“'Well, what do you want to do,' I says, 'that this world ain't big enough for?'
“'It ain't the size of it,' he says; 'it's the dulness of it. Things used to be different in the old days.'
“'How do you know?' I says.
“'You can read about it,' he answers.
“'Oh,' I says, 'and what do they know about it—these gents that sit down and write about it for their living! You show me a book cracking up the old times, writ by a chap as lived in 'em, and I'll believe you. Till then I'll stick to my opinion that the old days were much the same as these days, and maybe a trifle worse.'
“'From a Sunday School point of view, perhaps yes,' says he; 'but there's no gainsaying—'
“'No what?' I says.
“'No gainsaying,' repeats he; 'it's a common word in literatoor.'
“'Maybe,' says I, 'but this happens to be “The Blue Posts Coffee House,” established in the year 1863. We will use modern English here, if you don't mind.' One had to take him down like that at times. He was the sort of boy as would talk poetry to you if you weren't firm with him.
“'Well then, there's no denying the fact,' says he, 'if you prefer it that way, that in the old days there was more opportunity for adventure.'