The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-09-12
A YANKEE AND AN EN0llSHMAN.
An Adventure Train Which Took
the Conceit out of BrItisher,

A gentleman to whom the editor
was recently introduced, Mr.. x. by
name, made himself entertaining by
repeating this story of an adventure he
had on a New York train. He is q
member of a prominent steel firm here,
and one Of the salesman being taken
i'll at time when the house was anx-
ious to secure a particular order Mr..
Y started out himself with case Of
samples in true commercial travelling
style.
AS he got into the train the brake
man informed him that there was an
excursion that day and 1t was doubt
full if he could get seat Mr.. x. went
on and found the cars literally packed,
so that even the aisles were full. He
noticed. however, that in one seat sat
an Englishman, who had piled up his
luggage to occupy the vacant place:
'sIs this seat taken?" asked Mr.. x,
when with some difficulty he made his
way to the man.
The Englishman looked up with true
British insolence.
"Cawnt We see that it isp" he re-
sponded;
Mr.. X. replied by coolly sweeping
all the foreigners belongins on the
floor and possessing himself of tho
place thus made vacant. He took
book from his pocket and began to
read, while his seatmate stared out of
the window, apparently not in the best
of humor. The volume chanced to be
"Pickwick Papers," and as he read
Mr. X. from time to time chuckled ap-
parently at what he read.
"Well, now. what are ye laughing
at?" the Englighman suddenly de-
manded, turning to the other. What
are you reading?"
"Pickwick papers," replied his
companion, regarding the question as
an overture of peace.
"Hump!" responded the English
man. Dickens. He was fool ye
know"
He had the misfortune to- be an
Englishman," was Mr.. KS conciliatory
reply.
Now what is thatpn asked the for
eigner, catching sight Of the chestnut
case in the others lap.
THAT is my case of samples"
"Of samples?" repeated his COM
panion with the utmost contempt.
Then you are nothing but a bag
man?n
"What is bagmanp"
"Why, ye are, We know, if ye sells
things by samples"
'I'd have you to understand" re-
piled Mr.. X, affecting a good deal of
the spreadeagle air for the occasion,
'that | am a commercial traveller; and
more than that am an American, and
that makes it good deal of conde-
| scensiOn on my part to sit in the same
car with the slave of an English aris-
tocracv."
He fourished a bit in this style, and
wound up by saying:
The meanest citizen of this free
country is above an Englishman, be-
cause we are all free and equal here"
At this moment the train drew into
a station. and among those who en-
tered the car was an enormous cOlored
woman with bundle in her arms,
which corresponded in dimensions to
nized his opportunity. He rose in his
place and beckoned to the old woman,
who swept her way through the crowd
with ponderous swaying and lurch-
ings.
Here. Aunty." he said. Here is
seat and pleasant company"
"Bless yer, honey" chuckled the
gigantic old woman, Use good deal
sot on company any time. Set over
dar, honey" she continued, address
ing the EugIishman, "Dar amt no Ca
sion to look at me dat yer way. Set
| along"
And she sat down with a pervading-
ness which nearly anuihilated the un-
fortunate Britisher, who gaspcd, strug-
gled, and IN the end was forced to
abandon his position altogether.