The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-21
The innocent Spectator-An Iniivfd'
uaI VINO Gets what he Deserves.

(Fr0m the Cincinnati Enqulrer.l
The Innocent Spectator has been hurt
again. He is always getting In the way
when there is a row going on, and IL any
body is burt he is sure to be the sufferer:
He don't mean any harm. He is there just
to see what is going on, bless his iDnoc ent
soul, and hasn't the slightest idea Of hurting
anybody, and yet see how he catches it.
The real offender escapes, but the poor In
nocent Spectator, who hasn't done anything
but stand around and look on, wards of
policemen's clubs with bis head, and offers
his BODY as target for the avenging bullet.
He complains bitterly about it,, if he be
not past complaining altogether; his friends
declare it is an outrage and the entire press
cry out, Is Too bad" If he had been do
ing anything, now, more than looking, on !;
if he had aided and Allotted II ne mad e&-
pressed his sentiments on either side, the
case would have been different; but ne was
only an innocent spectator, Curious to see
what was going on, which renders his case
a very deplorable one indeed.
Z A sad fatality attends the Innocent Spec
tator, somehow. For instance, there Is o
row in saloon he Is passing. 1t don't con-
Germ him at all, but he thinks he will just
step in and see what is going on. He en-
ters the door just in time to stop beer
mug, or some more deadly projectile, with
his head, and next morning local para
graph concerning the row informs us mo
one YVES hurt except an innocent spec
tator."
Again: Two men are engaged in an alter
cation on the street. Innocent Spectator
happens along, and stops to hear what 1t Is
all about. Pistols are drawn. One of the
belligerents jumps behind Innocent Spec
tator and fires upon his antagonist. An
tagonist returns the fire, aud Innocent
Spectator falls, shot through the vitals. 1t
is very hard case, to be sure. but that Is
always the 'way2witb him. !"
Last Wednesday there was o fearful riot
In New York. The riot had been -antici-
pated for long time. Press and people
q certainty that bloody scenes would be
enacted on, the streets that day. Immense
prenarations We're lnade--military anfOth'
erwise, to suppress the riot, should it be
commenced, and punish the rioters. M
Innocent Spectator couldn't keep away,
Of course not; he never can. lie lett his
work, his business, whatever it was, and
went to look on. He saw all the worst ele-
ments of amob coDgregated In vast num-
bers, awaiting favorable moment to begin
the attack. He saw, also, hundreds Of re-
soiute and determined policemen, armed
with clubs and reYoiyers, and thousands OF
soldiers not to be trIfied with, whose
muskets were known to be shotted. ready
to repel assault in the most vigorous aud
effective manner. And yet he takes q
position to see the show as though 1t was
to be one of the most peaceful OF pageants.
He gets the best place he can fnd-takes B
front seat as 1t were-this guileless, unsus-
pecting creature, where he won's miss any
of it, and. he dou't. TIE anticipated coll
lision comes. The street resounds with the
yolleyS of the soldiery, and innocent spec
tator has the top OF bis head blown off or Is
desperately wounded. "Fhat Is always
lle'gav.'' is the trleWspa per comment g It
il the pooy innocent spectator W no spffers.p
Eoawby couldn't the Innocent specta-
tor keep away, knowing the danger? he
bad NO business there. Had II NOT oeen lor
Lhe spectators, innocent aAto tnelr lnte ,, !,
;tion, who thlonged the streets there Wpula