Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-10

While in New York i made my
home with my brother Isaac, and
while there I was telling him about
my excursion ticket. with which
had crossed the continent as a Knight
Templar. and the time had expired
for Its being good.
"Oh." said he, II can tx chat" and
brother and Mr.. Chauncey Depew Sc
cured me pass through to Chicago.
and went on my way rejoicing.
AFTER an uneventful trip by railroad
I arrived In Chicago and was soon on
my way to Morgan Park to visit my
sister Charlotte, one of the loveliest
women have ever known. At that
time my sister, my brother Isaac and
myself were the only survivors OF q
family of nine children, I'VE boys and
four girls. That sister has since
passed to the unknown, at the age of
eighty-three, beloved and mourned by
all who knew her. 1t was during my
visit to Morgan Park that expert
enceG the first sleigh ride THAT 1t had
been my good Fortune to enjoy for
more than forty years, and it was a
rich treat. As Morgan Park has the
only hill worthy of the name in all
Cook county, / had the pleasure of
watching the boys and girls coast
down ON their sieds, and / did long TO
be with them, but the thought of
walking up that hill after sliding
down led me to forego the pleasure.
But the scene carried me back to my
boyhood days, when the winter SHOWS
covered the hiIls-and they were hills.
they were. Talk of the ancient
seven hilled cityi"-Rome-why 1t
wasn't in it with my seventeen hilled
native town, and every one Of them
was utilized by the boy with the
sled.''
While at Morgan Park I attended a
church social and during the evening
exercises, which were on sort Of
go-as- you please basis, with no regu :
lar programme, was called upon to
address the adience. / complied with
the request and at the close of my re-
marks I recited When the Cows
Come Home" which. whit my speech,
met with the hearty approval of the
audience. AT the close of the enter
tainment I was warmly congratulated
upon my contribution to its success,
and thus was I assured of the good
taste and sound judgment Of the peo-
pie Of Morgan Park. My native mod
esty, which Is proverbial, prevents me
from dilating upon this very pleasing
event.
After a delightful visit of three
weeks at Morgan Park 1t occurred to
AAAO tAdh II w as dDOlIl blIlIC AOI IilC W
know something as to the value Of my
excursion ticket in making my way
home. and with this object in view
went to Chicago, where had to nego-
tiate with three different railroad off,
ces I was quite successful with the
first, as the gentlemanly manager in
fomed me that as far as their road was
concerned my excursion ticket should
be honored. I left his Office quite en-
yad NJ ,ror that
had a message to deliver to Mr.. Bissell
Of the Santa Fe railroad from a lady
In San Francisco, and decided to get
that off my mind before visiting the
other two ofiices. On arriving at the
Santa Fe Office inquired for Mr.. Bis
sell, and was told that he was in his
office but was very busy, SO would
please be seated. said I was rather
pressed for time, and as did not know
the gentleman, but had message for
him from a lady in San Francisco, I
would not detaiH him for a minute.
The gentleman took my name to Mr..
Bissell, and soon returned with this
startling announcement:
"Mr. Bromley Mr.. Bissell wishes you
to come right into his Office"
Invent in and the first salutation that
you say you didn't know meT
The meeting was a surprise and a
felight, for / had known him we'll In
San Francisco and had often met him
at the home of Captain John LeaIe,
whose wife had sent the message, and
the meeting was warm and cordial
one. For about twenty minutes we
went through San Francisco. from the
city front to the Cliff house and from
Fort Point to the Mission with swift
ness that fairly made my head swim.
Then, as was about leaving. said Mr..
Bissell:
Which way are you heading. east OF
west?"
WELL" said i, Il am trying to get
west on an excursion ticket which Is a
month overdue"
ooh, never mind your excursion tick
ct" said Mr.. Bissell, and calling to
one Of his clerks, he said to him, "FYll
out a pass for Mr.. Bromley to San
Francisco"
Then, said he, do you want to stop
over anywhere on the way?
After recovering a little from the
overwhelming surprise I said I would
IKE to stop over a few days at Los
Angeles.
All right" said he, make Il a. stop
over pass" and continued, Il will give
you a letter to the Pullman car man
ager. You will have to pay for your
berth. but he will see THAT you are we'll
cared for"
with a heart full Of gratitude I babe
Mr.. Bissell good-by. I never knew
the contents OF that letter but Il was
the open sesame to the good graces of
the Pullman car manager, and was
assigned to a. whole section while ev-
cry other section of the car contained
two occupants. oh, it was grandl
It was glorious! But on the morning
of the day when the train was to ar
rive at Barstow, where we were to
change for Los Angeles, when I woke
up and reviewed the situation It really
seemed to me that I was never so
nave gone to Los Angeles even to
have been made the mayor Of the city.
rang up the porter and had HIM
change the destination Of my baggage,
which being accomplished and the
porter suitably reawrded, felt in the
language of President Zachary Taylor
in his message to the senate, 'tat peace
with all the world and the rest of
mankind"
After leaving Barstow no event oc-
CURED of sufficient Importance to be
given space in these memoirs, but
upon MY arrival at San Francisco, the
train being two hours late, concluded
that. rather than disturb the Family at
that late hour, would stop over at the
Bohemian club: and my goodness, gra-
cious mel such welcome as I met
upon my arrival would be an honor to
the ruler of the land. Some fifteen or
twenty Brhemians were gathered in
the Red Room rehearsing for a coming
high jinlzs. entered the Red Room
urianno1nced, and as those present had
not the remotest idea that was within
thouss nds Of miles Of their meeting
place, my sudden appearance created
a surprise that was something Won
derful, and the boys just came tumb-
ling over one another in rendering me
their hearty congratulations upon my