Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-05-27
HE WANTED ABATH
And. Curiously Enough, That Fact
Won Him a Lot of Fame.
QUEER TALE OF A LONDON INN

The CONNECTION a Traveller Fresh From
Australia Kicked Up In the Blue Boar
Tavern by a Simple Request That
Made Him an Object of Wonder.
cherish the thought, says the author
OF the autobiography entitled THE
Record of Nicholas Freydon," that
have become something of a tradition
at the Blue Boar inn, in London, where
have reason to think l am remem-
bered today by a now aged Boots and
others-many, many others-as 1.-The
genelmun as ordered bawth."
l happened on the Blue Boar, new
arrival from Australia, and stayed
there for two nights. On rising after
my first sleepless night l went prowl-
ing all about the house in search of the
bathroom. Finally | was routed back
to nv room by newly awakened maid
lin curl pins, who told me rather
GROSSLY that l could not have a
"bawth" unless l ordered 1t before
and" l was In a hurry to get out
doors. so l did without my bath and
promised rayself | would see to it later
IN the day.
That afternoon, footsore, tired and
feeling inexplicably grimy, interview
ed the lady again and begged permits
sion to have a bath. She was then in
much brighter humor and in curls in
place Of pins. She promised to arrange
the matter shortly and to send some
one to warn me when the moment had
arrived. Where could l be found?
ION, I'll go and undress at once"
said.
mo, don't do that sir; / can't get a
bawth all in a minute" she told me-
Perhaps you'd like to wife in the
smokin' room"
| agreed at once and retired to the
1yblown smoking room, where there
was an ample choice of distraction for
writing man between a mOtheaten
volume entitled Kings Concordance"
and Southeastern railway time table
cover. very solidly fastened. but with
nothing inside. Presently Boots came
In. elderly and sad, but furtively bird
ike both in the way he held his head
on one side and in the jerky quickness
OF his movements.
You the genelmun as Ordud er
bawth?" he asked anxiously. l admit
ted it and he gave long sigh of re-
lief.
20! All right" he said, almost
gladly. I'm fletcher know when it's
ready"
And he hoped out. yawned, open
ed the concordance and shut it again
hastily by reason of the extraordinary
pungent mustiness its pages emitted.
Then | went prospecting into the pas
sage between the stairs and the private
bar. Here passed a sort of ticket of.
flee window, at which a middle aged
lady sat- eating wrinkles from plate
with the aid Of a hairpin. Her face
lighted up with sudden interest as she
saw me.
"OO"' she cried with spirit Ger you
the genelmun as ordud err bawth?"
Again l pleaded guilty, and with a
broad, reassuring smile, as of one who
should say, BLESS you. we've had Wis
itors just as mad as you before this"
she nodded her ringleted head and
said: Right you are. sir. I'll send
Boots to fletcher know When It's ready"
Apart from consideration of her oc-
cupation, which demanded privacy,
could not stand gazing at this lady.
and so / passed on to my only refuge
from the concordance room-the pri-
Yate bar. There was really splendid
lo6r In h.
smiled upon me so sweetly that I felt
constrained to order lemon squash
While l pOndered, with one hand on
the counter, the still smiling barmaid
opened conversation brightly.
Err you the genelmun what's ordud
er oawth" she asked engagingly.
began to feel that there must be
some kind of London joke about this
formula. Perhaps it is a phrase in the
current comic opera, / thought AS
hung unfortunately waiting 1 heard
voice In the passage outside and rec
ognized 1t as belonging to that elderly
bird Boots.
NO; l amt a-wastin' Nv me time" 1t
said. I'm a-lcokin' fer some one.
sefpoSe you amt seed the genelmun as
ordud er bawth anywhere abart, ave
yer?"
Fearful lest further delay should
lead to the bricking up of the bath
room or to crier's being sent round
the town for the "genelmun" and so
forth, l FASTENED out almost into the
arms Of the retainer and forcibly
checked him as he began on an inter
Fogatiye note to cheep out, "You the
sehelmun as ordud err
coming from a country where, even
III the poorest workman's house, the
bathroom at all events is always In
commission, 1 was especially struck by
.nls Incident, more especially when an
n0or later heard the chambermaid
cry out over the banisters:
Aibel! The genelmun as ordud er
0@Wth seq 'en ave chop wiz is tear
A Survival.
Grubbs - Humanity has improved