Oxford Democrat., 1916-01-25
W.-The Halberdier of
the Little Rhein-
schloss.
Copyright by Doubleday. Page q Col

SSAAASSSv
Copyright by Doubleday. Page q Col
~~ GO sometimes into
the Bierhalle and
~. N restaurant called
N/U Old Munich. Not
Na1qoMo II long ago 1t was a
n@ resort Of interest.
{T " ing Bohemians,
~ but now only art.
~ lists and musi-
- clans and liter
ary folk frequent
It. But the Pilsner Is yet good, and I
take some diversion from the conversa-
ton Of waiter No. 1a
For many years the customers Of Old
Munich have accepted the place as
faithful copy from the ancient German
town. The big hall with it's smoky raft
ers, rows Of imported stems, portrait OF
Goethe and verses painted on the walls
translated Into German from the orig
inal Of the Cincinnati poets-seems at
mospherically correct when Vowed
through the bottom Of glass.
But not long ago the proprietors add
ed the room above, called 1t the Little
Rheinschloss and built In q stairway.
Up there was an imitation stone para
pct, ivy covered, and the walls were
painted to represent depth and dis
tance, with the Rhine winding at the
base Of the vineyarded slopes and the
castle Of Ehrenbreitstein looming d.
rectly opposite the entrance. OF course
there were tables ard chairs, and you
could have beer and food brought you.
went into Old Munich one afternoon
when there were few customers and
sat at my usual table near the stair
way. was shocked and almost dis
pleased to perceive that the glass e.
gar case by the orchestra stand had
been smashed to smithereens. I did
not Ike things to happen In Old Mu-
pich. Nothing had ever happened there
before.
Water No. 1s came and breathed on
my neck. 1 was his by right Of dis
covesy. Eghteen's brain was built
Like a corral. It was full Of ideas
which, when he opened the gate, came
budding out like flock Of sheep that
might get together afterward or might
not I did not shine as shepherd. As
a type Eighteen fitted nowhere. I did
not find out If he had q nationality,
family, creed, grievance, hobby, soul,
preference, home or vote. He only
came always to my table and, as long
as his leisure would permit, let words
flutter from him like swallows leaving
q barn at daylight
"How did the cigar case come to be
broken. Eightaenr' I asked with Ger
tain feeling Of personal grievance.
II can tell you about that, SIR" said
hA resting bis foot ON the chair next to
mine. did you ever have anybody
hand you double handful Of good luck
while both your hands was full Of bad
luck, and stop to notice how your en-
gers behaved7"
no riddles, Eighteen" said I.
Leave out palmistry and manicuring."
"You remember" said Eighteen, "the
guy In the hammered brass Prince Al
bert and the oroide gold pants and the
amalgamated copper hat, that carried
the combination meat az, ice pick and
liberty pole, and used TO stand on the
f1rst landing as you go up to the Little
Rtndsloshr'
"Why, yes" said I. 'The halberdier.
I never noticed him particularly. re
member I thought he was only a suit
Of armor. he had a perfect poise."
"Hs had more than that" said
Eighteen. "He was me friend He
was an advertisement. The boss hired
him to stand on the stairs for a kind
Of scenery to show there was some
thing doing in the has-been line up
stairs. What did you call him-a what
kind Of beer7"
"A halberdier," said I. "That was
IN ancient man-at-arms Of many hun
dred years ago."
"Home mistake" said Eighteen.
This one wasn't that old. He wasn't
over twenty-three or four.
'M was the boss idea, rigging a man
up In an antebellum suit Of hnware
and standing him on the landing Of
the slosh. He bought the goods at
Fourth avenue antique store and hung
a sign out: 'Ablsbodied halberdier
wanted. Costume furnished
1.-The same morning a young man
with wrecked good clothes and a hun
ry look comes In, bringing the sign
with him. was filing the mustard
pots at my station.
"T'm It, says he, whatever It Is.
But never halberdiered In a restau-
fant. Put me on. Is It masQueradeT
"T hear talk In the kitchen Of a fish
bell,' says I.
"Bully for you, Eighteen says he.
You and I'll get on. Show me the
boss desk 9.
"Well, the boss tries the Harvey
lied pajamas on him, and they fitted
him like the scales on a baked red
snapper, and he gets the, job. You've
seen what it is. He stood straight up
In the corner of the first landing with
his halberd to his shoulder. looking
light ahead and guarding the Portu-
gals Of the castle The boss II nutty
about having the true old world flavor
10 his joint. 'Halberdiers goes with
Rindsloshes,' says he, Just as rats
koes with rathskeilers and white cot
BON stockings with Tyfolean villages
The boss Il kind Of q anttologist and
ls all posted up on data and such In
formation.
sVrom 8 p m. to 2 In the morning,
was the halberdisr's hours. He eoe
two meals with ~ help and u q
night eat with him at the tablA
He liked me. He never told bis name.
He was travelling impromptu, l1ks
kings, ] guess. The tint tine at SUP
per I says to him, Have some more
Of the spuds, Mr.. Ffelinghuysen.' 'oh,
don't Be % formal and o1ish, Eight
sen,' says be. Can me Hal-thats
abort fm halberdier' oh, don't think
I want6d 10 pGy tpt names' elzt +
3'lnnR an ohonf the a. ~ -