The Winslow mail., 1899-04-29

THERE is an engineer on the Illinois
Central who is pretty well salts
fed with his lot. 1t is possible that if
1.-The road" wanted to make him di-
vision superintendent or vice presi-
dent he would accept either position,
but it would be a difficult matter to
induce him to give up railroading and
take up another calling. There was
time, he says, when good thing might
label itself and stare him in the face
and he wouldn't know it, but he be-
lieves his perceptions have been consid-
erably sharpened since then.
He was employed as fireman on one
cf the company's engines more than
year ago, and was known from Ran
uolph street to Buffalo as "the dude"
As soon as his work was done and he
had discarded his bedticking jumper,
pale-blue overalls and diurnal accumu-
iation of lubricating oil, sand and coal
dust, he proceeded to array himself in
fine linen and $40 suit of clothes and
loaf and invite his soul. He had several
of these suits of clothes and a cape
5vercoat besides. Also he had comet
whereon he played with some skill, and
he loved the drama.
Whenever anything Of theatrica ma
ture was under discussion among the
railroad men "the dude fireman was
a.ways appealed to as an authority. He
had an easy and familiar way of talk
! ing of Alice Nielsen, Andy Mack, Sol
Smith Russell, Nat Goodwin and the
rest, and was particularly impressive,
and his criticisms were always accepted
as final. He was not man who made
| fine distinctions; actors were, as he
! viewed them, either great" or bum"
| Nor was he one of those who content
themselves with criticising. Even the
Elen who sneered with the greatest
bitterness at the cape overcoat were
compelled to admit when Jack spoke
piece" at any of their entertainments
that he ''spoke it out of sight"
1t was not surprising, therefore, that
when Bob Chilson, who was sitting
smoking in the tireman's room, said:
Jack, you ought to go on the stage"
Jack answered: That's exactly what
l am going to do"
There was an uncomfortable pause
for moment, during which Bob did
his best not TO look doubtful At last
he said: ''Are you going tc give up
your job?"
Il won't if l can hold it and travel
About the country with q troupe" re-
piled Jack, "but they'd have to get an
ether man to do my work and they
wouldn't want to pay us both wages, so
| suppose | might just about as we'll
1uii."
/ Eight months later the eX-fire man,
thin and Eaggard blue about the upper
lip and jow. shabby in attire and with
shoes worn TO the quick, was sitting in
q room in his friends fat telling him all
about it.
1T was a mighty meteoric career" he
said. Il shot athwart the starry firma-
ment in blaze of glory for just about
is long as it would take you to say scat, ,
and then they didn' do thing to me.
Il went to New York when L quit
the road and got in with the Croty-
Damiens company. The managers
Ealne was Croty and his wife's name
was Damiens, and he had been dressed
down with powdeledpumice and hand
polished, l want to tell you. He sold
me wardrobe the first thing, and after
ward he sold It for me and held out 20
Ter cert. commission. Croty was about
the warn1est baby in the bunch, and
there was only one bunch. He was go
ing to star me all the time as long as
my money held out, and then he shook
me down to third peasant. l saw how it
vas by that time, but couldn't help
myself for awhile. l hated to go to
playing cornet in the orchestra. but it
was the only thing there was. I've seen
a whole lot of country and I've travelled
on tie rass's more than l expected TO.
It's life full of interest, not to say
anxiety is an actors. But | think or
consideration I'd about as soon have al
sctive position in the STRENGTHENING
department. Are they giving out lhest
led civil-service tickets this year, Bob
or can any husky boy get broom?"
"You stay right here with me unit
you strike something" said Bob, cor
daily. ''I'll do what I can for you
You'd better get you some clothes The
first thing"
For three weeks the convalescent
victim of stage mania diligently an
swcred advertisements in person anC
t% letter, almost invariably to find thai