The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-19
Rerqeman Turns Town over.


BEEN asleep for years and during the
twelve hours that George was in it. he
gave it an up-to-date twentieth century
awakening and turning over that VIII be
the talk Of the town for a generation.
1t was the first visit TO the scenes Of his
boyhood for several years and the net
result is that it is about thirty years
nearer being in touch with the rest of the
world
George arrived there the morning after
Christmas at o'clock from Chicago. It
was dark, dreary and lonesome. Not a
human form was visible, not a human
voice heard During his visit 70 Chi
cago, where he met some choice spirits,
his blood became thin and 10 thicken it
up again he bought one Of those fine
thick steaks that Ing the blue veins
out in bold relief. But he encountered
a new difficulty; not a restaurant in town
was open. He struck out for his brother
Henry's house, and gave the old French
knocker wback that re-echoed and re-
echoed throughout the dreamy, sleepy old
town. Now. then. one of Georges tricks
is to speak the stage dialect of the He
brew and when his brother opened the
friend" he said, Il am very, very hun
CRY. I came TO this town and found it
lifeless. Has everybody died or what's
the matter? I have here a beef
steak, and you would oblige a starving
man by letting him cook it in your
Kitchen"
Henry Bergman thought he had a mad
man for visitor. but having no firearms
in the house, he concluded to humor him.
He called his wife and when that good
woman came into the hall this mailman
with the Jewish tongue put his arms
around, her and kissed her twice. In
amazement Henry Bergman was frozen
stiff, but when he thawed out under q
white heat of indignation, he hauled back
his good right arm and was giving il
admirable direction towards the prcbosis
Of his visitor, when q smile betrayed the
features Of his long lost brother. George
kissed his sister-in-law again, and all the
young Bergemans and pretty soou the
steak was steaming on the table before
him.
Louie Hornig, a former playmate and
chum, he found conducting the biggest
wagon and blacksmith shop in town. He
rushed in like a cyclone and with a thick
dialect and many Hebrew gestures called
him aside. My friend he said. ''by
mistake my house sent out here two
crates of ruDber-eIastic horse shoes that
were intended for a town in Europe and
I was sent out here TO recover them. You
know how urgent 1t must be when 1 was
not allowed to spend my Christmas with
my family
Louie placed his hands on that ample
portion which his leathern apron cover
ed and in utter amazezment repeated:
"Rubber-elastic horse shoes"
Eyes. my friend" said George, THE
newest thing out. Shoe trotting horses
with them and they run so fast that they
don't know when to stop. Shoe draft
horses with them and with the heaviest
load they can't feel themselves start.
Driving horses shod with them, on test.
have gone $50 miles without rest and could
hardly be stopped then. Why, my good
man, haven't you heard of them, the
greatest invention Of the age"
.'Rubber-elastic horse shoes" said the
honest Louie Horning looking around the
walls at his own wonderful stock of
horse shoes.
Yes, you must throw al them IN the
river They are behind the times. In
a month from now not one of them viii
be used. 1 have heard you arc the lead
ing horseshcer in the town, and ! want
to give you the first chance at them.
Your credit is good with our factory and
all 1 want to know is whether you viii
take them"
hot NV
smith would introduce them first consent
Cd and then George smiled
Boys" said Louie TO his workmen. ''the
egg-nog is on me, that's that damn
George Bergman
All day long the citizens Of Galena
crowded to Mornings blacksmith shop
shouting: ANY rubber-elastc horse shoes
in stock today, Louie?"
And then George went to Eddie JEFF
fries hotel and had him figuring Tor an
hour to take care Of thirty-five chorus
girls with only eight vacant rooms.
George would pay him his price but in
sisted not more thar two chorus girls
should be put in the same bed
And all that day long citizens crowded
around the desk Of Eddie Jenries var
ing to know when the chorus girls were
coming in.
And to Billy Seimeger. the good fellow
who runs the first class drug store Of the
town. George gave the high sign Of dis
tress and interested him in TWO cases
OF clear Havana cigars which he offered
ct a third Of their value 10 enable him
to set out Of town.
And as long as Billy continues in bus
iEess at Galena, the boys viii be enqUir-
ing for George Bergeman's clear Havanas.
But there was a pathetic side TO George
Bergeman's visit TO Galena- He had
heard that n great many OF his old
friends were under the sod. He passed
the old Office Of Louie Rowley. ore OF
the best friends he ever had But Louie
ives under the sod, too. Poor fellow"
said George wiping away the tears. he
was a prince. The day before left
Galena he and were al Crusen's drink
ing homemade wine he promised TO be (
at the depot TO sc me OF bit he wasn't
there. He wrote 20 ne afterwards say
ing he missed the train and didn't know
whether it was TOO much Clausen OF too
much Bergeman that caused Il lie
sent me a private letter written by Gen /
Grant 10 his father. General Rowiey, as
a token OF friendship. 1 have il yet and /
a million couldn't buy it,
It have been a salesman for a long
WHILE continued George. bat never f.
thought had gan enough 70 sell rubber |
elastic horse shoes
Gradually Moderated His Hatred.
= few days ago 3 group OF Old soldiers