Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-07-16
How a Fierce American
Was Appeased.

~~*Fse'e'ss's''s'"l'sss'ss r
[Originall
America is far from Europe, and
the poorer classes know very little
about the western continent. When /
was Il boy l was one morning ut the
Hotel DIES lnvalides. in Paris. with my
father He was speaking in French
with pensioner. Presently my father
burst into laugh. asked him what
lie was laughing at. He said that he
had told the Frenchman that lie was
an American. NO." replied the old
soldier; Americans are all black
Some years ago an American wild
west show visited Budapest. There
were the usual fusillades. individual
shootings and stagecoach robberies.
The people who saw them got an idea
that all Americans shot. and shot to
BILL. on the slightest provocation.
spent few days at the place soon aft
er the show had passed on. register
ing from my home. Toledo. q. The
day after my arrival l saw some citi-
Gems 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 of the
fiercest tribes Of cowboys Suddenly
catching sight of me. they scattered
like u flock of birds among which q
stone had been thrown.
The same evening ! attended u per.
Torrance in a music hall. A little.
deformed girl. with pale cheeks and
great. faring black eyes. was selling
programmes. A waiter 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 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 in my way"
Now. ! am a mild hammered. peace
full man. nothing of a knight Grant, hut
thought the waiter should be re-
proved for giving way to his temper
and the little girl given tip to make
ur for the blow she had received, SO 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 put MY hand to my hip
pocket to get out my portemonnaie
which always carry there. to give the
little PR gr;,mme seller 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 Inc. AS spoke those farthcst
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 at 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. 1t is the only glittering 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 abroad
cried. Those nearest the door blocked
the opening in a vain effort to get out
all at once. had my eye on the poor
little programme girl and to prevent
her being trampied 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 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 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.
er, IL my hand and, opening 1t. took out
Q bill. dropped it in my hat and gave 1t