Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-08
"TIMBUCTOO."

The Boulevard, that living stream, shone
Respondent in the fiery rays of the setting
sun. The sky was red and binding, while
behind the Madeleine brilliant cloud
threw its golden reflections the length OF
the avenue. The gay, joyous crowd, NOV
ing in this flaming light, seemed to be
apotheosized-theirf faces were gilded. their
hats and coats were tinted by the crimson
rays, while even their polished shoes cast
golden shadows on the asphalt Before
the cafes crowds of men were drinking
from glasses that seemed to be incrusted
with glowing precious stones.
In the midst of this throng of soberly
dressed men two officers were seated, daz-
zling the eyes of the multitude by the
splendor of their uniforms.
Suddenly a tall, stout negro, dressed en-
tirely in white, with vest covered with
gold embroideries, his face shining as if
waxed, passed the cafe with ridiculous
air of Importance. He laughed necessarily
at the crowd, at the newsboys, at the
brilliant sky, at all Paris. He was so tall
that he lowered above every one. The
loungers stared at him, while he stared at
the two officers. Jostling and tumbling
over the people in his path, he rushed for
ward to their table, fixing upon one OF
them his shining, delighted eyes, while his
mouth was stretched from ear to ear, ex-
hibiting his white teeth, which were like
the moon crossing dark sky.
The two officers gazed at the ebony
giant without understanding his emotion
or recognizing him.
In queer voice, which made the tables
ring with the laughter of the spectators,
he cried, "Bon jour, mon lieutenantp
One of the officers was chief of battalion,
the othera colonel.
lido not know you, sir, or what you wish
of me-" the senior officer answered.
The negro replied, moi love you much
Lieutenant Vedie-siege of Bezi, 81, 81, va. u
The officer, astounded at this jargou
looked fxedly at the negro, searching his
memory to the bottom. Suddenly he eX
claimed, "Timbuctoop
The radiant negro clapped his thigh ant
uttered a cry which amounted in violenc'
to roar
Isl, 81, va, va! You know me-Timbue
too"
The commandment extended his hand
laughing with all his heart. Then Tim
buctoo became very grave. He seized tn
hand of the officer, and before releasing
kissed it with rapture, according to Arab
and African custom. The embarrasse
officer reproved him in severe tones. lie
mn. Timbuctoo! We are not in Africa
Sit down and tell me how find you here.
Timbuctoo drew himself up with infinit
dignity. and while stammering and staml
ing he answered, moi bon cuisinier, mi
mango, roll teaucoup, des Prussiens"-
which reply was accompanied with how
of joy.
When the officer, who alone understood
this strange language, had questioned hi
at length, he dismissed him with, "a
revoir Timbuctoo. I'll see you later"
The negro arose, and contenting himse
this time with a pressure of the han
cried out, Bon jour, va, va" gesticulatiI
and laughing as he disappeared.
The amused spectators were now co
WINGED that he was lunatic, while &
colonel demanded, well, who is this bla'
brute"
"a good soldier, and brave one. a
going to tell you his story. 1t is amusin
You recall that in 1870 l was shut up
Bezieres, which the negro called Be
We were not besieged, but blockade
The Prussian lines surrounded us, up
the lannon's mouth, and though they d
not attack us, we were starving little
little. / was then lieutenant-our g
rison was composed of troops of ma
varieties the remains of regiments nea
annihilated, deserters, marauders, all so
in fact.
"One evening twelve Turks arriv
No one knew from whence or how I'll
came. They presented themselves at
gate, weary, battered and hungry. 1
men were assigned to me, and L Sc
learned that they were rebels against
authority and ignored discipline. IT
were always out and always drunk:
tried the police quarters, then the Pm
nothing succeeded. My men would
appear for entire days as If buried In
very earth. Then they would reappeal
a condition that resembled intoxicati
They had no money--where did they DIR
and how'
"This state of affairs began to puzzle
intensely, especially as these poor sava
amused and interested me by their eter
good spirits They were simply big, p
full children. observed that they bin
obeyed the tall fellow, whom you have
seen. He governed them by his str
will and led them in all their mysteri
enterprises as If he were their chief FL
ly 1 ordered them before me and q
toned them closely.
aOur interview lasted three hours
eager was to penetrate this singular (
rabia AS for him, the poor devil made 4
tic efforts to be understood-inventedw o
eesticulated, whistled, perspired,
stopped when he fancied I had canght
meaning. l discovered that he was
son of a chief-a sort Of negro king-in
neiehborhood Of Timbuctoo l asked
his name. He answered with someti
that sounded like CHAR harf bouia b
II seemed to me a simpler matter to
him the name of his country, and In
days the entire garrison 80 called him.
But we were still curious to know
this savage obtained his liquor dis
cred il in a singular way. On the ramp