This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

ONE li NT ERE STING I'NCIDENT FROM THE PAST
IN ABOUT 1888 AN EARLY MORNING MAIL TRAHN COMING OVER THE L * N BAY BRIDGE AND NEARING THE BAY SAINT LOUIS TERMINAL LOST ONE SECTION OF ITS WHEELS, WHI <H , AS THE STORY PS RELATED, DROPPED I NT©
THE WATER.
THE OWNER OF THE CRESCENT HOTEL, CAPT. J. V. TOULME, WAS ASKED TO TAKE UN ALL PASSENGERS AND FEED THEM DURING THE EMERGENCY• FRANTIC FOR LACK OF 0YOUGH FOOD AND ASSISTANCE IN SERVING SUCH AN UNEXPECTED CROWD, THE WIFE OF CAPT. TOULME SENT A MESSENGER CN FOOT TO HER FRIEND, MRS. TALLULAH BOWERS, WIFE OF CONGRESSMAN E. J• BOWERS,
WHCT BROUGHT AUD AT ONCE. BffTH LADI ES, WITH OTHER GUESTS OF THE HOTEL,
SERVED TABLES------AND WERE DELIGHTED TO FIND THAT ONE OF THEIR VISITORS
WAS SARAH BERNHARDT HERSELF? "THE DIVINE SARAH", HOWEVER, WAS IN A T EMPERAMENT AL TIZZY OVER THE DELAY AND HER STORMING, ALTHOUGH IN FRENCH, WAS EASILY UNDERSTOOD*
ANOTHER PASSENGER THAT MORNING WAS MAURICE THOMPSON, INDIANA AUTHOR OF ALICE OF OLD VlfNCENNES, WHO, WITH HIS FAMILY, WAS ON THE FIRST LAP OF A JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA, UNLIKE SARAH BERNHARDT HE WAS SO PLEASED WITH THE HOTEL’S HOSPITALITY AND WHTH BAY ST. LOUIS THAT HE CANCELLED HIS PLANS TO GO ON TO CALIFORNIA AND SPENT THE REST OF THE WINTER HERE. THEREAFTER, FOR MANY YEARS, HE AND HIS FAMILY CAME TO BAY ST* LOUIES FOR THE WINTER MONTHS, AND HT WAS DURING *KIS TIME HERE THAT HE WROTE ANOTHER NOVEL, "THE KING OF HONEY ISLANDS.