable he might have been, would not
have moved me. Old cockneys like me
are too well posted on all these borrow
but this decrepit old age and horrible de-
formity filled me with compassion.
"'What miseryp exclaimed, gazing at
the old man iTc IL rocSihIo fbof vnr1 oro
condemned to begging at your agef Have
you no sons or daughtersY
"tAlasl yes, gentleman said the beg
gar in smothered tone, as if ashamed to
acknowledge the truth, but they have
abandoned me-
1t is infamousi' | added.
"And | drew from my purse o half
crown.
Gas handed it toward the beggar my
customary suspicious seized me. Perhaps,
after all, it was made up cripple. We
actors are not the only ones who know
how to disguise themselves.
az prefer to assist you more eff
fectively,' remarked after an instants
pause. You have refuge somewhere
A home? Where do you ive?
81 expected to be enlightened as to the
genuineness of my beggar; the slightest
hesitation on his part would have put me
on my guard at once.
Not over quarter of mile from
here replied the cripple. L will take
you to my lodging, sir, if you like
1.-The earnestness with which he re-
sponded occurred to me after the advent
ure was over; at the time laid no stress
upon it.
Every well, go ahead; will follow
answered
"The beggar started off on his clutches,
dragging after, him two stumps of legs,
and with hundred protestatiors of graf
itude made in warm and fervent tone,
he Unanswered rapidly along the muddy
and slippery sidewalk Of Drury lane.
at was a dismal London winter even
ing. A thick, humid fog hung heavily
over the macadamized pavement. By the
dull, yellow light of the street lamps the
passers by have the aspect of phantoms.
From the doorsteps and windows of
the miserable houses in the alleys and
courts through which we passed gaunt,
pallid faces gazed out upon us, and cut
throat countenances with wolfsh eyes
glared out into the night.
"In spite of my familiarity with the
dark sides of London life. could not re-
press thrill of inquietude, and said to
myself it would not be pleasant to cross
this quarter of London in the dead of
night.
f'Not but that we must acknowledge
our police is admirably organized, for, con-
sidering the widespread misery and degra-
dation in London, 1t is only astonishing
that crimes are not twenty times as nu-
merous as they are But, despite this
energy of the police, how many black
deed rests hidden, buried forever in the
slums of our great towni
During these reflections, little reas-
surfing as they were, l gazed after my
guide. Decidedly it was poor devil;
that no longer doubted. was on the
point of stopping him and sending him
on his way with few shillings. | was
almost ashamed of my suspicious. But
with a skill undoubtedly acquired by long
years of exercise, the beggar advanced
very rapidly, turning from time to time
to mako sure that was following
cat length we crossed Covent Garden
market and Long Acre, and entered that
hideous quarter which you all know
Seven Dials. The adventure commenced
to only half way please me.
Are we far from your room stillP
asked, catching up with the beggar. 1
haven't much time to spare
GAS spoke l drew out my watch, an
excellent chronometer of Dents, of con-
siderable value. Looking suddenly up
surprised an ugly, covetous glance be-
meath the beggars bushy eyebrows.
"'Oh, hoP said to myself, that's
mighty young eye for an old man.
my suspicious returned with triple
force; but often our paltry pride over
rules our better Judgment. Moreover,
4ho n,o1s - hoI Cd
the hustle and noise of London life.
Laughs and shouts greeted us on all sides
from the public houses and barrooms of
the neighborhood
81 determined to push the adventure to
it's end, the more so as my companion now
turned to me and said in his cracked fall
tering tones:
Here is my home. gentleman He
slipped through the half open door of
dilapidated building and started up
rickety staircase with the agility had
before remarked. he'd difficulty in fol-
lowing him in the nauseating obscurity.
The smart tap of his crutches sounded on
the steps and served as my guide.
cat the third story the old beggar
stopped; heard him feeling about in the
dark, then came the sound of key turn
ing in lock.
Zone moment, my good gentleman
said the trembling voice; I will light a
candle
Some seconds passed; then the dismal
glimmer of tallow candle Lit up room
which struck me as tolerably spacious
1.-THE beggar had slipped behind me.
and cow heard the sharp click Of the
key in the lock
II had expected to find sordid, miser
able hole fitted out with a broken stool
and bundle of straw in the corner for @
bed; instead of which the room was fur
nished with certain degree of luxury,
and the floor was covered with rich car
pet.
What does this meanY | asked In
stupor. You have deceived mel
81 turned toward the door. The old
man had vanished; man in the vigor Of
life. white wig in his hand. his face COW
cred with penciled wrinkles. looked up at
ma and laIIohad