Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-19
BILLY MASON SPINS A YARN.

BILLY MASON SPINS A YARN.
William T.. Mason has Partisan story
which he guarantees to go as it says.
The following Is a shorthand report of
| it.
There Is a man who lives In Galesburg,
III, who went TO Paris while he was
abroad. lie couldn't speak, read or
write French. But that is nothing To an
American in Paris. He stopped at a
French hotel, of course, because there
are no other hotels In Paris. When he
went TO his room an attendant went 10
see II he had any orders. The Galesburg
man gave an order in Illinois United
States, but the attendant looked at him
with sphinx expression. Then the
Galesburg man undertook to make his
meaning known by pantomime. This
only added To the riddle-like look on the
face Of the attendant. The Galesburg
man made another effort, and the at
tendaut wrote something on card,
handed the card 10 the guest aud went
out. The guest looked at the card.
The words were French, but that only
added 10 the guests discontinue. He
took the card TO the proprietor, explain
ing that he did not know any French !;
the proprietor said, as well as a French
landlord can say It, that he would be
proud To be Of any service 10 guest from
the United States. He took the card
and read IL.
A cloud spread over his face and he
sputtered out words OF wrath. IL was a
sort Of composite made up OF sacre,
Mon Dieu, get-out-of-my-house and-be-
Quick-about-it. The Illinois man could
not pacify the landlord, so he went TO
his room, packed up his traps, and kick
ed over chair and went 10 another
hotel across the way. The landlord met
him with the joyful manner and ex-
preston OF foreign landlord when he
sees guest from the states. The
Galesburg man said he had been insulted
by the hotel rival across the way and
that ticklcd Frenchman No. ,, who was
happy AZ the thought that he had pulled
some shingles from the roof OF the man
over the way. The Gslesburg man WAS
given an apartment and proceeded 10 un-
pack his belongings preparatory 10 max
ing an indefinite stay.
Then ne called on the landlord aud be-
gan explaining to him that he had been
insulted by the rival, aud Frenchmsn
No. ordered a small bottle. The Gales
burg man then showed the card contain
ing the puzzle. trenchy had no sooner
read Il then he went into convulsions.
His sacres were fiercer than the rivals
and he was for kicking the Galesburg
man into the boulevard, and would have
done so but for the Galesburg mans
celerity. He went 20 his room, packed
his traps and left BY the side entrance.
He walked down the strange and
crowded thoroughfare OF strange city
longing In his heart for his own home
aud glimpse Of Clark +. Carr. What
did il mean: While thus Illuminating,
as Mr.. Pickwick was wont 10 do In
dilemma, he met friend from the states.
IL was providential, as he thought, and
he told his old acquaintance from the
states Of his adventures, and asked him
IL he could read French. The friend said
he had done Paris long enough TO have
smattering. The Galesburg man
thereupon showed the card and awaited
with the anxiety OF man who has
lottery ticket for results. The friend
from the states read the card and threw
I, into the face OF the Galesburg man
with the remark that he was no gentle
man, and that he never wanted him To
recognize him anywhere. No explans-
ton could be obtained. The acquaint-
ance from the states walked on and
disappeared. The Galesburg man pick
ed up the card and continued his stroll,
the very atmosphere growing darker and
thicker with perplexities. He resolved
TO quit Paris. He acted on this.
In another hour he was en- route TO
Hsvre. Soon after his arrival he was
ticketed for New York on one of the
French steamers and sought the conso-
lation of his stateroom. The vessel had
been out two days when the Galesburg
man was walking the deck. He met an
old friend, not only friend but fellow
townsman. They did all Of those things
which two crouies do who meet unex-
pectedly under a foreign sky. They ex-
changed experiences In Paris, and then
the hero Of this story told of his woes.
The newly found acquaintance thought
il passing strange and asked TO see the
card; he knew some French himself.
The man who had so much trouble with
the card hesitated. He said TO the other
man: mo, you are my friend, and |
don't want TO take any chances OF losing
your friendship" The other Galesburg
man protested that nothing, French or
ANYTHING else, would cause him to waver
in his friendship for No. /. With these
repeated proteststions No. l opened his
coat aud showed his hand into his inner
pocket. A pause occurred and friend
No. was breathless. No. is face turn
ed TO au ashen hue and with a gasp of
hopelessness he said: "My God, I've
lost the card"
Colonel Mason declares that this is
the most thrilling story in his repertory.