The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-05
How a Fierce American
Was Appeased.


toriginalI
America Is far from Europe, ard
the poorer classes know very little
about the western continent When. I
was boy l was one morning at the
Hotel des Invalides, in Paris. with my
father He was speaking IN French
with pensioner. Presently my father
burst into laugh asked him what
he was laughing at He said that he
had told the Frenchman that he was
an American. NO" replied the old
soldier; Americans are all black"
Some years ago an American Wild
west snow visited Budapest. There
were the usual fusilIades, Individual
shootings and stagecoach robberies.
The people who saw them got an idea
that all Americans shot, and shot to
XIII. on the slightest provocation.
spent a few days at the place soon aft
or the show had passed on, register
ing from my home, Toledo, o. The
day after my arrival saw some citi-
zens over the register debating In an
excited fashion about just where In
America Toledo was, whether 1t was
on the Atlantic or Pacific coast, one
man declaring that It was In the
Allegheny mountains, the region Or tile
tiercest tribes OF cowboys. Suddenly
catching sight OF me. they scattered
like Aock Of birds among which a
stone had been thrown.
The salse evening | attended q per
Torrance In music hail. A little.
deformed girl. with pale cheeks aud
great. faring black eyes. was selling
programmes A walter moving across
the tloor with heif dozen glasses Of
beer poised on tray above his head.
not seeing the child, ran her doya.
The six glasses OF beer went crashing
on the floor and the waiter Cell on the
girl As she and he rose In btr ifrita-
ton he gave her cuff. sayln Take
t.,at for getting IN my way"
.iow am mild hammered, peace
fu man, nothlpG OF knight errant, but
| thought the walter 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. 50 I
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 If any
body was In your way"
AS spoke pus my hand to my hip
pocket TO get out my portemo1uaie.
which always carry there. TO give the
little programme seller n coin.
The noise Of the fall had attracted
the attention Of every one In the hall.
All eyes we're upon the walter, the girl
and me. As / spoke those farthest
away from me got on chairs to SEQ
what | was going to do. l had been
pointed out to msny OF them as an
American. and as they saw that was
dlspensed at the wnitey they con-
sldercd him Ia imminent danger When
put my hand TO my hip pocket there
was The most remarkable commotion l
have ever had the honor to occasion.
Indeed, II Is the only glittering spot iI.
my otherwise uneyentful life
There was a wild scramble ut the
tables Dearcst me to get out of the
way The men Knocked over the
chairs. jumped across tables; the wo-
men shrieked; the children dhey take
their children 10 such places abroad
cried Those nearest the door blocked
p, the opening IN n vain effort 60 get out
] al &C once. had my eye on the poor
I little programme Girl and to prevent
her being trampled upon put an arm
about her to protect her.
The manager came lighting 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 70 kill any one I
sald, "but have a suggestion 10 make.
Let as take up a collection for this
poor little girl. who received a cuff she
did not deserve"
] had my porteinonnais, lot a revoly.
er. in my hand and opening IT. took out
bill dropped II in my hat and gaveii
/ 10 tue HibiuheIs nc NiJDu ph tudtt
and as soon as he could make himself
heard said
"The American Will not fight II we
take up q collection for the programme
i girl Let us ransom Ca-l Stefens, the
waiter who Offended him. Carl is a
poor laan and has a large family"
With that ne went around with the
hat Every person IN the assembly
considered that be was bound to dis
gorge as he had seen stagecoach pas
sengers dlsgorge 10 road agents In the
Wild west show When the hat came
back # was brlmful Of bills aAd coins
The manager ba0ded it to ne. and,
pouring its contents into my handker-
cii.rf handed IL 20 the child. The
manager got on table ANA cried
"The American Is appeased. Now
go quietly 90 your homes"
The people shrank away-that Is,
these who were lett for goodly NUM-
Der bad departed by ihe door and win
d0ws Some VINO had 70 pass me
| l0ohed at me with flmid curiosity and