The record-union., 1894-10-20
within Umbrian lIetes and Bounds.

copyrighted, 1S94, by Edgar L. Wakeman.
All rights reserved
Briefly told recollections of curious
condolences had already entertained our
Ten Travellers for perhaps an hour of the
CHEEKY evening time. Some Of us had
noticed that grave yet Iightsome smile
of reminiscence had fallen upon the face
of the Clerical Traveller. We knew his
moods, and little by little our discursive
chatter was stilIed, and we had not long
10 wait for this pleasant memory out of
his youthtide days.
/ think I never saw in print, and I GER
tainly never heard discussed. the pecu-
liar feeling which is experinced in seeing
or hearing spoken ones own name, when
it is possessed by another person: or the
still more inexplicable emotions of inter-
est and affinity which flash in one;s mind
and heart despite all mental protest,
when one is confronted by another hu-
man being, of whose existence there has
been no previous knowledge, and whose
right to your own name can no more be
disputed than yours to his.
l once had such an experience, and a
series of almost romantic incidents grew
out of it.
While an ungraduate at Oxford I often
ran down to London, usually with no
better defined purpose than of shaking
off the gloomy and dustere environment
of scholastic life.
My home, while in the city, was at a
certain almost historic tavern, in the
bustling neighborhood Of Covent Garden,
and, having in those days liking for
studies OF lowiy London life, | soon
formed more than ordinary attachment
for the stalWart night porter Of the an
cient inn where l lodged.
Aside from his splendid physical pro-
portions and complete and unconscious
Gauntlessness, two qualities rendering
his services particularly valuable where
thousands of costermongers, cartmen,
marketmen, farmers. greengrocers' lads
and brawny market porters were all
night long and away into the morning,
continually breaking into hurly burly
horse play, which often developed Seri-
Gus annoyance to coming and going
guests, his frank righteousness and
hearty ways had completely won my
affection.
At all hours of the night ! would linger
near him in the tavern entrance listening
TO his tales of London life, naively and
engagingly told in his broad Northern
accent, noting his frank yet canny treat
ment of late arrivals at the inn, or watch
ing with the keenest interest his deXtrous
handling of the wild market mObs which
now and then surged Viciously IN upon
the area railings and the entrance where
he sat or stood.
One night two huge market porters,
evidently with bad blood between them,
while passing with their burdens from
the market stalls TO the greengrocers'
which are always closely jammed in sep
arate lines from Covent Garden through
the by streets, away around into the
Strand, almost to Waterloo Bridge TO the
east and Trafalgar Square to the west,
met on the crowded walk Immediately
before US.
In an instant there were fierce blows
and a cheering mob hemming the COM
batants in. The two clinched desperately
and IN their struggles finally plunged up
the pavement and steps, and fell squarely
against us. Then l saw the most extra
ordinary exhibition of physical power
had ever Witnessed.
My porter friend parted the maddened
men as though they had been blades OF
grass. lifted one over my head and set
and then, apparently, without effort,
lifted the other entirely over the nearest
line of carts and dropped him gently on
the other side, thus as etfectually separat-
ing the brawlers as though the Thames
were flowing between them. For a mo-
hearty cheer Of approval followed, and
trailing out of this 1 heard gigantic and
ruffianly coster hoarsely eXclaim:
s'Strike me lucky! Bob Dorklin, yer
ekal aren't t be found in W'techapeI,
nor yet in Shor'ditch. Cor bli me, SO zee
aren't"
Then, for the first time, L knew that
my porter friend, whom | had always ac-
costed as Bob" and who had never ad-
dressed me other than as "Sir," bore my
own name.
Singularly, too, for moment there was
a sense OF family pride in his quiet and
Splendid performance. II L honestly con-
fessed my feelings at the time l would
even have to admit that the spontaneous
admiration of the marketmen, carried
on through this quick recognition OF pos
sible affinity and the surprising coinci-
dence of names, to momentary self-ap-
propriation on my part of the rough
throng's plaudits.
Yet, weakly and unfairly, gave Rob
ert no return cause for satisfaction and
graduation, in the disclosure of my OWL
Christian and surname, and seltishly en-
ioyed the strange feeling to which have
already referred.
He knew no more of me than that
was young gentleman studying at OK
ford and destined for the church. knew
him then only as | have related; but
gradually learned he was from the North
and had been drawn TO the great city a:
hundreds of thousands other simple souls
are drawn, by the common human i'm
pulse of gain.
In time, as opr friendship increased
his simple story, or | might more truly
saw its simplest outlines, were gradually
disclosed.
He had been betrothed to some rustic
maiden whose parents had nagged hel
into coldness toward him on account o
his poverty and tbriftlessnes. There
upon he had disappeared from among
his kith and kin and had come to London
town with the inexorable determination
OF gaining a little fortune with which K
return to his native shire and conquer al
opposition. a..
tent of his expressed resolve, but eoulo
see that there was the stern grain o
the North behind the honest fellows
purpose.
'.Don't wait too long, Bob" l woulC
answer him, touched by the thought o
how fruitless delay might shape MS
Iong-deferred triumph. l also asked
him how long he thought he must tol
..TiIl two hundred pound be saved" h'
answered quietly. "A lad's no man yon
lest he's a bit o. land. Pl ha' tn bit
next hers, or meier go back!"