The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-07-04
INSIDE Manuel's cantina the Amer

INSIDE Manuel's cantina the Amer
lean music box was playing. That
was nothing unusual, for, from morn
ING to night, the music box was going.
At table drawn close to the one on
which the box stood sat old man
Chamberlain. His eyes were closed
and he was seemingly half-asleep. But
with an almost automatic action he
now and then lifted glass to his lips
and slipped the fiery mescal which it
contained. And that was nothing un-
usual, for, from morning to night for
many year, old man Chamberlain sat
beside the box and the bottle in the
dark Mexican saloon.
Between the box and the man were
two points of resemblance. Each had
come from the United States and each
was wearing it's life out in ManueFs
cantina. There the resemblance end
ed Of the two the music box was a
more respectable member of society.
"The Drunken Gringo" the paisanos
called him. 1t was double contempt
because he was a foreigner and sot.
And yet, once each month, they well
cemed him as one of themselves. For,
then, there came to the old man a
check from far-off city in gringo-
land, and that strange check, convert
ed into cash, speedily found it's way
over Manuel's bar. On the day that
II came there was free mescal for all
who cared, and they were few who
would not leave the tiresome scratch
ing OF the soil for a time of intoxicated
hilarity. Then "The Drunken Gringo"
became "El Senor," and his tottering
steps were steadied by willing hands.
1t was not big check-only for $50
United States currency. But that makes
. almost aroomful of Mexican pesos, and,
besides, so far as results went, it was
worthy the respect it received. For, in
one way or another, it was one of the
supports OF the village. On it old man
chamberlain lived entirely. To him
It was board, lodging, clothing, and
: What was more-drunken forgetful-
ness. To Manuel-two-thirds of it
found its way to his pocket-it was
! prosperity in business. What sifted
oy him directly or indirectly support
ca half the village. So it was that for
one day in the month the old town had
: nesta when Bacchus was king and
Inc Drunken Gringo his premier.
oid man Champerlain had not al
ways been the Drunken Gringo."
ohee--lt was before his music box was
,nvented-he had been young and the
iature had seemed fair He had had vi
mons OF prosperous and honored life.
hen nad come his dark days, and Mex
~ was MS refuge, as it is that of many
another American. Once across the
oofder he had been seized with a long
s iof his native land. The scenes
Nhicn mad been so prosaic and COM
on IN the days he lived among them
.fe transformed into dreams of par
auise. 70 see them again in reality
Vas forbidden by the laws he had
pr'ken. Ts dream of them over a mes
wi oottle was resource left him.
sao N this he found his solace. Little
= h.'le the reality of the past was
v'so.Ien; little by little he became
'ne Drunken Gringo," and all that
as ie1t was the music box, the mes
=, o'1tie and the monthly check.
ine iast fiesta of the check had been
unusually exciting. 1t was the holi-
~ 'ime' and the spirit of the season
aau covered the disgrace of the grin
g 90 that the check was larger than
ary, and brought with it a mes
s;rse se ol christmas greeting. For a
.,ne the old man had shaken off hi.
apor. But now the music box was
maing away as usual, the mescal
ma Ae =, oo'tle had been reduced by half,
aa Manuel was doing On the bench
outside the door.
.nen came crash. The music box
~ .umollng to the floor. Through
mat, Ypeh doorway came flying the
ma sai alsc in which were punched the
NH. ., Home. Sweet Home" and on
n ~ 'ne oox had been at work.
nal, ,oahaei! Manuel! Come here. Man.
s,an eeh you | win 60. No one shall
ola r me- will go. say, Manuel
n ~ man Chamberlain was standing
sum-. NORWAY grasping the wall tc
ng wildly. ana snoo''