173

A MESSENGER TO LONDON

Mr Gore Over to Deliver Parcels to some Actor People

Something has been done to elevate the messenger boy. Perhaps it will also be the means of accelerating his speed, at least proving that it is no disgrace to be caught moving rapidly. The thing which has been done is to send an American district messenger boy of New York to London to deliver souvenirs and congratulatory letters to the surviving writers of the play entitled "The Highest Bidder" and others in London. Originally this play was entitled "Trade," and was written by the elder Sothern, Maddasson Merton and Robert Reece. Manager Dan Frobman and E.d. Sothern, of the Lyceum theatre, prepared the souvenir, which consists of a number of sheets of heavy cream and chocolate colored paper bound together with ribbon. The first page has a photograph of E. A, Sothern. At the bottom is the legend in the writing of Sothern: "He didn't do it very well, but he did it." It is signed by Sothern. The four following paged are filled with sketched made by Sothern from scenes in the play.

Low's Exchange will see that the boy is well cared for during his voyage across and returning. On landing in Liverpool he will be met by John B. Curtis, general manager of the Midland railroad, who will whoop him along in a special carriage to the first train for the city. In London he will at once start on his round delivering the souvenirs. Edmund Yates, Henry Irving, Ellen Terry, Buffalo Bill, Nate Salsbury, Emily Faithfull, Nat Goodwin, Toole, Clement Scott, and many others will receive them. The list has grown until it is as long as a telegraph pole. Each will sign the little ticket, just as would be done if the recipient were in New York.

As soon as the boy gets his packaged delivered he will take the first ship back to New York. His ticket signed by those who received souvenirs, will be quite a souvenir in itself.

The boy's name is Eugene B. Sanger. he sailed away, not exactly at break of day, on there Gernanic, on July 27, but tolerably early for a messenger boy to be starting off. The experiment is to test the speed of the New York messenger boy. He is to prove how quickly a district messenger can do errands in London and return. it might be said to be an experiment in psychic force.

Various Interesting personages were at the pier to see young Sanger off. He was elegantly caparisoned in blue and brass, and has some personal beauty besides. His fellow messengers, to the number of nearly fifty, headed by a pipe and drum, were there to [?] him off. So was his mother and no end of other interested persons. And he, the hero of the hour- well, if he wasn't lionized no wavy haired boy ever was. No. 1,223 is his number; but what use has a lion for a number? In fact, he had suddenly risen above numbers. he was introduced to many of the passengers, and enriched by numerous floral devices. Before the ship sailed the young hero was taken up to the captain's bridge in order that all might see him as the ship moved down the river into the bay. The other messengers kept the spirits of the assemblage from lagging by exuding great volumes of cheers in boy soprano. They whooped up at the lively rate as the ship moved off. That was not because they felt extremely jolly, but to cover their feelings.

The young traveler is 14 years old. He will sit near the captain all the way over and will have a cabin all to himself. Moreover, he will show John Bull how they order things over here.