Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-08-05
The Story of
a Wise Fool
BY H o NJ E r FL S X
Copyright, lOOl, BY Dally story Pub. Co.,


around the corner in the little alley
where all the middle sort of actors and
artists and musicians and that sort, go
at unholy hours to restore tired nerves
and fill empty stomachs, with the
sparkling wit and the good viands set
forth-the latter by Maffioli at a most
scandalously reasonable price.
Well, this was well past the hour OF
midnight and the choice spirits present
were just beginning to cut loose and
enjoy themselves. Three tables had
been dragged into the middle Of the
room and placed end to end. About
this improvised banquet board were
seated score or more of the deVotees
of innermost Bohemia. The feast was
over and the mugs of beer and clouds
of cigarette smoke told that the "ses-
sion" was on. Never were better stories
told never were songs better sung,
never did laughter ring merrier.
There was but one solemn counte-
nance at the board-and it was a veri-
table deaths head at the feast. 1t was
Benton, Russell Benton, who did juve-
niles so cleverly at the Bijou. And usu-
ally he was the gayest and most fun
loving of all Bohemia. Now he sat in
his chair moody and sullen, drinking
his beer savagely and responding not
at all to the sallies of wit. Even the
raillery of Tony Neiman, the original
and slangy sporting editor of the Uni
verse, whose brains, it was generally
conceded accorded with his 300 pounds
nd ha irHy wit nf Navt1la tho
tall. thin, bearded artist, failed to
arouse him. Finally, Mamie de We're,
the dashing little soubrette from the
Academy, took the matter in hand.
Perching on a chair and swinging her
beer mug in her hand. she screamed:
Look at Russ sitting there like a
professional mourner at funeral. |
move, most potent, grave and reverend
seignors, that he tell good story, sing
q good song or be fined the drinks"
Hear, hear!" shouted the company.
Benton looked up and smiled grimly.
"Oh, so on" he growled. IT'S all
fake anyhow. Booze and laugh and
laugh and booze and then sleep it off
and do it all over again tomorrow.
I'm sick of the game. There's nothing
in it."
why don't you quit it?" shouted
little Veleni, the leader of the orches-
ira at the Grand, in his high treble.
'By heavens, | wish l could" re-
turned Benton savagely. "Ill tell all
you Holsters something. l wish l was
back in the country, ramming about at
the business end of q plow, dodgin'
Stumps and rocks-and that's no joke,
either. Here we are-all of us think
In we're the wisest people on earth,
maxim fools of ourselves before a lot
of idiots for so much per and spending
what we Got giving ourselves paresis
in this old tenth-rate joint. And when
the seasons over we haven't enough
coin to get through the summer in a
fourth floor. hall bedroom, without
hawking next seasons salary Quit it,!
I'D quit it so quick it'd make your head
swim if hadn't cut my bridges behind
me-"
While he spoke a girl had entered
the place. glanced about in a half
frightened manner and shrank into an
obscure seat at a corner table. She was
freshfaced and her attire bespoke the
country. She seemed utterly out of
place in Mafiolis. At the sound of
Benton's voice she glanced toward him
quickly and startled look came into
her eyes. The party in the middle of
the room were so engrossed in Benton IS
strange words that they did not notice
her at all.
ssnh ~ ~ nriad ba 10
her perch on the chair. mo preaching
at Maffioli's. hey boys? A song, a story
or drink and do 1t now"
wait a minute" spoke up George
Preston Brooks. the long-haired poet
in frayed trousers and the new and as
founding Prince Albert, "Forsooth
have an idea. Russ evidently has a
pastoral tale on his mind or conscience
| move he tell it. A little touch of the
serious won't harm us at ALL"
Good, good!" cried the crowd.
'By heavens, will" said Benton
pushing the beer mug from him and
rising.
The girl in the corner had ordered
coffee and a sandwich. which she left
untouched, being absorbed apparently
An the scene before her.
There was, once upon time, q
thick-headed young fool who lived uI
in the country" began Benton grimly
Ellis father had good farm and the
young fool grew up where there was
air to breath and good stuff to eat and
a soft bed to sleep ON. He worked out
fn the open, ate like a hired man, SLEPT
Eike baby and got up in the morning
with clear head and feeling like a
hghtinG cock. Over yonder on the mex
taem but two, was buxom, brown.
eyed lass with cheeks like peaches and
lips as red as roses. She milked the
cows and churned the butter and
washed the dishes and laughed and
sang all day long, The fool used to &c
over to the other farm evenings tc
see the girl, anu after awhile he took
her to singing school or to meetin'