The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1901-10-17

traveller Stories ol Wild red Indians on
Msnhsttsn Island and Dsfslo hunts 10
The adjacent territory dont 60 any moro
A qasttsr oi century ago yon could
sinii 'em With any hind oi yarn II the
scene was laid 10 The United States sud
the actors we're Americans. Nov you are
apt TO set laughed st II yon spring any
dime novel stories on the average man 10
The street.
Once when Was in L,ndon on . busi
ness Trip vas seized with . great long
Ing for oysters. Visions OF them brolled
steamed and ca the bali shell. snch Is
used to eat 10 New York, Baltimore and
Washington. haunted me every time sat
down TO meal, bat none Of them ever sp
pesred on the table. English friends ss
sured me that could get them II only
wen. to the right place. but l never enc
me- n1sia tbs sdarsss' Ss q d.y :s' Rsp,sS Ss
10 Ind sn oyster house on my own hook.
10 the Strand found what | WAS look
ing for. II vac . typical London eating
house. but the sign, Oysters 10 Every
Style. reminded me OF home. entered
and a. fceler ordered dozsn on the hall
shell, The waiter who served me was ss
solemn ss bishop. To oysters he
brought me we're the smallest and mean
est looking bivslves i ever saw. They
had q shriveled up, forlorn look about
them that WAS not st oil tempting and
there Was nothing in the taste OF them to
remind me OF the delicious Blue Point or
the more robust Rocksway.
When / bad finished eating them, l
thought 1t would be good ides TO carry
away the shells to show my friends st
home. They would serve as = warning TO
any one intending to cross the water against
oysters as they are served 10 Euglsnd's
capital. 30 | wiped the shells dry with
my napkin and slipped them into my
pocket
When the solemn looking waiter re
turned TO take the rest Of my order, be
looked first at my plate and then ct me
Then be glanced about the floor on both
sides OF my chair and finally stopped and
looked under the table,
What's the troublep / ask ed lsngnid
ly.
Beg pardon. cir, he said, but what's be
come OF the shells2
Do You mean the oyster shellsf | asked
without any particular chow OF interest,
Most certsiuly, he returned, again pok
ing bis head under the table. Hits most
strange, whst.ver has become Of them,
Nothing strange spolt IL, said calm
ly, l ate them.
Hate them he cried, his eyos bulsins.
You must be joking. sir
aNA.Js, AL.I. vent on. .Evershndy- in
we'll as the oyster. Ia fact, In some Of
the states they throw the oyster away and
eat the shells alone. 10 Georgia they es'
them with clay.
The walters jaw dropped and bis eye'
continued TO bulge, He Was SO hustered
that he got his orders mixed and brough
me the food intended for some one else
| he got things Strengthened ont alter
while but the look OF dumb amszsmen
never left his face,
h After l had eaten the meal | GLANCED
leisurely sround and saw With surpris
that nearly every eye 10 the place W.
fastened on me, The wsiter who serves
} me was talking to the man ss the desk
Who / sfterwsrd learned, was the pr
; pr,etor, and be was crsning his neck I
! get . look st me,
i It's the shells that's bothering them,
said TO myself. Well, I'll keep ther
messing ss Q reward for the messly oy
J ters they gave me-
9 When l started to 60 Gut, the proprieto
4 was standing at the door,
a Aword with you. sir, be said politel!
' What is il2 inquired innocsntly. Th
3 N oney gave you was good, trussf
). Indeed 1t wac, be replied. 1t WASH
o sbou, the money wished to speak, b'
o about the oysters.
Oh, about the shells. | suppose. SOL
u csrelessly. Your waiter seemed surprise
D when told him / hsd eiten the Shells
! confess II surprised me slso, said u
,r eating house man. l never heard oil
10 before.
Ie LIS very common thing 10 Americ
a said and went my way.
. Nearly every day for three months
us vent to that eating house for bite
noon, and there we're always . sssheriI
10 there to see the American who ate oYsi
| shells. OF course, / never ordered O
ID more on the bsli shell because | Was wst
ed too closely TO clip The SHELLS into
y. pocket, told the proprietor that
Ia. Eoslish oysters weren't big enough
at suit me. he ofisred 10 tfy TO get
., some Of . larger sizs. bat wouldnf h'
OF such thtng, I.
ia. Every time be talked to me- snd v
nd wss nearly every day, be msnssed 10 orl
te the conversation around to Americs
general and the devourins Of oyster sh'
ed ip particular. found him TO be q
all oi more than ordinsry intellect. M
nv ever be possessed noe fund OF conn
Of sepse, Bot there vas DO yfn sb
IN. lne,ir. and Auericsns be wouldn't o
low without qnesii1n.
bis The dsy before ] was TO sail ior be
ci | vent around to the eating house ior
- lac, visit. and when | v. going on'
eoodby to the proprietor Then
nv bsnd in my pocket sod. pulling
- 49,