A DIGNIFIED MAN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1990, 10 July 1880, Page 2

A DIGNIFIED MAN.

f“ Virginia City (Nevada) Chronicle.”] A middle-aged man, with a large red beard, very curly hair c£ the same colour, and one black eye, came before Justice Knox the other morning on a charge of vagrancy. His toes budded through his heeDess shoes, and the neck of his oollarlees shirt looked like the rim of a pot. His coat was out at the elbows, and a quart of some deodorising liquid would have made him mors agreeable to his fellowmsn. Still, he had a dignified mien. One hand was thrust proudly into the breast of his closely buttoned coat, and he held his head well up. Ho ran his disengaged paw through his red hair, and eyed the Court with selfpossession. “ What’s your full name ? ” inquired the Court. “ Koscinszko Lambolisky —an exile from Poland—a Nihilist and a patriot—an enemy of the Czar—a lover of liberty.” “Yes, but what did yon work at last in this country ?” “I have several times been obliged to saw wood in this town, and also to shovel snow, but my life is devoted to the commercial interests of the United States.” The Court took a glass of water, and scratched its head. Then it inquired, “ How do you work it ? ” “ The Isthmus of Tehuantepec,” replied the Polish exile, with increased dignity, “is, as you are doubtless aware, a neck of land separating the Gulf of Mexico from the Pacific. Its'width is about 130 miles. It is traversed almost throughout by the river Ooatzacoalco. I propose to construct an inter-oceanic canal throughout the isthmus* As you can perceive, by utilising the Coatzacoaleo, I can accomplish my purpose much easier and at less expense than any man can by way of Panama or Nicaragua ; it will save more than 1200 miles on the voyage from New York to San Francisco as compared with the Panama route.” “ Well, why ain’t you down there diggin’, instead of being pulled out of a Virginia city dry goods box by a policeman demanded the Court. “ I am here among you, sir, with the purpose of interesting your great capitalists in my scheme.” “Is there any particular hurry about your canal ? I moan, ain’t you afraid that if you don’t get there within a few months or so, Grant or or somebody will jump your Tehuantepec claim ?” inquired the Court, kindly. "Poverty has taught me patience, sir,” answered the new De Lesseps sadiy. “ I do not fear to wait.” “Ail right, then,” said the Court, cordially ; “ I'm glad to hear it. I don’t like to keep a man out of a good thing. I’ll give you just ninety days in the county gaol to elaborate your plans, like. It’ll save you several millions if you make no mistake on the start.”