The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-02


starving until he could send them away on the next
steamer that into port and his actual outlay In
buying steamer tickets and In boarding the tramps
must have amounted to at least half his salary. He
couldn't complain to the government, for If he did
he would have been accused Of unwilngness to help
Americans in distress, the only thing he could do
was to write me abusive letters. The more letters
he wrote the more tramps L sent him. Word got
round among all the tramps in Europe that by calling
on me they could get an Introduction to. the consul
of Avias which would be worth having, and conse-
quently. before had been six months ip Office my
average weekly shipment of tramps was about
trebled.
DO you remember the wreck of the steamer
Morning Light off Avilas, in the year 1857? Well it
don't matter whether you do not The fact is that
the steamer was wrecked. though only four men
were drowned. Among the passengers was a per
sonally conducted party of thirty two American re-
male school teachers all of whom unmarried
and over forty years of age The conductor of the
party was one of the men who was drowned and as
the steamer went down in the Middle of the night in
the biggest kind of hurry the teachers hadn't
time to save anything except the clothes they stood
in don't suppose there $40 in the whole party,
to the consul for assistance. s--.-
when those thirty-two old maids marched into
the consul's office and told him that they hadn't any
money. and that they wanted him to send them to
Paris he saw his way. The women afterwards told
me that he smiling and pleasant as a man
could possibly be- and don't doubt it. He under
stood that his chance to get even with me had
at last, and he lost time in improving it. The
day about II o'clock In the morning the whole gang
of women came into my office and demanded second
class railroad tickets to Paris and money enough to
feed them on the way. One of the women. who act
ed as spokeswoman for the rest at times they
would give her chance to speak handed a letter
from the consul at Avilas in which he said that ne
had great pleasure in turning to me his dis
tressed fellow countrywomen knowing that always
helped Americans in difficulty. and that would be
only too happy to help these deserving ladies' He
went to say that the women had been shipwrecked
and had lost all their money, but that he assured
them that would furnish them with everything they
might want When l read the letter knew that
there big trouble ahead for me, and didn't need
to read the postscript, which read: WHO'S ahead
On the tramp game now?" He coarse sort of
chap. but he had fair idea of joke .74
"Well, after 1 had read the letter L asked In my
coolest and most dignifed way, Ladies what
have the pleasure of doing for you? re II
"'What we want said the spokeswoman, is lodg-
ing for the night and secondclass railroad tickets to
Paris. The consul at Avas said that it would be
your pleasure well your duty do this for
When we get to Paris get money from home,
and so we shan't want but couple of dollars
for each Of us, just for necessary expenses on
the road
But my dear madam" said l. tickets to Parts
for all of would cost about $500 and my salary is
only $3.50 year You must see that Il can't possibly
incur any such expense no matter how anxious l
to help you .s... ,ft.. - ty., -.-:...
we know Well said the woman. THAT, you are
3; a millionaire. and just stopping here to
yousef The consul at Avlas told all about. you
and said that you furnished railroad tickets to Amer-
nearly every day in the year ;,4f,.... . 49,.
The consul joking replied Il have
income except my salary, and could 40 more send
you to Paris than could buy up the Spanish
archy. l am ready to take any amount of trouble
to assist but for supplying you with railroad
tickets and money the thing is clean impossible
Every WELL sir said the spokeswoman we have
been sent to you by American consul. who may be
supposed to know his duty, and who is gentleman.
even if some others that L could name not. He
assured that it your bOunden duty to help
u.s. l can tell you that we don't intend to allow
you to shirk that duty any pretense whatever.
What else you for except to help 8mericans
who need help? Do you mean to say Chat the gov
eminent pays you to stay here and enjoy yOurSeve?
We shall go to the best hotel in this toTi and take
rooms telling the landlord to send the 4t1 to you.
We shall stay there till you give railroad tick
cts. matter how long it may be. More thar.
If we get the tickets very we Shall report
you to the president when get back I'd America,
ana you Will be properly punished for refusing to
help American ladies' Then she turned to the other
women and asked if they approved Of what she had
said They all did approve of it with Such enthus-
that they kissed her then and there and scowled
at if l had been the worst criminal III Spain.
''Tf they had been men should have ordered them
out of my office and should have sent for the police il
they refused to go. But being women what could |
do? told them and over again that could not
pay either hotel bills railroad fares but it made
sort of impression them They talked to me until
they were tired and then they filed out Of the roon
and 1 watched them from my window their way
to the hotel. which the street my
office. saw them go in, and as they did not come
out again 1 knew that they must have found rooms.
Of course did not believe that they could compel
by law to pay their bills. but all the the hotel
keeper would be to look to for payment, and
would make intolerant lot of trouble when re
found that 1 would not pay 's7 -
when my office hours were l went to the
hotel and found the landlord in the happiest possible
frame Of mind Before could say word he
wheImed me with thanks for sending him so many