The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-08-06
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How a Fierce American
Was AppeaSed. {;

Iorlrlnal1

Hotel des Ilyalldes in Paris. with my
father He was speaking In French
with pensloner. Presently my father
burst into laugh. | asked him what
he was laughing at lie said that he
had told the Frenchman that he was
an American. mo" replied the old
soldier; America are all black"
Some years ago an American wild
west show visited Budapest. There
were the usual fusillades. individual
shootings and stagecoach robberles.
The people who saw them got an idea
that all Americans shot, aud shot 10
Kill, on the slightest provocation. |
spent few days at the place soon aft.
er the show had passed on, register.
Ing from my home. Toledo, o. The
day after my arrival | saw some citi.
zens ofer the register debating In an
excited fashion about Just where in
America Toledo was, whether Il was
on the Atlantic or Pacific coast. one
man declaring that II was in the
Allegheny mountains. the region Of the
hercest tribes OF cowboys. Suddenly
catching sight OF me, they scattered
like a dock Of birds among which a
stone had been thrown.
The same evening | attended a per.
formance in a music hail. A little.
deformed girl, with pale cheeks and
great, faring black eyes. was selling
programmes. A walter moving across
the floor with half dozen glasses Of
beer poised on tray above his head,
not seeing the child. ran her down.
The six glasses OF beer went crashing
on the door, and the waiter fell on the
girl. As she and he rose in his irrita-
ton he gave her n cuff. saying. Take
that for getting in my way"
Now, | am a mild hammered. peace.
full man, nothing Of knight Grant but
! thought the waiter should be re-
proved for giving way to his temper
and the little girl given tip to make
up for the blow she had received, 30
said:
Waiter You had no business TO
strike the child In that manner. The
accident was your fault. You should
have looked about you TO see II any
body was in your way"
As spoke put my hand to my hip
pocket to get out my portemonnaie,
which | always carry there, TO give the
little programme seller a coin.
The noise Of the fall had attracted
the attention of every one In the ball.
AL eyes were upon the walter, the girl
and me. As I spoke those farthest
away from me got on chairs 10 see
what was going to do had been
pointed out to many OF them as an
American. and as they saw that was
displeased at the waiter they con-
sidered him in Imminent danger. When
j put my hand to my hip pocket there
was the most remarkable commotion |
have ever had the honor to occasion. |
Tn0eed, it Is the only gllttering spot In |
my otherwise uneventful life.
There was a wild scramble at the
tables nearest me to get out of the |
way. The men knocked over the |
chairs, jumped across tables; the wo-
men shrieked; the children (they take
their children to such places abroadl
cried. Those nearest the door blocked |
the opening in vain effort to get out |
all at once. had my eye on the poor
little programme girl and to prevent |
her being trampled upon put an arm
about her TO protect her
The manager came fighting his way
toward me and when he got near |
enough shouted to me: do not shoot.
Everything you require shall be done.
What will appease you?"
1t suddenly occurred to me to turn
the score to account for the little pro-
gramme girl.
I'm not going to kill any one"
said, "but have 4 suggestion to make. |
Let us take up collection for this
poor little girl, who received cuff she
did not deserve"
/ had my portemonnaie, not revolv- |
err. in my hand and opening it. took out |
a bill. dropped 1t in my hat and gave 1t |
to the manager He stood on a chair
and rs soon as be could make himself I
heard said:
THE American will not fight IL we |
take up collection for the programme
girl. Let us ransom Carl Steffens, the
walter who offended him. Carl is a
poor man and has large family"
with that he went around with the
hat. Every person in the assembly |
considered that he was bound to dis
gorge as he had seen stagecoach pas
sengers disgorge to road agents In the
wild west show. When the hat came |
back 1t was brlnful Of bills and coins.
The manager handed it to me, and,
pouring its contents into my handker-
chief, | handed 1t to the child. The
manager got on table and cried:
THE American Is appeased. Now
go quietly to your homes"
The people shrank away-that is,
those who were left, for goodly num-
Der had departed by the door and win
dows. Some who had to pass me
looked at me with timid curiosity and
when they were obliged to present
their backs to me hurried out as ii
afraid to trust me behind them When
they had all gone except the landlord
ne bowed very low and said to me:
when may reassure our people
shat your excellency has departedT
To assume such commanding posi-
tion by striking a people with terror
even in so ridiculous n manner has its
effect. confess myself affected by 1t.