The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-06
BUT He COULD SWEAR.

A French Bell Hoy KpowS Little RRglISh
Hut Il HptH Some ThlRSs AmsE1caa.
Chicago Inter Ocean,
There ia peculiar character at the
Victoria in the person OF French bell
boy. He has been In this country only
three months, and he came to see the
Worlds Fair
lie is a little early for that event, but
this is accidental, US he supposed the
fair would be in 1899, He left IIavre as
q stowaway, but the second day out he
became 80 hungry that he had TO show
himself and ask for something to eat,
They gave II to him, and then put him
to work, II Is the custom on Atlantic
liners when a stowaway Is discovered to
not only put him to work but to carry
him back on the return trip, This they
intended to do with "Pale de Froi
Gras" as he Ia called at the Vic
toria, but he was ono too many for
the steerage steward who had him in
charge, for whom tho cabin passengers
were landed he left the ship with them.
1t took him eight weeks TO reach Chi
cago. He worked part OF the way, he
walked part Of the way, and he beat
part OF the way. But all the while he
was an attentive listener and thought
full student, and when he reached Chi
cago he knew little bit Of English.
He was dirty and shabby when he APP
piled for work at the Victoria, but he
had q bright face and WAS hungry, SO
they gave him something to do. The
second week no was useful as an inter-
prefer as there was a party OF French
men in the house who could not speak
q word OF English. ,.r. 49,,
Whatever induced Mr.. Whipple to
do it no one knows, but he put him in
charge OF the telephone. Then there
was merry war. One OF the first things
tho boy learned when no reached this
country was string OF oaths, though
he did not always understand their
meaning. Mr.. Whipple was passing
the door Of tho telephone closet ono
day when no heard his young protege
at the instrument swearing with flu
ency that was most remarkable.
"What are you doing? Get down
from that telephonep yelled the man
ager. Then lie took hold OF the thing
and was Mortified to hear string OF
oaths from the other end.
"Pate do Froi Gras" had answered.
the bell. An actor who was stopping
at the house, but who was at the thea
ter, had lett some OF his trappings in
his room and wanted them sent to him.
l1o spoke plainly, he thought, but he
couldn't understand anything that was
said in reply, Finally he got mad and
swore. The boy had heard the word
before so he called 1t back to him with a
questioning infection. But the lnflec-
ton was lost over the wire, and the
actor was conscious only Of the fact
that he was being sworn ut. He came
back at the boy with stronger language,
and the youngster thinking he
was getting along first rate, fol-
lowed suit in thesame style. lie thought
he was getting along fine when Mr..
Whippie interrupted him. The boy is
now doing quieter parts, chiefly assist
ing MIR. shater, who is telling this story
about him: A gentleman recently oc'
cupying room No. 442 left orders to be
called at 5 o'clock in the morning.
"Pate do Froi Gras" was told to go to
that number and knock loudly on the
door, On the way upstairs he got
mixed and couldh'tremember Just what
the number was. He know, though
that It ended with AZ. So he began al
the top, SAP, and went through all the
numbers, 442, $40, 242, 14eand42. He
succeeded in waking up tho occupants
of each Of those rooms on every floor o.
the house,