San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-16
KIDDIES GUESTS OF MIX 0
and TONY AT ship PARTY
By TOM MIX

Tony had a good rest the remainder
of the day, but on the next came
the high spot of the voyage. The
trip, i was told, had already come
to be regarded as the most pleasant
crossing children had ever had. Every
one on board was talking about "that
wild cowboy and his horse" / de-
termined to go step further.
The afternoon of Friday, April 10,
all the children on board were in
vited TO surprise party to be held in
the main dining saloon of the ship.
When they had gathered, wave of
excitement swept round the room.
Friends of mine who were in the sa-
loon at the time told me each young
ster We'd with the other in guessing the
big secret. They could hardly con-
tain themselves.
Then. suddenly, while the children
were still engaged in their attempts 10
solve the secret of entirely mysterious
invitation, the door to the saloon was
swung wide and / rode into the room
on Tony. Waiting then only for the
cheers to subside, pressed Tony for.
ward into a slow trot and we circlad
the room. The eager children pressed
close against us without fear of
Tony's sharp hoofs. was glad then
my horse was such lover of children.
He made each step carefully so as not
to injure little foot, and nudged gent
ly aside with his nose those of the
youngsters who blocked his path.
HAPP YPARTY
The children were now told to seat
themselves at the tables, which they
did, and Tony and l took our places
at the head of the room. At Tony's
signal-a nod of the head-refresh-
ments were brought in. 1t was in
deed a happy party, and we concluded
it by showing another Of my films,
"The DeadwoOd Coach" in which
Tony appeared.
As l sit here now, at home in my
rancho, l realize more than ever how
pleasant that first voyage to Europe
was. My diary notatiOns recall that,
on the evening following the banquet,
l appeared at the benefit held for the
Seamen's Fund, and as part of our
contribution to the entertainment of
the evening screened another of my
films for the passengers. The wealth
er being bit rough that day, Tony
remained in his stable, although he
had been invited to take part in the
benefit. Instead. in his name, l made
a donation to the fund.
Easter Sunday, my family and ]
attended services in the drawing room,
then spent the remainder of the day
and evening loafing about the decks
and in the many beautiful saloons
including the dining room, i might
well add, for, believe me, salt air
certainly gives one an appetite.
TONY DRESSES UP
But not so Tony. In his newest
and finest raiment-a scarlet cloak
and head covering-he was taken on
parade by Pat Chrisman. And you
should have seen him strut, He was
as proud as a cowboy with a new
and gay kerchief thrown about his
neck on the big day in town.
l awakened the morning of the
fifth day out with the realization
that another day would find us in
Europe. That peculiar feeling of
bewilderment again assailed me. What
would | find? Then, too, was not
unaware l was somewhat of a popu-
lar figure. These people l was about
to visit and see for the first time,
had seen me often. That realization
it wasn't the first time had had
it made me pause. i was again re-
minded of Irwin Cobb's allusion to