The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-28
Guarantee Means Nothing

was built 400 years ago, and l slept In
q room where George Washington took
the oath I took il also. 1t 10 a room
that is subject to paroxysmal mosqui-
toes.
The walls Of this house are like the
rock of Gibraltar. / knocked on my
wall to arouse my partner for an early
train, and though he occupied the adj
joining room 1 might as we'll have rap
ped on the door Of the tomb at Mount
Vernon. twenty-five cents admission
is charged TO the house unless you are
ledger. 1t is very historical. never
saw such a historical house as this one.
You also have to lock your door, or
some one who is looking for Washing
toms bed may enter and swipe valise.
They seem to be in search of informa-
tion and light luggage. There were two
beds in my room. One was Braddock's
bed, and one was General Washington s.
/ tried both. Brad's had newer straw
in it than Georges; also more of it.
The Braddock is most homelike ruin,
and / regret, with all right minded
Americans, that General Braddock was
cut down in battle before he had q
chance to change the carpets.
We had joyful experience with the
light hearted youth of Alexandria. who
refer to the town as Aleck. We attempt
ed the stage entrance to the opera house
at 8, and, as usual, found it to be the
haunt of the sandbagger-dark, danger
Gus and eloquent with sour beer. Why
an opera house should expend all its
dividends on the entrance and the foyer
and leave the talent" to break its neck
in black, Whitechapel alley called a
stage entrance do not know.
We went, as usual, to black door in
reeking alley where twoscore of hood
lums hung about inhaling cigarettes and
hoping for q chance to steal in when the
sad eyed talent got in, if it did do SO.
The door was locked.
pounded ON it with a good umbrella
for awhile.
Then my partner kicked it good
while, and, behold it was s :15 p. M,
and we could hear the orchestra fiddling.
Some one, doubtless the stage mana
ger, heard this knocking and answered,
"Git away from there,
- e or I'll sick the police on to We 70
Then gave the sign of distress, but
no one came.
"Hil That's Williei'' said bright
youth Of 9 years and cigar butt Then
there were others. Soon 90 ardent adj
mirers crowded around us, and one light
ed a match to see if favored my car
tOons.
He said did not
He was right
"Yay, Bini'' said q coarse little cuss,
with hoarse, congenital gin voice, such
as one hears on Avenue A in the city of
New York.
Then others spoke freely Of me as they
would Of the wax figure of Brutus in
Mime. Tussaud's great collection.
A cold perspiration broke out on my
brow, and when the stage manager
opened the door and we had two hours
with a bright and Christianized audi
ence it was relief It was not so de-
monstrative as our alley audience. but
we liked it better.
I remember one time in California
where shrunk from depot reception.
It was in the citrus belt, where the
lemonade and the orange grove are
born, most beautiful and seductive
country, worth long, weary trip over
endless alkali and desolation to reach
God bless it!
Mr.. Burbank was my associate,
gentleman in every instinct, in every
breath he drew. Consumption had long
before marked him for the mysterious
country beyond California, yet with
great heroism he was battling with
death to the very shores Of the dark
river.
/ saw out Of the car window the
generous greeting such as only Califor-
mia can give. A thousand people stood
in the beautiful sunshine at the station,
and l weakened.
Dear Burbank, the hero, and I, the
cowardi Ee looked more like me than I
did myself, for he was thin and pale
Many times he had been mistaken for
me and generously laughed it off.
So / shrunk out at the rear door Of
the car and took carriage to the hotel,
while he generously met the multitude
of curious but kindly people and shed
them with smiles as ducks back sheds
the water
May he rest in everlasting peace and
bask in the sunshine he SO dearly won
~ L<