The morning news., 1889-05-31
WELCOMED HIM WITH KICKS.
Strange Greeting Given by Father
to His Son.
From the Nelo York Heralf.


Bates, a retired officer of the English army,
gave his son John, who left his home in
London in a dissatisfied mood seven years
ago, a rather warm reception whel they
met in the dining-room of a Seattle hotel
the other day.
Gen. Bates has distinguished bearing, is
a little above the medium hight and has
piercing black eyes and SnOw-whlte hair.
He served in the Indian army thirty-e;ght
years, and attained the Bombay presidency.
He was retired in 1850, and since then has
been travelling. His son is a handsome
looking young fellow of %.
Neither the father nor the son knew of
the presence of the other in Seattle. Gen.
Bates arrived the day before the meeting.
The next day when he sat down to dinner,
he looked into the face Of the waiter who
had come to serve him, and Immediately
recognized him as his boy.
''Well, John. how long have you been
singing hasb!' asked the soldier, uncon-
cernedly.
''But few months, said the young man
at random, supposing that in answering
the question he was simply gratifying the
inquisitiveness of some sentimental old fell
low who I'd taken friendly interest in
him. Then he gazed into the face of the
man sitting in front of him, and exclaimed:
'"Pon my life, it's father!"
HE BLESSED HIS STARS.
Johns next move was to fall into his
fathers embrace, but he saw that his
efforts in that direction were not appreci-
ated when he received a push that straight
ene6 him up and restored him to his senses
in iiffy.
Now, young man, l want none of your
fool!shnessn
"What, father, can you be so cruel now
that we have met after SO many years of
separation "
Il am your loving father. young man. 1
wish to see you for a moment to give you
some practical advice. Never mind remov-
ing your linen apron and jacket Bless my
stars if | don't have you in the corridor in
no time
While the conversation was going on
Gen. Bates stood erect, with his head
thrown upward and backward, his cnest
fully and proudly expanded, with one hand
in the front of his Prince Albert oat, while
his whole attitude was one of dignity, posi-
tiveness and severity mingled with little
of the fatherIy love that moves one when
he meets a son whom he has not met in
years The young man looked the very
picture of HUMILITY. With bowed head,
weak knees that scarcely supported their
weight and with eyes rivlted on the ground
he stood before his father and took his
reproof. With one hand he leaned on the
taole for support and in the other he
nervously held towel. The proceedings
were carried on so quietly that even those
sitting near had no idea of what was 60
ing on.
''Come now, John" said the father,
awakening mis- son from his meditation by
healthy nudge in the ribs.
The general walked into the hallway out
of sight of the diners. He son followed, but
stopped on the threshold.
Hurry up, my boy, | have no time to
lose"
What are you going to do?'
"Never mind, you will see and feel
presently"
SYMPATHY SHOWN BY KICKS.
And he did see and feel presently. He
was led to place in the center of the hall
way and bid to stand still. Then the old
man got behind him and gave him kick
that nearly dislocated his neck.
John, that kini of thing reminds you
of home, don't 1t" said the old man sar-
castically.
Every much"
"And that, and that" and the young fell
low was raised from the hoor twice in rapid
succession.
"You have lots Of vigor left, father" re-
piled the young man, bearing up under
adversely with grace that would have
done credit to Mark Tapley.
"Now, my boy, are you sorry you left
homer resumed the old man.
"Yes. sir"
'Do you think you can behave yourself
the future"
"Yes. sir"
go and remove those togs and meet me
| in the hotel office in five minutes"
| John obeyed the orders of his military
| father and in less than five minutes the two
walked out of the motel and saIntered up
the street. They proceeded to q clothing
| store, where the general presented his boy
| with fine suit OF clothes. Then they re-
turned to the hotel and had supper The
fathers sternness relaxed and his sons fear
| decreased, and they told each other how
| they had Jared since last they met. They
are now making preparations to visit
| Alaska.
| met them in hotel here the day after
! the meeting John was reclining on a
| lounge in a corner Of the room puffing blue
wreaths Of smoke from a b-iarwood pipe,
presented by his fond papa, who was en-
crossed in the latest English papers. The
| old general is OF a jovial disposition and
| readily tJld uIe the whole story.
Il have been looking for my boy for seven
! years he said. A year after | returned
! from the service John turned up missing
| one morning. and though | made every
| effort to find him 1 was unable 10 discover
a single trace Of his whereabouts. | hired
! detectives, who followed every possible
! cew. but could not for my life find out
where he had gone or what had become of
him. He was then a we'll built, very intel
| ligent lad of Is, and though l was confident
Of his ability to take care Of himself | felt
uneasy to have a boy Of his age drifting
| aimlsssly about the world. A year passed
and no tidings Of the lost boy having come,
| resolved 70 institute personal search for
him. Immediately started out / heard
that he had joiued the troops bound for
| Egypt and the very first thing did was to
take the steamer for Alexandria / tarried
in that neighborhood for several months
and learned 20 my dismay that tue report
was untrue
HUNTING ALL OVER EUROPE.
Then | went I o Madrid, and six months
after leaving London ound myself in Paris.
At Rome learned that a number Of En-
glish boys Of the age Of my son had joined
a pilgrimage 70 Jerusalem, 40 | set out for
that place. ] was again disappointed, but
/ mot an old Jew who Was pe iding Bacrs "a
relies. / told him that ! was looking for my
son. whom described, aud . my s1rp 80
he told me that he bad se0n the boy within
an hour. ! gave him ~ - cJsdgct me -
the place where hs hal seen tue lad. aud
when we stopped walking we were on
Mount Ctlyary Ny son was nowhere o
bo seen. ald fclt Iueahat angry toward
the Jew, wbJ ] thought lad imaos9i ou
me. The explanations which f9lYHel so
matters argbt My guide, With magy