Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-02-04
The Poor Gentleman"

a long while ago, when Bristol.
England, was growing rich with the
profits Of the West India trade. of
which it had almost monopoly. a
stranger took lodging there toward
the close of the year, and used to
visit the coffee room of that famous
ola Inn, the Bush. He w0uld arrive
about noon every day, and calling
for siN-penny glass OF brandy and
water, sit over it until he had care
fully gone through the London pa
per Of the preceding evening.
The landlord of the Bush, seeing
! how anxious he was to read the Lon
| don paper, made it understood that
while he had it "in handn no one
else was to expect it. Rather seedv
garments, Il lean body, a confirmed
Stoop and limited expenditure of a
daily siXpence, with nothing for the
waiter, clearly showed the newspa-
per reader to be a "poor gentleman, !"
and by that he was soon distin-
guished. On Christmas Eve honest
John Weeks, the landlord, anxious
that the decayed gentleman should
nave one good meal at least i'm the
Bush, delicately intimated to him
that on the following day he kept
open table, to which he would be
welcome free of cost.
Punctually at one O'Clock the next
day the stranger appeared at the
Bush in his usual seedy attire. He
part0Ok of the good dinner with the
apparent relish of man to whom
such feast is a novelty, and did
uue justice to the " stunning ale" for
which the Bush was famous far and
near. The dinner was concluded
me decayed gentleman remained
the last, and read the London pa
per in the kitchen. When he pre-
pared to leave, the landlord respect
fully helped him to put on his over
coat, and at the same time slipped a
gainea into his hand. The poor gen.
tleman pOcketed the coin with a
smile and sigh.
lie came no more to the Bush
But shortly after the Bush itself was
advertised for sale, with all its valua-
BILE good will and appurtenances,
and poor Weeks was trembling at the
thought of being put out by the ne w
owner, when he received q missive
from C0utts IL Co., the London bank
erS, to the effect that if he wished to
acquire the house he occupied, he
might draw upon them for the pur-
chase money. fastening to London
to thank his benefactors and con-
vince himself Of the genuineness of
the offer, he was introduced to
Thomas C0utts, the head of the
great banking firm, who proved to
be no other than the "poor gentle
man" "The Bush guinea" it is
said, was atterward worn, mounted
in bracelet, by the Duchess of st. |
Albans, the widow of Mr.. Coutts.
CLIPPING ENGLIsH.--A clever
New York girl made an apt rejoinder
last winter in London. She was in
vited to meet the Prince of Wales at
breakfast with some other Ameri-
cans. During breakfast the Prince
rallied her countrymen good
edly on the liberty taken by Ameri-
cans in "clipping the kings Eng
lish," rObbing words of letters in
pronunciation. After they had risen
from the table he found the shy lit
tie girl in corner, and asked her
kindly:
What in London has most inn
pressed you?"
Sinpul, your Highness," was the
timid reply.
"Sinpul ?" said the puzzed prince.
"Oh, yes! There is nothing in the
town as wonderful to me.n
81 am afraid" he said, with a
slight expression of annoyance,
"that you know my London better
than |. Sinpul? Is it a theatre, a
cafe-what is it 2"
"A church, your Highness. We
Americans would call 1t st. Paul
but, as you call ST. John 'Sinjun,'
this, it seems, must be 'Sinpul.'"
The Prince laughed heartily, and
declared himself fairly worsted.