OLD CLOTHES. — WHO WE AVERE. 17 



"Be kind euoiigli to look at your watch, my honest. 

 civili/X'd frk'nd, and then make a note of it that in an liour 

 we shall be out of this place for good;" and as he spoke, 

 Benson tumbled his bundle of old ch)thes and l)oots out 

 upon the tlcxn- and began his hunt for the gray wooUmi 

 shirt he had brought for me. Looking at my watch I 

 found it was not (piite lialf-past four o'clock, and even 

 two hours later I knew no stray acciuaintance of mine 

 would l>c Ukely to stroll down the street. 



1 had ft)rgotteu how disheartening an abandoned 

 suit of old, worn out, dusty, creased and shrunken clothes 

 can be, until I surveyed myself and saw how wholly 

 unpresentable I had become. M}'' personality seemed 

 changed. I was not entirely certain that I was honest. I 

 I didn't know but the next moment I should break out in 

 profanity. As for the serene self-respect of an American 

 citizen who had helped elect a member of Congress, I had 

 next to none of it; for did I not bear all semblance to a 

 moderately abased beggar? and did not my very appear- 

 ance consign me to social ot)livi()n r and would any 

 respe(;taJ)le church in the land permit me to sit in its pews? 



However, it was early in the morning, I was in tiie 

 privacy which the early riser in the city enjoys, and I Avas 

 wholly reassured by the nondescript appearance of the rest 

 of the party to whom I was speedily presented. Besides, 

 as a ps3'chological fact, I observed that my individuality 

 gradually reasserted itself, and in an liour 1 was (piite as 

 honest, as careful of my morals, and just as nuicli a 

 gentleman, despite appearances, as if 1 had worn linen and 



