Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-10-14
SOUTHERN EXPERIENCE
OF CLAY CLEMENT


dating back about ten years, is re-
plete with humorous incidents.
On one occasio ion, said Mr.. Gle.
ment, my manager booked me in
the little mining town of Gadsden,
Alabama, then an unknown uuan.
tity in theatricals, but which prov
ed very good Cad for me. AT
the time l speak of, there was
narrow gauge railroad running
without a regular schedule to and
from Gadsden, to a point of the
Alabama & Great Southern Rail.
way, the only sign of depot or
station being small shed on the
open prairie-if a long vista of
fiat southland can be called prsi.
RE, at least such it appears to
me.
On the morning in question, the
train conductor Informed us that
we were at Gsdsden Junction. We
all piled out in haste fearing we
would miss connection with the
other train. In few moments
the train steamed away and sor-
~ lot of Tnespians found them.
selves alone on that vast prairie.
After waiting what seemed an in.
terminable time, for signs of life,
we concluded to make some in
quiries from the inhabitants of the
shed
Mr.. Mullen, my stage manager,
knocked at the door, at which,
after some minutes, an old darkey
made his appearance.
"Good morning." said Mullen.
"Mawnin," Quoth Uncle Tom.
In those days every old black man
was an Uncle Tom and every
young wench, a Topsy.
"Can you tell me where the
train for Gadsden isp" asked the
genial stage director. Mullen
is always genial even when wrest
ling with a nondescript set of
country stage hands.
"Reckon she's comm along
ri-ht soon."
where's the ticket Officer" said
Mullen.
"Ain't no ticket Office hiar sa,"
said Uncle Tom.
"Who do You buy tickets
from?"
"Man on de kiaro."
"The CONDUCTOR"
"Yes, sah."
just then the Gadsden Vesti-
bule, Limited, consisting of an
engine and one combination coach
hove in sight, backed down to
where we were and a man, evil
IDENTIFY a very busy man, for he
paid no attention to our mammoth
organization, jumped from the en-.
CINE and disappeared in the shed.
When he reappeared, | ventured
to ask him when the train started,
he informed me that it would
start when he got good and blank,
blank ready. 1 thanked him for
his politeness and told Mullen
to ask if he would kindly have our
baggage placed in the car.
Ill never forget the look that
ticket seller, conductor and suprin.
tendent, all rolled into one, gave
our good natured stage man ager
and the language we'll, we all,
barring the ladies', hustled the
baggage into the car, settled down
and arrived in Gadsden without
further interrogating the mperor
OF the narrow gauge. We went
to the hotel where the landlord
assigned me to room Alabama"
The rooms were named after
states instead of being numbered. |
l sent a request by the porter
and by the way, the only red head
ed niger l have ever seen-to
have, if it was not already occupi-
ed, California" assigned to me. |
l got it and my weight of sadness
OF the morning was in wonder
lost.
After dinner, 1 was introduced |
to General Gordon, manager of
the Opera house, who entertained
me pleasantly with the news that
nearly all the seats were sold, also
several potations. l retired to
california" for q short siesta be. |
fore supper; was awakened by the |
porter (nicknamed Carrots) who
said gent" wanted to see me
particular"
l hurried down stairs and found
the gent in the bar room, which