The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-10-13
KNOWS AGOOD THING
NOW.
By GEORGE AIDE.
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'HEKE is an engineer on the ILLINOIS,
Central who is pretty well salts
fed with his lot. 1t is possible that il
''the road" wanted to make him di
vision superintendent or vice presi-
dent he would accept either position
but it would be difficult matter to
induce him to give up railroading and
take up another calling. There was q
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 a
year ago, and was known from Ran
dolph street to Buffalo as 1.-The dude"
AS soon as his work was done and he
had discarded his bedticking jumper,
pale-blue overalls and diurnal accumu-
lation 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
cvercoat besides. Also he had cornet
whereon he played with some skill, and
he loved the drama.
Whenever anything Of a theatrica. ma
ture was under discussion among the
railroad men 1.-The dude fireman" was
always 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.' y
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 a
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 fireman's room, said:
Jack, you ought to go on the stage. y
Jack answered: That's exactly what
am going to do"
There was an uncomfortable pause
Tor moment, during which Bob did
his best not TO look doubtful. At last
ne said: Are you going to give up.
your job?"
Il won't if | can hold it and travel
acout the country with troupe" re-.
Piled Jack, but they'd have to get an
ether man to do my work and thew
wouldn't want TO pay us both wages. so
| suppose might just about as well
quit"
Fight months later the ex-flreman.
thin and saggard 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 mighty meteoric career, - he
sald Il shot athwart the starry flrma-
ment in blaze OF glory for lust about
as long as it would take you to say scat,
and then they didn' t. do thing to me.
Il went to New York when omit
the road and got. in with the Croty-
Damiens company. The managers
Fame was Croty and his wife's name
was Damiens, and he had been dressed
down with powder edpumice and hand
polished, I want to tell you. he sold
me wardrobe the Fl Est thing, and after
ward ne sold it for me and held out 20
Fer cent. commission. Croty was about