Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1894 — THE ROADSIDE DINNER. [ARTICLE]

THE ROADSIDE DINNER.

Free Press. » . It was a beautiful afternoon, but the sun was beginning to dip in the West as we rode leisurely on our way to Colonel Marr's stock farm, where we expected to find food and shelter. Jack, my companion, and a friend of college days, and I, had started early that morning from the city on our way to the colonel’s, where we were expected about noon. But the country being new, we had stopped many times and discussed the possibility of extensive land schemes. In the Interest of this topic we had overlooked the fact that we had been almost all day without food, and as we rode up to a small cabin I felt a strong sense ol Hunger. A little old man,- with a head disproportionately large to his body, sat on a bench outside of his weather-beaten shanty. We could see him looking steadily at us as we approached. As I encountered his steel-gray eyes, which were fixed upon us, I felt a strange sense ol hunger. Instantly we halted, and the old man, in a mild but positive voice, said: “Come in. gentlemen. I can furnish you with anything in the eating line that you wish.” We were both astonished, as the idea that he could serve us with a meal, the kind we were used to, in that tumble-down shanty, with bare floors and dustv windows, was absurd. I expressed my surprise at his invitation, and looked again at the house. A colored waiter with a white apron appeared at the door. This we thought elevated the place, and at a second invitation we dismounted and Were going to walk in for a meal, but the little man asked us to sit on the bench, as dinner would not be ready for half an hour. “That will detain us longer than we anticipated,” I said. “It will put us on the road after dark.” Jack looked at his watch. “It is already half past 5.” At this the. little man laughed pleasantly. “By my watch it is only 4 o’clock, and I have tho right time. My friend, you must be mistaken; look again.” -Jack consulted his time-piece, and acknowledged that he had been mistaken.

The man told us many pleasant stories, and we enjoyed the time until dinner was announced. The proprietor led us through the door into a room a great deal larger than I supposed the size of the house from without warranted. It was filled with tables, and waiters were hurrying back and forth with large trays of dishes.

We "were seated at a table and were served with all kinds of delicacies which are obtained in the best restaurants. In fact, Jack was especially pleased with several French dishes, which he had tasted in Paris, while I was particularly delighted with some fine old wine. It equaled, I thought, that of my father’s, which I had been unable to procure since 1 left the old mansion and engaged in business in New York. During the meal the proprietor, the little man, had personally set the dishes before us, and politely waited on our table, as a compliment, he said, to his distinguished guests. I gave him an order for as much of that wine as he could give me. The bottles were brought from the.cellar; and I, in a -generous way, paid him, generously. I gave him $25 for the dinner and wme,to-rettirtrthe-complime&t,-and my friend followed my example. We started again on our journey refreshed after our dinner, and reached the Colonel’s house long after the darkness had fallen. He immediately ordered lunch for us. “Thank you,” I said. “Do not trouble yourself, Colonel; we just had dinner at the hotel on our way here.” “Hotel!”- he exclaimed? “Where did you see one?" “Along the road a few miles back.” “Bosh! There isn’t a hint of a hotel on that road, and I know it pretty well." “I will leave it to Jack," I said, turning to him, and he readily verified mv words.

“Nonsense,” the Colonel said,- “the only house on that path up there is the plasterless shanty of old Hobbs, the mesmerist, and he has undoubtedly mesmerized you into his place.’’ “I will prove my words right here," I said emphatically. “I purchased some of his excellent wine, and paid for it, too.” I opened the parcel, and to my surprise the bottles which, when the old man had them, were so nicely corked and labeled, were now only plain glass ones, entirely without labels. I poured some of the contents intc a glass and it filled up with water, pure and simple. The Colonel laughed. “Just as I expected,” he said. “But listen," I said. “I’m sure we had something to eat. What do you suppose he gave us?" “Boiled herbs that he gathers in the field, and dry bread, just what he lives on himself.” It was true. We had been the victim of a mesmerist, and had feasted on an imaginary dinner.

The official statistic! of the municipality of Madrid gave the following figures concerning the population of the Spanish capital on December 31, 1893: There were 492,121 inhabitants, 4,975 of whom were foreigners; 232,107 inhabitants were ol the male sex, which made 47 per cent, of the population, against 53 per cent, for the female sex. The population of Madrid had increased by 4,296 inhabitants during the yea? 1893, as compared, with 1892.