The Florence daily tribune., 1899-01-12

THERE is an engineer on the Illinois
Central who is pretty well salts
tied with his lot 1t is possible thatif
the road" wanted to make him di-
vision superintendent or a vice presi
dent he would accept either posi- zion,
but it would be 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-
arably sharpened since then.
He was employed as fireman on one
cf the company's engines more than
year ago, and was known from Ran
lolph street to Buffalo as ''the dude"
As soon as his work was done and he
had discarded his bediicking jumper
Dale-blue overalls and diurnal accumu-
alton of lubricating oil, sand and coal
lust, he proceeded to array himself in
Gne linen and a $40 suit of clothes and
loaf and invite his soul. He had several
Of these suits of clothes and cape
Svercoat besides. Also he had a cornet
whereon he played with some skill, and
he loved the drama.
Whenever anything of thea,rica ma
ture was under discussion among the
tailroad men the dude fireman was
s.ways appealed TO us an authority. He
had an easy and familiar way of talk
irg of Mice Neiisen, Andy Mack, Sol
Smith Russell, Nat Goodwin and the
rest, and WAS particularly impressive,
and his criticisms were always accepted
IS final. He was not man who made
fine distinctions; actors were, as he
viewed the III, either great or bum :"
Nor WAS he one of those who content
themselves With criticising. Even the
men 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 LOB Gibson, who was sitting
smoking in lhe tireman's room. said:
Jack, sou ought to go on the stage
Jack answered: That's exactly what
am going 10 do"
There was an uncomfortable pause
Tor a moNncni. during which Bob did
lis besi not 10 look doubtful. At last
.e satG: Are you going t, give up
our job?"
u won't If | can hold it and travel
4hout the country with a troupe" re-
5!Ied Jack, but they'd have to get an
alner niir TO do my work and they
wouldn "ant 10 pay us both wages, so
| suppose aiight jus, about as well
quit
eight months later the ex-fireman.
thin and y gaard blue about the upper
Up and JoHi. shabby in attir. and With
shoes worn 10 the quick. was sittng in
room in his friends flat telling him all
boat 1t.
II was mighty metcoric career . he
said, II s'f-otiathvart the starry firrna-
meht in blaze of glory for just ahou,
IS long Us II would take you to say scat :
and then they didn'tdo thing TO me.
Il went to New York when | quit
the road aad got in with the Crutv-
Damiens company. The managers
EaIne WAS Croty and his wife's name
was Damicns. and he had been dressed
down with powder edpumice and hand
polished, ! want to tell YOU He sold
me wardrobe the first hing and after
ward he sold il for me and held out 20
Fer cent, commission. Croty was about
the warmest baby in 'he bunch. and
there was only one bunch. lie was go
ing to star me all the time as long as
my money held out. and then he shook
me down othird peasant. saw how it
was by that time, but couldn't help
myself for awhile hated to 90 to
r'aying eornet in the orchestra, but it
was the only thing there was. I've seen
whole lot of country and I've Travelled
n tie passes more than ] expected to.