Year: 1862

Rev. b. w. BEECHER, tells good thing on
himself concerning a hotel experience:


The difference between 7 and is not very
great, only a single unit. And get that diff
erence has power over mans whole temper,
convenience and dignity. Thus, at Buffalo
my boots were set out to be blacked. In the
morning no boots were there, though all the
neighboring rooms had been served. I rang,
I rang twice. "a pretty hotel-nearly eight
o'clock, going out at nine, breakfast to be
eaten, and no boots yet The waiter came,
took my somewhat emphatic order, and left.
Every minute was an hour. It always is
when you are out of temper A man in his
stocking feet, in third story of hotel, finds
himself restricted in locomotion. I went to
the door, looked up and down the hall, saw
frowsy chaimbermaids; saw afar off the mas
ter of the coal scuttle: saw gentlemen walking
in bright boots, unconscious Of the privileges
they enjoyed, but did not see any one coming
with my boots. A German servant at length
came, round and ruddy-faced, very kind and
good natured, honest and stupid.


He informed me that gentleman had al
ready taken boots No rs (my number) He
would hunt him up; though he was at break
fast Here was new vexation. Who was
the man who had taken my number and gone
for my boots2 Somebody had them on, warm
and nice, and was enjoying his coffee, while I
walked up and down, with less and less pa
tience, who had none too much at first No
servant returned. rang again, and sent en-
ergetic and staccato messenger to the Office.
Some water on the floor. I.stepped into it OF
course. In winter cold water feels as if it
burned you. Unpacked my valise for new
stockings. Time was speeding. Hwas quar-
ter past eight; train at nine, no breakfast.
slipped on pair of sandal-rubbers, too large
by inches for my naked foot, and while I
shuf1ed along the hall, they played up and
down on my feet. First one shot Of; that
secured the other dropped on the stairs; peo-
pie that met looked as if they thought that
I was not well over last nights spree


1t was very annoying. Reached the Office
and expressed my mind. First, the clerk rang
the bell three times furiously, then ran forth
himselE-met the German boots, who had
boots 70 in his hand, narrow and long, think
ing perhaps 1 could wear them. Who knows
but 81 had my boots? Some curiosity was
beginning to be felt among the bystanders.-
It was likely that should have half the hotel
inquiring after my boots. I abhor a scene
Retreated to my room. On the way thought
I, would look at IT'S boots. Behold they
were minel There was the broken pulI-straps
the patch on the right side, and the very
shape of my toe-infallible signsl The fellow
had marked them II and not 78. And all
this hours tumult arose from just the differ
ence between Z and s.


lost my boots, lost the train, lost my tenn
per, and, Of course, lost my good manners
Everybody does that loses temper. But boots
on, breakfast served, a cup of coffee brought
peace and good will. The whole matter took
a ludicrous aspect. moralized upon that in
trinity that puts a mans peace at the mercy
of the Dutchman's chalk. Had he written
seventy-eight, I had been a good-natured
man, looking at Niagara Falls in its winter
dress. He wrote seventy and fumed,
saw only my own falls, and spent the day in
Buffalo,


Are not most Of the pets andrubs oflife such
as this? Few men could afford, tomorrow,
to review the things that vexed them yestcr-
day. We boast of being free, yet every man
permits the most arrant trifes to rule and ride
him. A man that is vexed and angry turns
the worst part of himself into sight and ex-
hibits himself in buAioon's coat and fooIs cap,
and walks forth to be jeeredl And yet ones
temper does worse by him than that. And
men submit to it, not once, but often, and
sometimes every dayl wonder whether
these sage reflections will make me patient
and quiet the next time boots are misplaced?


When the hour is come we must all be
packed off; the prince and the brickhouse go
the same way at last, the road is 10 faire-