The National tribune., 1902-11-20

plumed hat lonly thus and with side-arms
We're we allowed to go on pass, she said
that it made no difference to her. and
after some hesitation and embarrassment
confessed to me that she had lately mar
ried one Jim Walsh, of my company.
This was another sumner! This man
Walsh was an altogether iliterate Irish
man. and at the same time the most all
around worthless member of the company
(which was saying a great dead, much
addicted to inebriety. Physically consid-
cred, however, he was Il splendid speci-
men of the genus man. fully six feet tall,
well built, with fine, olive complexion.
athletic development, curly black hair and
lovely gray eyes. His age was about %
years. He had deserted about week
previously. and been brought in by the
police about five days later, fact which
was not vet known to Mrs. Champion,
much surprised thereat. and said she
would soon come to the Preside and
have her Jim" released. 1 may as well
state here that three days later she did
visit the Preside. arriving there in fine
closed carriage. and that from that time
forward her Jim was seen no more.
Well, l called at Mrs. Champions apart
ments in the Oriental Hotel at the ap-
pointed hour of the day following my city
mission card to the dress circle Mt Nc
Cures Opera House. AS to the per-
Torrance of the play l must say that Mrs.
Champions rendering of Ophelia, nOtwith-
standing her advanced years, was very
satisfactory indeed. l know whereof /
speak, as ] had seen many famous per-
formers in large theaters all over Europe.
She received and merited applause.
l found many young bloods of San Fran
cisco standing at the stage entrance of the
theater after the performance, ready to re-
ceive and accompany the Star of the
Fast" but she passed by them all, came
straight to me, allowed me to hand her
into the carriage and take a seat by her
side; arrived at her hotel, we partook to-
gether of the usual late supper in which
actors are wont to indulge after their
work. 1t may easily be imagined that !
was not little proud over all this, and
!! hope it will not be set down against me
as undue vanity, if l mention here, that /
was in those days considered a very good
looking youngster being not quite 20 years
of age) and much petted by the ladies'
why don't they do SO now?"
LIFE AT DRUM BARRACKS.
AS soon as the balance of the com
panies making up the battalion and some
we were shipped to San Pedro Harbor, be-
hind which lay the little town of Whining
ton, composed for the most part of adobe
houses; still farther inland was the mill
tary post officially called Drum Barracks,
which we occupied. Here again we found
a complete pandenonium to he the chronic
state of the gHard-house lookup. which
contained at times from 60 to so prisoners
confined in room not exceeding 24X24
feet. To this confined contingent con-
tributed not only the Regulars en- route
for Arizona, but also the California Volun-
tears returning thence, who were muster
ed out at that place. This coming and go
ing of troops made the town of Wilmington
quite gay and lively, especially when the
Paymaster arrived and paid everybody of
up to Dec. 81. 1865.
Here / saw for the first time Mexican
dance-hOuse, enormously called by the sol.
diers ''fandangO," which is the name of
Spanish dance. In this place, situated
in an old adobe house with low, fiat roof
could be found all day long the Mexican
game of monte" and the cosmopolitan
game of "farO" in full blast. A motley
crowd of miners, ranchmen, teamsters and
loafers, all armed with knives and revOl-
vers, and soldiers without arms, kept go
ing and coming, or were sitting or stand
ing around the gaming tables or drinking
at the bar. The walls were bare, the floor
of pounded dirt, the two small windows
provided with wooden bars, and the aspect
of the whole untdy, uninviting, and print
tive in the extreme.
After nightfall the tables were moved
eoWalus .he val, ,.h ~ U,Ie, ~ ~ nane spao.
aoa .ne any, -, n;aht pn s SAL fo,,
''oPp"' va! 49,
| the walls, along which ran rough wooden
nenches, part vi one peins oceupieu ny en.
orchestra CONSISTING Vi Two c.acheu III
uies ana rheumatic guitar: AS soon az
these were tuneu up, from six 10 eisht re
haies, uresseu up IN eheap mr. "'uio
put Ill theif appe"iahce' anu uahens oe
gan.
mo ADMISSION Zee was coiiec.eu LOT lnes,
| hiehtly entertainments, pu, at the emu Vi
every dance eaci Lhale uahcer was eA
pected 10 take MS ieniale partner 10 tht
par ana there s'ahd treat !. e., ne was
put 10 the expense OF nan a doiiar, eaci
drink or take t"hich IN the case OF th'
women was quite o1ten one cisaret), De
ing charged Tor at the rate OF 20 cents, OF
IN the Vernacuiar oi Caiiiorhin, eNlstihg u
TINS day, Two DIS. NO smaiier com thai
quarter OF a dollar was known, men
| tiohed, exhlDlteu or hahuieu. ureennachs
at that time under discount OF 20 pei
cent, were seen only when distributed b!
the Paymaster; the soldiers soon converted
them into coin. which never ceased to b'
the currency OF the state OF California
From time to time the bank holders Of thu
games would call for drinks for all thu
playing bystanders. A meal in any hote