Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-24

now Is using their power and infiuenc
In trying to secure the work of publish
Ing the textbooks for Virginia for I'll
publishing-house Of b. F. Johnson & Co
OF this city. The committee appointed b
Post to appear before the State Boar
In this behalf advanced some strong al
guments In favor of having this wor
done here. There is no organization 1
the city more alive and more Jealous Q
Richmond's interests than the Traveller.
Protective Association.
The cosy rooms Of the headquarters. a
the corner of Third and Main streets, 1
a comfortable place for the members {
meet and have a quiet game of pool o
billiards, and TO talk over matters of 80
cial and business intercourse.
The Travellers Protective Association
has among its members men who hay,
travelled for twenty-five or thirty years
and some Of them have visited all Tn.
principal cities In this country and Eu
rope. and they have had some varied
and startling experiences in their travels
The following story was told by one OF
them the other night:
Some months ago a flne-looking travel
Hng-man. more than feet tall, and broad
shouldered, sauntered leisurely I'D to the
register OF large hotel in the West, and
after registering his name his glance fell
upon a wee mite of a girl, whose head was
so short distance from the floor that it
was no wonder he had not seen her. Tho
kindly-looking face bent down to the lit
tie one, and deep bass voice asked,
What is it, little grip please, Mister,
won't you buy my matches?" came in
weak. childish tones so low that the
words could not have been understood
had the appeal not been reinforced by the
holding up Of a box of matches The lit
tie feet were bare. and the one calico gar
ment rent. faded, and torn. mo; don't
want any to-day, sissy" said the Texan.
Please. Mister, won't you buy my match
esq with second pull at the coat. The
man turned again and glanced at the lit
tic one; then, with @ furtive glance
around, as If TO see If he was unobseryed,
put his fingers into his vest pocket, and
the next instant a bright half-dollar
cleaned in the little grirny fingers. With
a half-sigh, the big-hearted fellow said
half to himself, Poor little cuss."
please, Mister, don't you want the
and 1 hain't got no changer
"Oh, no; keep the change. and the
matches, too
Holding the precious coin in both hands,
the little match-girl vanished like a
shadow through the front door, and the
travelling-m man quietly followed.
Around the corner and down Sixth street
battered the little naked feet, unconscious
hat she was followed, and up one OF the
streets devoted TO small dealers and per-
'ect nest Of pawnshops. Into one of the
east clean and imposing Of these che dart
ID and whispered something TO the wo-
nan. who took a paper parcel out Of the
lrawer and handed ii to the child. The
,hild tore off the paper with nervous I'm
GERS and there was the sole treasure of
Ter heart. She Rugged it to her breast
md kissed it. What was said between
woman and child could not be heard, but
when the little waif laid the half dollar
IN the counter the woman shook her head
md pushed it back very far toward the
hild as If her resolution might not hold
ut The child looked amazed, but turned
. go, hugging her dolly, and at the door
stood the drummer, with very suspi-
ious moisture upon his cheek and a big
ump in his throat.
I've got little girl Ike you at home"
aid he. Come along and show me where |
ou live"
Well, you may be sure that the sick |
mother and the little girl were rendered |
nore comfortable. for an hour afterwards |
he had a receipt for a months rent in her
ands and a Doctors carriage stood at |
he door Of that tenement house.
Here is another good story. which shows
hat there are some very amusing Incl
ents connected with the life Of a travel
ng man:
II was in Pullman Sleeper" between
.lbany and Buffalo. Among the pas
engers were middle-aged couple, evil
entity on their first journey. and a sour
iced old maid, who was travelling alone.
he couple had an upper berth. and the
maiden well stricken in years. the up
err berth in an adjoining section. In the
anne car were a couple Of frolicsome
ouths. ready for any sort of mischief
edtime came, and all hands retired. But
lie husband could not sleep. Whether
was because of the motion Of the cars,
lie noise, or the novelty of the situation
e could not tell; try as he would, he
,uld not sleep. At length il occurred
him that he was thirsty The more
} thought of it the more thirsty he got.
, he called the porter. who brought the
Oder and helped him down. Now, while
} was gone for the water, one of the
,oys" stepped out of bed and shifted the
oder so that 1t rested against the berth
which the ancient maiden was Sleep
6, and then returned TO his bed. to note
e result. In moment or two the hus-
nd returned. and crept Quietly up the
cps, anxious TO make as little noise
possible, so as not To awaken p
S wife. The occupant of the berth rude
intruded upon, awoke with a start and
scream. The husband, supposing it to p
his easily-frightened wife, tried to re- il
sure her, and said. ut is only me. {" b
My you, you old scoundrel," said the L
nerable maiden. ''I'll teach you a les O,
A." and with that she seized him by Ia
. hair and screamed for help. Then he el
wled with pain. Then his WIFE awaken | o,
by the noise, discovered where her n,
sband was, and raised her voice in la fr
heaping approaches upon her n,
thful spouse. Then the passengers all N,
up and demanded an explanation OF Il.
commotion, and foremost among a,
ong them was the wretch who caused a.
ALL Then the husband, covered with A
fusion. and utterly unable to account \,
what he had done, climbed down ~
m his perch. and skunk away to bed. WI
ere he was soundly lectured by his -,
Q. Altogether. 1t was a most uncom- XVI
table, though a ludicrous, situation. 49,
the glances of defiance that were cx- -.
nged between the wife and the cid o.
Id all through the next day were a NJ
dy. The cause of all the trouble leaked ~
but 1t never reached the ears of ~,
Sc chiefly affected by 1t. W.