The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-31
THE VENTRILoQUlsT.

Down ut thef,mous Strand tavern,
the Coalllolc, in London, we were
gntllcrdtogctlrr one evening, laugh
ing over the amusing scenes of VEN
triloquism with which that clever
comedian Toole had just been cdify-
ing us.
4 journalist present compli,ncntc,l
him somewhat ironically on what hc
called his little society talents"
"Fhcsc same little talcnts,'" said
Toolc in II grave tone, "lavc some
times a great utility in life; do not
dcspisc them. An infinitely small
talent may save q world oftrouble;
nothing is uppro,luctive here below.
Let me giveyou asimplc illustration:
"Somc years ago WAS passing one
evening through Drury lane on my
way to the Gaicty tl,catcr, where l
was ut that time playing a role.
"My attention was suddenly ut
tmcted by pathetic voiccimploring
charity. l stoppcdamllookr,laroun
me. The voice proceeded from mis-
happen being, apparently - cripple,
cro,lchcd in the corner of an ;lr.l,w;,y
lcading into one of those winding
alleys 80 numerous in this popular
quarter. His white hair and heard
and his cracked voice indicated clear
W that the ln'gg;'r w;,s an old man.
"a few p"nsc for II poor old man,
sir. " said the trrmulous voice: Il am
cold and hnngry--oh, 80 hungry! l
have eaten nothing since Yesterday
"flc sight ofa young man, how
ever miserable he might have been,
would not liavemove,lm me. Old cock
neys like me are too well posted on
all these borrowing schemes which
flourish i'll our town, hut this decrcpit
old age and horrible dcformity filed
me with compassion.
What miscryv Iexclaimetl, gaz-
ing ut the old man. is it possible
that you are condemned to bcgging
ut your age? Have you no sons or
daughters?
"'Alas! yes, gentleman replied the
bcsegar in IL smotllrre,l tone, rs if
ashamed to acknowledge the truth,
but they have abandoned me-
1T is iniamous!" Padded.
"And drew from my purse II half
crown.
cas- l handed it toward the lcgg,,r
my customary suspicious seized me.
Perhaps after all it was u m,,le-up
cripple. We actors arc not the only
ones who know how to disguise them
selves in London.
"l prefer to assist YOU more cffec-
lively remarked, aftcrnn instant's
pause. You have q refuge some
where? a home? Where do youlivc"
IL expected now to he enlightened
as to the gcnuiness of my begg;lr;
the slightest hesitation on his part
would have put me on my guard at
once.
"'Not over n quarter of n mile
from here replied the cripple. Twill
take you to my lodging, sir, if you
like
"Thc c,rncstncss with which lie re-
sp"mlrd occurred to me after the ,d-
venture was over; at the time laid
no stress upon it.
"'Vcry well! go ahead; l will follow
answered.
"Thc beggar started off on his
crutclles, dragging after him two
stumps of legs, and with u hundred
protrstations of gratitude made in
IL warm and firvent tone. he man.
nuvcred rapidly along the muddy
and slippery sidewalk of Drury lane.
at was IL dismal London winter
evening. A thick, humid fog hung
heavily over the macadamizctl pave
mcnt. by the dull, yellow light of
the street lamps the l,assers-by look
OH tlc aspect ofpllamtoms.
"From the ,lonrStcps and the
windows of the miserable houses in
the alleys and courts through which
we passed, gaunt, pallid fi,ccs gaze,l
out upon us, and cut-throatcou
anccs with wolfish eyes glared out
into the night.
'In spite of my familiarity with the
dark sides of London life, l could not
rrprcss Il thrill of inquietude, and 1
said to myself it would not he pleas
ant to cross this quarter of London
i'll the dead of night.
Not but that We must acknowledge
our police force is admirably orgalli-
zc'l, for, considering the widespread
misery and degradation in London,
it is only astonishing that crimes are
not twenty times az numerous as
they are. But, despite this energy
of the police, how many IL black deed
rests hidden, buried forever in the
sl,lIns of our great town!
During these reflections, little re-
assuring as they were, gazed after
my guide. Decidedly it was II poor
devil: that l no longer doubted. ]
was on the point ofstopping him and
sending him on his way with ~ few
shillings. was almost ashamed OF
my suspicious. But with IL skill un.
doubleday acquired by long years OF
exercise the lngg.g;lr advanced very
rapidly, turning from time to time
to make sure that WAS following.
"At length we crossed Covcnt Gar
den market and Long Acre and eli
tered that hi'leousqunrtcr which you
all know-Seven Dials. The adj
venture commenced to only halfway
plcaselmc.
care we far from your room still?
asked, catching IN with the bcr,rnr