Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-02-17
A Mauaqer's Wife Has a New Ex-

perlence,
Mrs. w. A. Thompson, wife of Col
onel Thompson. manager of the Bos-
ton Lyric Opera company, is a beauty
in the strlctest sense of the word.
There are very few photographers of
any Importance in this country who
have not pictured her in almost every
conceivable pose.
She Is inclined toward athletics and
enjoys most hugely "A ride to Hounds
She is an expert rifle shot and poss-
esses a deXterous hand at "foils." In
deed, there are few fencing masters
whom she-eannot touch five times out
OF seven. Mrs. Thompson is always
searching after new adventures. The
touring of silver, gold and coal mines
and balloon ascensions are written cpl
sodes on the back pages of her history.
The Colonel was much surprised
scme two weeks ago to receive a re-
quest from Mrs. Thompson to secure
for her the necessary permission to
make one Of the trips on the railroad
in the locomotive cab of the c. & o. r.
r., between Ironton and Portsmouth.
Prayerssand expostulatioIs were in
vain She had made up her mind for
just such an experience and 1t must be
obeyed. After some difficulty the ar
rangements were made for this some
what singular journey, and the morn
ing on which IL was to be taken was
clear and spring like. Mrs Thompson,
the station. Just why she dressed so
lavlshly for such journey is not on
record but had she seen the merry
twinkle in the engineers eye as he be-
held her gorgeous costume, she prob
ably would have changed her mind,
and this story never written.
However, she got into the cab, the
signal was given to start, the whistle
blew and the train commenced it's jour-
ney. For ten minutes she never said
a word, but kept looking at the NOV
! ing panorama of landscape that was
passing before her. Finally she turn
ed to the engineer and exclaimed.
"Oh, how grand! How invigorating!
If | were a man | would be an engin-
eer. BY the way, how fast are We go
ing.
We'll" replied the engineer, "about
60 miles an hour, mum, but she will go
faster With that he pulled the
lever down a notch or two and the en-
gine bounded forward like a thorough
bred horse touched with the whip.
The rate of speed was terrific. Tele-
graph poles, mile stones, trees, fences
and houses seemed all congested in
one admiXture.
The train had made sudden curve,
which brought 10 view bridge in the
distance. Mrs. Thompson could hard
ly hold her seat, but she managed to
say, You don't me an to cross that
bridge at this rate of speed, do you?"
The engineer simply nodded his
head, "Yes."
But is there no danger?" asked the
fair occupant d..
well, num- replied the engineer
while half serious expression took
possession of his face, If the train
should strike the bridge with sufficient
force TO unlock the "drawbridge" and
it should swing open, there would be
no time for prayers"
"Then for mercy sake, stop it," said
Mrs. Thompson in perceptible nervous
ness.
Impossible" answered the engineer
ut is a steep down grade, and if there
is any danger, it must come"
Needless to say, the bridge was pass.
ed over in safety an at the first sta
tion two miles beyond, the train
stopped. AS it did so, Mrs Thompson
got off the cab, murmuring in plain.
tive tones, THANK you. I've go
enough of this"
AS she entered the passenger coacl
she was met with a roar OF laughter
and when the Colonel came towards
her, biting his lips to keep the yell
from bursting out, she said, What Ii
phe matter, Billy?'
Matter" the Colonel answered
for heavens sake, look at your face"
She did so, and, horrors, the com
pleSion which she prides so much wa
covered an inch deep with SCOT, ant
her dress was simply mass of greas
spots, and to make matters worse
there was not washing convenience
! on the train. One of the lady mem
bers of the company happened to hav
a white veil which she loaned her al
in this manner a journey of over al
hour was enjoyed tO
) Arriving at the town Mrs. Thompson
was hastily put lntp cab and driver
to the hotel. AS she entered, sht
quickly went upstairs to the parlo
floor. She was. however, seen by tn
proprietor, who turned to the Colonel
who was registering at the desk, AM
sald: "Oh, beg pardon, but we do no
entertain colored people this hotel" ="
"ColOred people!" the Colonel an
grily exclaimed, but realizing the no
( sition instantly, leaned toward tn
gentleman ard Informed him that tn
lady was his wife, and that she hal
been enjoying q ride on a locomotiYs
7 Had anyone been passing uhroggl
2 corridors of the hotel past FarlOr
for two hours afterwards, they woul
have heard The searcher after adyen
turo laying full duty with brush an
: soap for her morning experience.
Itrostg with you whether you continue the. .al.u,a
ncrVe-killing tobacco habit, ,hO-TOsBASaIX E3&
removes tile desire tObhcpo, lM