THE BONA-FIDE TRAVELLER.

Evening Star, Issue 3690, 19 December 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BONA-FIDE TRAVELLER.

(From the Hornet. )

Scevs: A public house at 10.5 p.m. Two Iravelleis, who have walked some dis* tance from a Bailway Station, aud have still some miles to go before reaching their destination for the nLht, knock at the intt door to obtain refreshment. Landlord appears.

Landlord to Ist Traveller: We close at ten o clock, sir; but perhaps you are a traveller ?

Ist Traveller : 1 am,

Landlord; In these times, sir. yon know I am obliged to be very careful whom I ? erve after time, or I might lose my licence. Fray, sir, as you say you are a traveller, you will, perhaps, excuse my asking you what m y«mr opinion eontitutes a traveller, that is, a bond Jide traveller ? Ist Traveller : Well, I should say that a traveler is one whe-one who-well. one who travels 1

Landlord : Certainly, sir, you are right: but how far may you have travelled, or rather, where did you lodge last night ? • r T,av , eller: 1 lod 4ed nowhere last night, for the fact is 1 had business which kept me out of doors all night, and, in consequence of that, I feel all the more in need of the refreshment 1 seek to obtain at vour house. J

Landlord : Very sorry, sir, but the magistrates having jurisdiction in this district are very particular, and if you didn’t lodge more taan three miles from here last night I can t serve you. 6 is; Traveller (somewhat astonished) : But man alive, last night I was 200 miles from this place.

Landlord : Can’t help that, sir. I’m very sorry; but by your own confession you d.dn t lodge anywhere, and our magistrates have decided that a bond-fide traveller is one who has lodged the night before more than three miles from the place at which he demands to be supplied with refreshment frave ler No. 2 (who is suffering from an exc> uciatmg attack of toothache) : Well surely, at least you will sere me? 1 have lefo my home in the North (which, by the way is some 150 miles away/, and have been travelling nearly ad day, and stand in want pain° me braudy t0 ailay this maddening

Landlord ; Certainly, st, I will serve you with pleasure ; but for my own sake I must take ihe precaution of asking y .u just one quesaon, only as a matter of form— where did you sleep last night ? Traveller No. 2 : Sleep 1 Why, confound it, I haven t had a wink of sleep for three uuhts, and I should like to know who could sleep with such pain as 1 have ? Lind ord ; Very sorry, sir; but unless you slept at least three miles fro n here last night 1 can t serve you, and you say yourse.f that you didn t sleep anywhere, and our magistrates say that you are not a bond hde traveller if you slept the night before wxth'in that SatarhouJ “ " here fOU W “‘ “V

Curtain falls -or rather the door bangs. Uxennt Travellers No. I and 2, offline MasiSsT’ th ° UMlord