“One of the stories of the ‘road’ that Mr. Joseph Jefferson
delighted to tell grew out of an experience in an Indiana town,
where he was presenting ‘Rip Van Winkle,’ many years ago.
“In the hotel where he stopt was an Irishman who was employed as
a porter, but from the serious interest he took in the house he
might have been clerk and proprietor rolled into one.
“At six in the morning Mr. Jefferson was startled by a violent
thumping at his door. With slowly returning consciousness,
he remembered that he had left no call on the night before,
and naturally became indignant. His sleep was spoiled for the
morning, so he arose and appeared before the clerk.
“‘See here,’ he demanded, ‘why have I been called at this
unearthly hour?’
“‘I don’t know,” replied the clerk. ‘I’ll ask Mike.’
“The porter was summoned. ‘Mike, there was no call for Mr.
Jefferson. Why did you disturb him?’ he was asked.
“Taking the clerk by his coat-sleeve, the Irishman led him to
one side. ‘He was shnoring loike a horse, sir,’ he explained,
‘and I’d heered by the b’yes how onct he were after slapin’ for
twinty years, so, says I to myself, it’s a coomin’ on to him
agin, an’ it’s yer juty to git the crayther out o’ the house
instantly!’”
(1860)
See KNOWLEDGE BY INDIRECTION; JUDGMENT, LACK OF.
=Literary Workman=--See ACQUISITION.