Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-02
How a Fierce American
Was Appeased.
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America is far from Europe. anG
the poorer classes know very little
about the western continent. When
was boy I was one morning Mt The
Hotel des Invalides, in Paris. with IN,
father. He We; speaking in Frencl
with penslon"r Presently my father
burst into laESN. | asked him what
he was lough..ls at. He said that he
had told .he r. Gilman that he was
an American. No. replied the old
soldier; "A,..er' ans are all black
Some year. dgo an American wild
west show 'isited Budapest. There
were the usual fusillades, individual
shootings / stagecoach robberies
The people who saw them got an ide.,
that al Americans shot, and shot to
kill. on the slightest provocation.
spent -ew days at the place soon aft
er the show had passed on, register
ing from my home. Toledo, o. The
d. after my arrival | saw some citi-
Gems over the register debating in al.
excited fashion about just where in
America Toledo was, whether it was
on the Atlantic or Pacific coast. one
man declaring that it was in The.
Allegheny mountains. the region Of the
fe tcest tribes of cowboys. Suddenly
catching sight Of me. they scattered
like a flock Of birds among which a
stone had been thrown.
The same evening | attended per-
Torrance in music hail. A little
deformed girl, with pale cheeks and
great, faring black eyes. was selling
programmes. y waiter moving across
the floor with half dozen glasses Of
beer poised OH a tray above his head
not seeing the child, ran her down
The six glasses Of beer went crashing
on the floor. and the waiter fell ON the
girl. AS she and he rose in his irrita
ton he gave her cuff. saying, Take
that for getting i'm my way"
Now, am Il mild hammered, peace
full man, nothing of knight Grant, but
l thought lie waiter should be re-
proved for irving way TO his temper
d
up for the blow she had received, so
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
bod WAS in your WY"
AS spoke | put my hand to my hip
pocket To get out my portemonnaie
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 were upon the waiter. the girl
and me. As | spoke those farthest
away from me got on chairs TO see
what | was going to do. | had been
pointed out to many of them as an
American, and as they saw that I was
displeased ut the waiter they con-
sidered him in imminent danger. When
put my hand TO my hip pocket there
was the most remarkable commOtion
have ever had the honor to occasion.
Indeed. it is the only glittering spot in
There was 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 Ghey take
their children to such places abroad
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 lighting his way
toward me and when he got near
enough shouted to me: do not shoot.
Everything you require shall he done.
What will appcase you?'
1t suddenly occurred TO me TO turn
the score to account for the little pro
granme girl.
I'm not going To Kill any one"
said. hut haze Il suggestion to make.
Let Us take mp 4 collection for this
poor il,le girl, who received a cuff she
did not deserve"
h''' my I'A@N iiOl ~ iN'VA'
er. in my hand and, opening it. took out
bill, dropped it in my hat and gave 1t
to the manager He stood on chair
and us soon as he could make himself
heard said
THE American will not fight if we
take up collection for the programme
girl. Let us ransom Carl Steffens, the
waiter who offended him. Carl Is Il
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 brimful of bills and coins.
The manager handed 1t To me, and.
pouring its contents into my handker
chief. | handed IL To the child. The
manager got OH Il table and cried:
THE American is appeased. Now
go quietly to your homes"
The people shrank away-that is.
those who were left. for Il goodly mum
Der had departed by the door and win
dOws. Some who had To pass me
I'll. Il