The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-15
WAKEMAN'SW ANDERINGS
ODD INCIDsNTs OF FOREIGN
TRAvEL AND OBsERvATIoN-lM


Keeper-InhosDitao Breton Lowly
Folk-A Wise London Raven and Its
Embarrassing Pointed Queries IT.
less Americans and Irish Barney
by the Winsome Lakes of Killarney.
tCoDvri0ht)
LONDON, Jan. al found him alone at a
table in a snug little restaurant Of shadow
Mercery Lane at ancient Canterbury He
was q mite OF a thing, but an old young Lad
seemingly already brokon by all the sorrows
Of desolate old age. His attire was rich,
bus bis back was bumped, bis legs we're
crooked and spindled, his cheeks were
sunken and bis eyes were crossed and queer.
Tears were silently trucking down his face.
could not eat my food until had asked
him if he was In trouble.
20, sir" he said in the sweetest tones
ever heard from boys lips, and as if COM
pletely overcome by his situation and I'M
expected human sympathy, 81 wish Yves
dead and buriedr Pressing him for further
explanation, with the hope Of allaying his
childish troubles, he continued in scared,
hunted way: II am Lord -, they tell
me. But / never saw my father. Ny
mother is beautiful lady, but they only
let me see her once year; and then she
cries and l cry, aud its dreadful when she
goes away.
Maybe you saw Nurse Digbyl Nurse
Digby minds me, and they make me live
with her, and say she must keep me until
am great lord. But she drinks and beats
me. She's drinking to-day, sir; and I'm
sure she'll almost kill me- Oh, sir, do take
me to America, aud let me be plain aud
happy like all the boys seel-There abe is,
sir Please. please don't tell her. sirp
As he piteously spoke huge mountain Of
the room. 1t was Nurse Digby. Her dress
was disheveled, her wrappings were upside
down, her hat, a tossing sea of feathers and
flowers, was very much awry. She was
more than "cheery." She had passed the
quarrelsome stage OF drink into the region
Of bland beatitude. In a moment we fort
unately got the best of her native suspicion
and cunning; she embraced me as a reward
sor supposititious frendliness; and it was
somehow made clear that little Milford had
been brought down from London ostensibly
for "houting" and to visit the cathedral,
bat. in reality, that nurse Digby might
revel, with such as she, in the brave brews
Of fair, hop-laden Kent.
'Shz'are's dear! !" she blubbered, in turn
falling upon little MILFORD in imbecile pro
testation of affection. "Digby'll stan by a
ing, m'lordl A sousan' shoulders couldn'
part ush-not hummer sousan', phretty
(hicD dearl Gen'rm' shears me (hicD
swhear i'll" Then nurse Digby fell Ia a
mass upon her charge; the little nobleman
shrieked with fright and pain. and his tor
mentor rolled into a comfortable ball be-
meath the table.
Casting all thought Of my own visit to
the cathedral aside at once summoned a
carriage; got the deformed boy and Nurse
Digby into it; drove through the quaint old
city up the winding hill TO the railway sta
tioD, and never left the ill-assorted pair
until had seen them safely in the carriage
of a London bound train. But can never
forget that poor lads pleadings that l
should rescue him from the living death Of
his hopeless environment, and his white,
desperate face as he crouched in his seat
like a scourged soul still appealing while
watching the human animal, his endless
tormentor. as she lay in temporary harm
lessness upon the compartment floor.
20, sir, / shall remember you. IL live to
be a great lord !" were MS last words that
heard as the train rolled away. The hope
less tragedy it all revealed has never left my
heart; and all that sunny afternoon in old
Canterbury town the brasses and effigies of
the great cathedral could only be half dis
cerned through the mists Of ever gathering
tears.
II your travels ever bring you along the
highways and byways of Brittany, you
must never expect hospitality Of the peas
ant people. It is the only foreign land in
which have wandered on foot where the
stranger, and especially the American
stranger. is not welcome among lowly folk
with unQuestioning cordiality and an almost
affectionate regard.
Call at roadside cottage in Brittany and
ask for food and nights shelter aud the
whole family will crowd into the door to
obstruct your passage. Then thev will
silently and sullenly look you over. Whittier
from? Whittier bound2 If foreigner
they are even shrewd enough to demand
your passports. No vagabond, deserter, mol
ticket-of-leave man will they harbor
Finally assured you are none OF these they
set about bargaining for the last sou they
can wiring from you. The food you are &
get to the very color of the coffee is set
powerfully against your money. Ihell
own poverty, their bewildering number o.
children, the lonely road to the Desrest viii
Iage inn, the fact that at the mex
cottage they would probably murdel
as well as take you in; all and much
more is set forth to make your bar
gain hard one. SO, too. the toothless ole
peasant bag mother, while cycling Vol
askance, croons TO her husband running
OF which set you down to your face as
villainous spy some wretch that has cheated
the gibbet; and certainly no less than tbs
thief of Breton horses who was caught anC
logged at the last horse fair at La Folguel
They are shrewd and canny, these simple
folk, and they will make you very misera
BILE until the price is set and paid down ii
hand, for they will not trust you with The
sum until morning, lest your appearances
pelle your ability to pay; but the luguorl-
GUS transaction once settled, and a few sou
scattered among the children, which arr
immediately snatched away and hidden IL
the farmers strong box, the atmosphere
suddenly changes. You are the guest now
All the inn-keeping politeness, suaVlty ant
attention of Paris itself are yours; ant
until you leave. every soul in the cottag
puts every other duty aside to minister unit
your wants and comfort.
There is a glib-tongued raven, the prid
OF certain otherwise delightful old
Fashioned inn beside Covent Garden, Lon
don, much frequented by Americans
against which many of us who have sui
lered from its ill-timed speculatlons an
Jurisdictions possess feelings far from
benign and friendly character.
me morning after my first arrival
snls hostelry wished to take an early trai
tor Brighton; and as no one save costei
lnongers and market porters ia astir in Lon
uon before or o'clock, ] was oompelie
awaken and get away without To
p6aaant fOrmalftv ~ nafuu rallad AQXIOu