The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-15
BY George AIDE.
(Copyright. 1906, by George Ade.)


94W rs a small world.'' 49,.
This is one of the over
worked phrases of the globe
trotter. 1t is used most frequently by
those who follow the beaten paths. In
other words we find it difficult to get
away from our acquaintance. Not
that we wish to get away from them;
on the contrary, when we are stumbling
along some unfamiliar thorofare six
thousand miles from home and bump
into a man with whom we have a nod
ding acquaintance in Chicago we fall
upon his neck and call him brother.
It must be very annoying to criminals
and celebrities who are trying to hide
their Identities, but to the ordinary
traveller it is always glad surprise
to find friend coming right out Of the
ground in corner Of the world sup
posed to be given over to strangers.
There are certain spots on the earth
which may be classed as definite head
quarters for wanderers. It is said that
in the summer season any person of any
nationality who seats himself in front
of the Cafe de la Paix in Paris may
confidently gamble on hailing an ac-
auaintance in less than fifteen minutes:
Trafalgar square, in London, is called
by the Britishers the. actual kernel Of
civilization. The lofg corridor of the
Waldorf is the temporary abode Of
folks from almost everywhere. The
big "front porch here at Shepheard' s
hotel, in Cairo, will surely have two or
three friends waiting for you when you
arrive. The Grand hotel in Yokohama
has been for many years sort Of clear
tors moving aside to let the other
crowd pass. Then there is the Palace
in San Francisco, and the Auditorium
in Chicago-defnite rallying places
for mortals who move about. -
1t is when we meet our long-lost
friend in the remote byway that we are
induced to throw up our hands and ex-
claim, "The world is small" ~
-~ !. + ~ s. ..Gsl:zzs s -sss.s-:
For instance, before the German
steamer left Naples for Alexandra a
launch load of new passengers came
aboard. As we were heading out Of the
bay and almost under the shadow Of
Capri I glanced at the man in the ad-
Joining steamer chair and recognized
The banker from Tientsin. He was
just as much surprised as [ was. ~
About year ago we parted at San
Francisco after long and pleasant
voyage from Shanghai-he to continue
leisurely trip around the world, I to
carry my priceless treasures of oriental
art and shattered letter of credit back
to Indiana. When we parted there
was the usual sterotyped remark about
meeting again, but neither Of us be-
1ieved that there was one~chance in a
million of our paths crossing, it being a
far cry from Tientsin to Terre Haute
I don It know what a 'Ffar cry' is, but
I have come across it in some of our
most opaque dissertations, and accord
ingly I welcome the opportunity to
use it.
The man from Tientsin had loitered
IN Europe and was now heading straight
for China. I had made up my mind in
hurry to 20 to Egypt to help 10000
other students investigate the tomlbs
Me- Medj here we are side by side in the
!. \ +
A few minutes after collidine with
him had the pleasure of meeting q
young woman who said that she was the
sister Of Henry Billkamp of Chicago
. cumstances under which I met Henry
and I told her that I couldn It very vel
forget them.
A few years ago in Chicago I re
sided in a large establishment which
a T SS ba aan''aFH Man feat Of on
best people would come to the batl
every afternoon, first steaming them
selves in the vapor room, then scrubbinf
themselves, then a shower and afte
that a ,plunge-by which most O.
Billkamp came to the bath one after
noon and brought with him a suitcas
containing his evening clothes and acces
series. Henry was to be married tn
next day, and that evening he and tn
brideelect were to be the guests at
large dinner party on the south side
Henry looked at his watch and foun
an hour before Jumping into his even
ing clothes. So he put his suitcas
over in one corner Of a dressing room
and in few minutes had Joined the ir