Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-04-01
oN.raE

oN.THE SIDEWALK.
What is more ~aggravating to " man
in q hurry to get somewhere, us WIN
quick step he threads his w"y along
past and among his fcllow-passengcrs
on the public sidewalk, than to enconn-
ter small crowds or knots Of half u
dozen or so-just enough to take up the
whole width Of the sidewalk-who are
not in a hurry At all? They so leisure
ly along with n sauntcring, uncertain,
purposeless step, as though this side
walk was made for their special accom-
dation, and they were, bolnd to use II
as they pleased. Even one OF these
nuisauccs in u crowd is exasperatlnS
enough. He seems to occupy more room
than three men Of his size, especially
when you undertake to dodge past lin.
lie will be in your way in spite OF you.'
Ladies are never a nuisance in that
respect, but their long trailing skirts
arc. One experiences II really pleasur-
able sensation rs he brushes past II
neatly arranged slip Of swinging, undu-
iating. dimity, worn respectfully short,
or properly hitchcd or tucked mp out
Of the way, even Mt the limited diselos"i
Of II nice little ankle, done up in II neat
boot, bnt when you come to II broad
trailing dress, being slowly dragged
along before you, just exactly where
you want to step, it is cxaspcr"ting in
the extreme. Especially is this the case
when you arc leaving the church, lee
turc, theater, or some other place Of
public as~semblagc. How complacently
the dear creature directly in front Of you
minces her slow way along, leaning on
the arm Of the gentleman ut her side,
swectly oblivious to the idea that you
are Mt q tsrturingly short distance be-
hind, hopping and jerking about like a
French dancing master, doing your best
to keep of her long trailing skirt, while
the relentless crowd at your rear fierce
ly urge you on, and lay all the blame
of obstruction upon you, and not her.
On the sidewalk, too, how often do
we meet, coming an opposite direction,
those stupid noodles or th%oughtlcss in
dividuals who persist in ctcrnariy ignor-
ing the common rule Of the street {:
keep to the right" They have a sim
gular attraction towards you, and nre
sure to rush full in your face. 1t mat
tiers not whether you turn to the right
or to the left, they are morally certain
to respond by turning to the same side.
And so you keep lodging, until in deS;
pair you stop and resolutely stand still.
when just as sure rs fate your antagon-
ist will also stand still in front Of you.
Your only recourse at this, elimination
is a quick diving flank movement, or II
summersault.
Never try to stop n man when you see
that he is evidently in n great hurry.
Speak to him if you choose, but it he
won't stop, by all means let him 80
along. Don't rush forward, head him
of, grab him and 6utton-holc him until
in his impatient evaporation he says
something ugly, something that both
himself and you will feel sorry for ever
afterward. He may he on urgent bust
ness (; probably is so, therefore don't
interfere. IT'S q bad plan. Stand one
side, and let him have the sidewalk.
Above all things, OF This the first day
of April 1868, be particularly oblivious
rs to what you may see lying about
loose on the sidewalk in the shape of
purses, twenty-dollar pieces, dropped
letters, and all that sort Of thing. Let
all such v~anities severely alone, nor at
tempt to pick them up, lest you find
yourself an " April fool"