Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-12-24
Captain FitZ Prigg.


1t was /. certainly but to be brew
cited from civil like to high military
station without notice, and without
the consciousness of having done any
thing to merit the promotion, took
me little aback. 1t was my first
visit to New York, but | had read
enough about metropolitan tricks
upon travellers to be on my guard l
supposed, in snort, had my eye-teeth I
ut-theoretically, at least.
"You are in error, SIR | said; Il
am not the gentlemen you take me /
for
.'What! Not Gen. Flayem, of pr
''My name is Hay" | replied
s'Timothy Hay, from .'
'sWellI l was never so mistaken.
Do you know" the stranger continued,
''you and my friend, the general, are
as like as twins? But l beg your par
don, sir-no offense, l hope"
After all, there is something fiatter-
ing in being taken for distinguish
ed person. The gentleman seemed so
mortified, moreover, at his blunder,
that | could not help softening to-
wards him. Indeed, | felt half way
inclined to apologize for my Identity
The least l could do was to invite
him to take something" He knew
good place and thither we adjourned.
''By the way" remarked my new
acquaintance, as we clicked glasses,
'.being from, you must know
my old friend, Judge Virgins"
Now it happened that L did not
know the Judge, but it would never
do to let on L didn't, for ne was the
leading man of my state. SO put on
a bold front and said:
''Intimate."
Forthwith we proceeded to eXpati-
ate on the judge Elm TACT. eXhausting
him-agreeing, in conclusion, that lie
was the properest man in the nation
to have been chief justice, and that il
was burning shame that his claims
had not been recognized.
Capt. Fitz Prigg-that, | learned
was the strange gentleman'S name
/ soon discovered, had an extensive
acquaintance with our public men.
From the president down through
the heads and tails of departments tC
the newest congressman, he knew
them all. | think L learned more OF
American biog raphy from the captain,
as we stood chatting over our toddy,
than | had gathered from all my pre-
viouS reading.
But l was just on my way to dine
at --'s" said the captain; hest
restaurant in the city-would be de-
lighted to have your company. It's
so rare that one meets one with whom
nne finds it plaaSnra tn cnnvarSa -
L modestly tried to excuse myself:
but the captain pressed his invitation
so warmly that it would have seemed
rude to persist in declining So suf-
fered him to take my arm and lead
me away simultaneously with the be-
ginning of an elaborate diSquisition
on general politics, which lasted until
we reached our destination.
The captain had not overrated the
merits of -S. The dinner we sat
down to could hardly have been sur
passed, either in the luXuriance OF
the dishes or the elegance of the serv-
ing. Capt. FItz Prigg ordered every
thing on the most magnificent scale
He must have a long purse, L reflect
ed, to stand this sort of thing often
anu IoW lHc dpOstlu SHdTklcu DIS We
feasted. l never saw a man who could
eat, drink and talk all at once like
him. He could expound the Virginius
case with his mouth full of grouse
discuss back pay while masticatina
canvass-back and guZZle champagne
while doing all the rest.
Pardon me moment, Mr.. Hay
said the captain, finishing his coffee
and rising: Il see one of our city mis-
sionaries over there. and must give
him something / make it point in
my humbly way. to neglect no oppor
tunity of doing good. BY the by
taking out wallet-.scan you change
me a tifty?"
L could and did
Keep your seat-shall be back pres
entity, he added, stepping aside ano
accosting privately young man
whose attire, l thought would have
comported better with his sacred call
ing had the color of his waistcoai