Norwich bulletin., 1909-06-26

time mad been having, until Two
a. m, and then, as 1 had not seen bed
since leaving Chicago, 1 suggested that
we postpone a further recital of my
experiences until 1 had experienced
for a few hours the luxury of a COM
Portable bed. And you can bet your
sweet life I enjoyed it, for when /
arose after my refreshing sleep. / felt
that l had been amply repaid for the
privation | had undergone while cross
ing the continent.
1t was soon after my return that
nominating committee was appointed
in the Bohemian club to select can
didates to be voted for at the annual
election, and, to my astonishment, that
committee invited me to permit my
name to head the ticket. My natural
modesty, which the reader no doubt
has observed permeating every page of
this volume, received shock at the
announcement. / very soon recovered,
however, accepted the proffered honor,
and in due time was unanimously
elected president of the Bohemian
club, in April, 1883, and it was
during my official term that the club
purchased the belongings of the Pa
cific club and took possession of their
premises, and has ever since occupied
them, and in which has been found
more real enjoyment than in any 9TH
er club on earth.
During my years term of office
found the cares not burdensome, hav-
ing the hearty cooperation of the Off
GERS and members. Having gone into
office with their unanimous approval
/ went out in a blaze of glory with
their unanimous consent.
The next event in which 1 was the
king pin of the whole show was the
celebrating by the club of my seventy
, fifth birthday, and this was corker.
II was found that not one Of the clubs
rooms could accommodate the multi
tude that would attend, and Irving
hall on the opposite side of the street,
was engaged for the literary and mu-
steal exercises. and when the time
came the procession was formed and
we all marched over to the hall. One
| of the features of the procession was a
birthday cake beautifully ornamented
and borne on the shoulders of four
stalwart Bohemians
The entertainment at Irving hall
| shall ever remember as a lovely epoch
| in my life's career. 1t was one of
| those occasions when hand clasps
| hand, where heart leaps to heart, and
| every eye beams happiness and every
! one is glad At the close of the exer-
/ Cises all were marched back to the
| Cub rooms where a bounteous supper
was served and toasts and sentiments
minds in Bohemia.
| When the proceedings were publish
| ed the following day several of my
| lady friends expressed a wish for a
\ piece of the birthday cake, and I said:
why, certainly; 1 will be delighted to
| comply with your request" But when
\ made application for it at the club /
was told that I would have to bring a
| saw, as 1t was a property cake made
! of wood and loaned for the occasion by
| Mr. Bowler of the Baldwin theater.
| Consequently had to apologize to the
\ ladies and give them my reason for
| not granting their request.
| It was about this time q have to
| depend on my memory for dates) that
I was appointed by the governor a no
| tary public. 1t had been discovered
that the notary public service in San
| Francisco was one man short, so ]
| applied for the position, and was APP
| pointed without one dissenting voice
/ During my term of Office 1 made a
great deal of money when 1 had any
| official business to transact, but as !
| transacted very little official business
| it was not a success.
| Then came to me a committee that
had been appointed to present names
| for municipal officers at a convention
soon to be held, and 1 was importuned
| to allow my name to come before the
| convention as a candidate for public
| administrator, and as an inducement
l was told that 1 would have a "regu-
/ lar walk-over." l consented was
nominated, and found they were right
for l had a regular walk lover" MAX
! ing speeches from School House Sta
ton to Fort Point, and from the city
| front to the cemetery. When at the
| cemetery a voice seemed to say unto
me, "Ah there, stay there" and when
| the votes were counted after the cleo
| ton found it was about the best thing
1 could have done. But such is the
penalty of greatness, and when l re-
| membered that Henry Clay, the most
! brilliant man of his time was once a
| defeated candidate for Office / was
| resigned to my defeat, congratulated
| the successful candidate, and as an
| evidence that no hard feelings existed
| accepted an invitation from him anC
| joined him in a drink.
At the close of this campaign an op-
| portunity presented itself to dispose
of my stock in trade to a man in the
| business. for money sufficient to cover
| my electioneering expenses. and / was
more than pleased to accept his gen.
erous Offer Again-{ went forth free
man, ready to negotiate for whatever
| there was in sight that promised g
| comfortable livelihood. 1t came in the
| shape of an offer from dear friend
| Of NINE Mr.. w. H. Sears, collector oil
| Internal revenue, who gave me an APP
| pointment as outside collector, and q
most agreeable and interesting service
it proved to be- In the performance OF
| my official duties I saw more of Sar
| Francisco and learned more of its in
ner workings than had ever dreamed
of. From the heights of Russian Hill