Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-11
AN AWFUL PLACE.
That's, What Mr.. Rufus Thinks of
New York City.

1t was not very often that Mr.. Rufus
gave himself a holiday; his business
demanded his time. and he was very
devoted family man. But the time
came. as it does to most over-busy men,
when the family doctor looked solemn,
and said to Mr.. Rufus:
"My dear friend, you must take a
little rest-yoa really must. A holiday
will do you all the good in the world. 8"
What shall do with holiday"
replied Mr.. Rufus.
60 down to the city and enjoy your
self for a week; see the sights, and
have Turkish bath or two, and you'll
come back another man" said the doc
tor. 81 don't want to have you on my
hands; Mrs. Rufus doesn't want to
nurse you-I tell you that"
Every body liked the doctor fer his
affable manners. and his pleasant way
of talking. Mrs. Rufus smiled and
shook her head; Mr.. Rufus laughed
and promised to take his holiday.
Il suppose l ought to rest myself"
he said; land I'll take a fortnight
Cousin Barker can go into the Office
while I'm gone"
Il shall be unhappy while you are
gone" said Mrs. Rufus. Il shall miss
you. and | do wish it was so that |
could go, too; but Tn very we'll Have
a real good time. Job, and don't hurry
home; and promise me you'll take the
Turkish baths right away"
For several days the whole family,
servants included. were busy, doing up
linen, ironing silk cravats, seeing to
buttons, packing a trunk and a port
manteau, seeing that Mr.. Rufus had
pins on a pin-cushion, plenty of cologne
for his handkerchief, his night-caps
and his little prayer-boOk. Had he
been going to a desert island he could
not have been more carefully provided
with every thing; and although Mr..
Rufus was a wealthy man, well up in
the topics of the day, and not past his
prime, it was now fifteen years since
he had left his native town.
At last the hour came. Wife and
children went with him to the depot.
He jumped into the train. and flew
away. There was sense of adventure
and freedom about this sort of thing.
to be sure; but as the platform receded
into the distance, and the well-known
forms of his family became so many
small oiurs. he put his ecru silk kerr
chief to his eyes, and felt desolate.
However, I'm going for their sake"
said to himself. Il don want 10 break
down at fifty, as so many men do"
Then he got up and went into the
smoking-car. and there fell into con-
versation with a person of dreadfrIly
communistic views, who wanted to
have all the rich mems property di-
vided equally amongst the poor. The
rich men to have none, Ito show EN-"
the communist said, chow it felt;" and
was so completely Mortified that his
journey ended before he thought it half
over. He was in New York. and amidst
a bowling band of cab-men and pOrters.
He was dragged into vehicle. and
saw his trunk strapped on behind, and
his portmanteau on the seat opposite
him.
Where to. sir?" yelled the cabman
at the door; and conscious that he was
a little old-fashioned IN his ideas, Mr..
Rufus faltered out:
"Oh-ah-wen, really, what do you
consider the best hotel?"
Sure, there's no better than the
O'Dowd House. sir, cried the cabmau.
remembering. with all the warmth of
Irish friendship. cousin who kept
small hotel somewhere near the docks.
mo better anywhere.
Very well. drive me there" said
Mr.. Rufus.
I'm afraid New York is a very nasty
place he sighed. shifting the odor of
the garbage boxes as they drove along.
and looking out at the dingy tenement
houses just lighting up through the
dusk. And, dear me. this isn't what
the Astor House used to be, " he sighed,
as he alighted, and walked up the
steps.
A dingy girl was washing up a very
shabby hall oil-cloth, and the table
cloths on the little tables in the dining
SOON were spotted with gravy. A
doubt that this cabman was not Il good
judge of the respective merits of hotels
entered the mind of Mr.. Rufus; but it
was too late to change that night. He
followed his trunk to his room alone,
after registering his name. and instant
ly sat down to write to his wife. Alas!
as he searched his trunk. he remem-
bered that, in searcl ing for his razor,
he had taken out the box of note-paper