Life — September 21, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The doy eating: WHY DOAN’ YOU PADER RAISE MELONS. The other boy: WE'S GOT CHILLUN TER RAISE. WHAT YER SPECS UE DONE RAISE?” “80'8 MY PADER, 7 “ MAwos."" nates the scones in which they appear to- gether, Dear Mrs. Gilbort (how it would gall Mr. Daly to seo tho line on the pro- gramme which credits her to the Empire ‘Theatre company !) also dominates in some scones, as do others at odd times. This equal adjustment adds to the general en- joymont of the piece, Lut also explains why ‘Miss Russoll fails to score more palpably. Tho public has had amplo chance to measure Mr. Jeromo K. Jerome's ability, and “ Miss Hobbs” will contirm the popu- lar estimation. It is not a finished work, nor docs it possess marked originality. Somo of its situations aro sufficiently novel 233 Correspondence of a Patriot. ba San Francisco, May, 1899, Y DEAR BARKER: I sail on the transport Mark Hanna next Tuesday morning for Manila, as 4 Acting Assistant Quartermaster-General U. 8, V. Roll ; that round in your mouth forthe boys; and don’t for- (i got that It is a real good, gilt-edge thing—just like \ finding monoy. ) When I got to Washington a month ago I hunted { up Tom Bunkum, our Congressman, and told him I \ wanted a commission of some kind and asked him to get a move on, Tom didn’t look gratified, and ho 4 sort of hinted that I was too heavy for cavalry, rather fat for infantry, and lacked experience for artillery. I wasn't taking any bluffs, so I told Tom while I didn’t travel on my shape nor bave any abnormal appetite for glory, I was hotaftor acommission with a salary and achauco toexpand. He took the hint aud waltzed me over to Senator Gasaloon, and intro- duced me as one of the most potent forces in tho party in Pinetop County. Gasaloon started in to throw out a lot of style on mo boforo he gavo mo a neat article of gold brick, but I wouldn't havo it. Why, I knew tho old bluff when ho was running an in- suranco joint in Copperville, and I wasn't going to let him work off any of: his con- versation lozenges on me for tho real urti- cle, I gave it to him straight. I told bim tho next Legislature would elect his succes- sor; that the Honorable James Thomas Flabbers, the copper king, had his eagle eyo on the job, and that my friends in Pinetop would come pretty near deciding which man would got free shaving for the next aix years, I kind of hinted that commis- sions wore to bo had for the asking, and I was asking, I suggested that he put his strong Senatorial hand in the grab-bng and fish out a good thing while the same was on, Tho Honorable Peter William Gasaloon came off his perch quick and trotted me over to Russ Alger, who is pretty near the whole push in the town. Say, Barker, it was dead easy after I got & move on Gasaloon, and T. Bunker stood to produco hearty laughter, and its lines sparklo with tho frothy but enjoyable wit charactoristic of Mr. Jerome's writings, Some of its Anglicisms sound strange placed in the mouths of Larchmonters, but the pleco ts not of sufficiently serious in- tent to make thisa real blemish. “ Miss Hobbs” is very amusing and furnishes a full evening's enjoyment. Mr. Charles Frohman presents “Miss Hobbs.” He does not claim the authorship. It is perfectly clean and whole- some, and self-respecting young women I may witness it without blushing. This is strange, but true. Metcalfe, —4que- @ Man: NOW SMILE, PLEASE. Cow: WHY, WHAT THE JOKE?