Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-10-17
AMERICAN MILLIONAIRES
BY GEORGE THOMAS BOWLING, d. d.


1t might almost seem that the fol-
lowing sketch illustrating the singular
experiences which sometimes occur to
those travelling through foreign
country could scarcely be true. 1t is,
however, an accurate statement of
facts, and can be verified, if anyone
should so desire, by communicating
with any member of the party re-
terred to.
There were about forty. of us Amer
lean tourists, in 1892, under the con-
duct of Prof. Armand de Potter, re-
turning together from the North cape
and stopping for little time in Den
mark. The day approached for us to
leave Copenhagen for Stockholm, on
our way to st. Petersburg; and, as our
conductor thought it wise, we con-
cluded to charter train, which hap
pened to be what is known abroad as
first class. We had learned that we
could thereby secure considerable in
crease of comfort, with comparative
small increase of expense. But how
little we dreamed of the experiences
wnlcn were TO IOllOW!
AS our line of carriages rolled from
the hotel to the station, most of us
were too much engaged with the pros
poets of the journey to note the atten-
tive gaze of the passing pedestrians, or
the stare of the curious groups gath
cred about the depot.
Soon we were on the cars and had
settled ourselves comfortably in our
various compartm ents for an all-day's
quiet ride in the midst of Swedish
scenery About an hour passed away
and the whistle blew. We were near
ing a station.
Good gracious, what crowdw ex-
claimed one of the party, as he pulled
his head in from the window, and
popped it out again.
Immediately for ty heads werc thrust
out from forty windows, more or less,
and forty people, mentally or aloud
exclaimed: Good graciousl"
The platform was literally packed,
and we asked ourselves: "Why this
throng, since no passengers are to be
taken on board, and we are travelling
as party of obscure American tour
ists?"
When we came to standstill our
amazement was still further increased.
The multitude pressed about our win
dows and soon boarded the train.
Where is Mr.. Vanderbilt" some
one asked.
We answered that we had not seen
him.
"Well, may see Mr.. Sandford2"
(which Mr.. Sandford?"
'..Mr. Sandford, of CALIFORNIA;; the
railroad man."
"Oh, you mean Mr.. Stanford?"
"Yes, he's the one; l want to see
him."
We told. the gentleman that we did
not think he could see him, since we
had never seen him ourselves.
Then he edged up to one of us, and,
In a confidential whisper. asked:
(which is Jay Gould?"
We told him we didn't know.
Here spruce young man pressed
forward. "Now, see here, gentlemen"
he exclaimed, with politeness, but
considerable suppressed energy, I've
Dtcn oche o'ci hCiO ny lhC Jouinui
represent especially to meet this party
of American millionaires, and have an
interview. l have driven ten miles
this morning, and do not want to re-
turn without the accomplishment of
my purpose"
A "plain-spolken" tourist from one of
our western states could now contain
himself no longer. "See here, stran-
GER" he exclaimed, you'd better come
off your perch. You're jagged; that's
what's the matter with you. You're
talkin' through your hat. What on
earth are you dreamin' about, any
how2 Mr.. Vanderbilt and Jay Gould
and Mr.. Stanford, and the rest of 'emi
Who told you they were ON board?"
"Who told me?" he cried, excitedly-
''who told me? Look at that, and see
who told mel" and he pulled from his
pocket newspaper, and, pressing his
finger against paragraph, held it up
for us to read. AS it was in the Scan
dinavian tongue, and as our education
had been neglected in that department,
we were mono of us much the wiser
So we asked him to interpret 1t; and
he read this statement, which copied
ut the time: