“A TRAVELLER.”

Globe, Volume III, Issue 271, 24 April 1875, Page 3

“A TRAVELLER.”

Dr Hayman was returning from the Brighton Congress. As the ex-head xnaster of Rugby took his seat in the railway carriage he was followed by a smart, shinylooking little man, unmistakably of the bagman type, who seated himself opposite to the worthy doctor, After a little time the smart, shiny stranger, loquaciously inclined, like most of his class, broke the silent ice which usually prevails in English railway journeys by observing, according to the tradition of his nation, that it was a fine day. Dr Hayman graciously responded by a similar platitude. The bagman returned to the attack, and again the doctor, whose usual stiff manner was visibly thawing, returned an amiable reply. The ice was broken now, and after a few more remarks and counterremarks the doctor, perfectly melted, and assuming an interest which perhaps he did not fell, asked his companion if he might ask to what profession he happened to belong. “ Oh,” said the bagman cheerfully, “lam in the Manchester line.” “Ah! indeed,” replied Dr Hayman urbanely, “ there is a good deal of business going on there now, I understand.” First-class,” said the bagman, with a cunning smile ; “and may I ask what is your line?” “I,’ said the doctor, patronisingly, with the nearest approach to a joke he was ever known to perpetrate, ‘ I am in the spiritual line.” “Blessed if I didn’t think so,” exclaimed his companion knowingly; and, putting one hand on the doctor’s knee, he leaned forward eagerly and added, with an indescribable wink, “but I say, what a d lof a price you have got gin up to ! ” One of the “ Men about 2own.”