, 1890-03-02

NhARAA ~ 'HNA = AAApAA u lN AIN.
The puntist rams this pole into the bot
tom Of the river, and by a dexterous push
sends the boat along at an even and de-
lightiul gait. | had poled a raft on the
upper Mississippi, broken a lam and been
a director on a rope ferry, twenty five
years ago, so | knew enough of aquatics
to punt, / should say. Mr.. Fisher said |
might punt awhile, SO he yielded his
place to me. l rose TO my full Leight,
and as did so, barring my brow to the
soft kiss OF the clover scented afternoon,
| was recognized by other Americans who
were assisting me last summer in making
times easy in Paris and also in bringing
about an era of prosperity in London. A
round of applause greeted me from along
the river bank also, for | am almost as
well known abroad as [ am in my own
country, and in fact all summer long it
was nip and tuck between me and old
Bullion jay to see which would get the
most press notices.
So | bowed a Delsarte bow and spat on
my hands in a languid way. Another
burst of applause that echoed down past
the lock and out toward Hampton court
swelled my heart with a pardonable pride
as ! raised the punt pole high in the air
and socked it into the brunette bosom of
the historical stream. The swift and
rather slick craft shot away with its gay
and well dressed burden, but | did not
iOin them. Remained.
The punt pole has a tendency to stick
in the clay bottom of the Thames, but |
did not know this. Clinging to the pole,
Of course | missed my connection with
the boat, and a loud pluuk, followed by
a merry peal of laughter, closed the sad
scene. | did not furnish the laughter. |
supplied the plunk.
A beautiful but rather impulsive dog
belonging to Mrs. Sheldon plunged in
and saved my life. He dragged me out
on the bank by my clothing, as he
thought, no doubt. but my clothing was
not so thick as he had supposed That
is if a dog ever supposes. So [ will
always carry the marks of that rescue
ven to my grave. Dogs are very intel
ligent animals, but they do not know
always to a dead moral certainty whether
one has his winter or summer fan
nels on
Putting is a very healthtul exercise, but
one should have a set of dry clothing at
hand, so that he may change as soon as
he gets his %punting done.
But started out to say that among the
faces l seemed to recognize was one that
Was very English, and yet | thought |
had seen 1t in America. 1t was the face
OF a man of forty odd, | would say. 1t
was the face Of a very homely woman on
the shoulders and body of a man. The
features were as plain as those of a hip
popotamus in repose, but when lighted up
with a smile they are as beautiful as those
81 q parlah. The hair was abundant and
about the color of a maple caramel that
has been exposed to the elements all sum
mer. 1t had evidently been worn long,
but had been cut off at the neck bv
means of a pinking iron and A set of
burglars tools. His complexion was
Opaque and his teeth hung in rich clus-
Iers on the outside of his mouth when
he smiled. He wore an Eton can and
lDlled back in the canoe while a talented
hired man at three bob a day and A
shandy gaf padded the trail bark along
the Thames and exhibited this gifted cur
Ioslty to the wondering crowd. The
gifted curiosity was Oscar Wilde.
l met hin in the territories twelve or
thirteen years ago, | think. He wore
more of a couture at that time. Since
then he has stuffed a sofa pillow with it.
us mar at that time clustered aroun a
horses face apparently and he wore a
genuine store sombrero. 1t was too new
TO look comfortable, as he had bought it
at Tie Siding. DC. wore a liver colored
cravat and a look of intense melancholy.
L gave him a large green and gold card of
mine, printed in our new Job Office by a
bright young artist who had fed two or
three of his most desirable fingers to our
large blue job press while trying to
pick a dodger out from among its back
teeth.
Mr.. Wilde said "Ahl' | said we have
a beautiful climate here, and then he re-
peated his former statement.
L said, You can trust me, Oscar. |
will not betray you What you say will
be as between man and man. If you do
not want it printed and would like to
keep 1t in the background and finally run
for office and give US a safe, Harrison
administration, for instance, as free from
turmoil as a great COB of oatmeal mush
in a weary land, | will respect -FOUR
wishes"
He again ahed, snd producing a large
silk handkerchief, the color of the coat