IMPERTURBABLE SMOKER.

North Otago Times, 20 July 1908, Page 2

IMPERTURBABLE SMOKER.

COOL PASSENGER. WHO'EVICTED • A MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

. Vienna, May 20. Dr von Derschatta, the Austrian Minister of Railways, has- had an amusing adventure , Ho entered a first-class non-smoking compartment of a train, in which ho found a follow passenger smoking.. He 'politely remonstrated with the man without effect. ■:<„ .',-:.

The Minister then produced his card, oxpecting that would ' impress tho smoker, who, however, having glanced at, it, bowed to tho Minister, put it in lite pocket, and continued to smoke. This was too much for Dr von Derschatta, who at tho next station requested tho stationmaster to seo that tho rules of tho company were obeyed, and to ask,for the man's name and address,

; The stranger calmly handed to th.o stntionmastcr Dr • von Dcrschattaig rertl, As soon as tho official • saw''tiib name, ho humbly begged the'supposM"'' Minister's pardon, and brusquely .tblc[ Dr von DDrsehatta that so importan'i' a person as his Excellency' could "'j smoko whero he chose- 'arid anyone who did not like gebinto nnothor compartment. Tho train started before there waf timo for an explanation, and it is Stated that Dr vo'n Derschatta confessed himself beaten, and 1 at the next • station took the stationniastor's ad-

vice, after ironically - , congratulating his imperturbable fellow passenger on his new dignity.; ' .";'.'