Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-08-12

The introduction of the Holly Water
Works into the capital OF Indiana, has been
already refe. red ia in our columns. A citi-
zen of the neiqhboring city of Tara Haute
sends to the Express the following amusing
sketch of some of the results which have
been produced:
From the Tsrre HAute Express.
l visited Indianapolis recently. As |
turned into Meridian street, on ny way up
town, | met al acquaintance and instantly
remarked something in his manner that vas
new to me; an elsted important sir that
seemed queer mixture of conscious supe-
riority and obliging condescension.
Some extraordinary thing hos happened
to this man, said to myself; perhs ps ne has
been made suddenly rich BY the death of g
relative; or received q Government appoint
ment; or may be-but no! he has too many
children already, it cant be - boy"
held out my hand. He took it in pat
roniziug kind of a way that would have been
offensive in any one else, and asked me when
had arrived. "Just in," told him.
"Ah, then! hs, en-. seen them yet -
81 was on the right track, then. after all, >
| thought, "it's twins but l answered,
seen whSt?'
His i'm patient snd emphatic reply, why
the Water Works !" so upset me that could
only shake my head and feebly inquire what
was the matter With them.
Matter, They re going!"
Are they When 2"
Nov, uow!' he answered excite6ly. you
aoa tkarD - IN mn
with you"
perhaps they will be gone before We
can get back TO the depot ventured to
suggest.
1t was wretched joke, but who could
have seen the melancholy result
An expression of the most intense disgust
overspreAd his features; he dropped my hand
and walked away without another word
met him IN the afternoon, but he passed me
without speaking.
Things were clearer TO NE after | had
wa lked around the city Ii.lle while.
The fact is, Indisnapoiis has Water
Works" on the brain, but it is hoped thai
its sanity will not be permanently affected
At present, the mama for squirting waite,
prevades all classes, and q mans standing
n society is regulated by the length of his
hose. One man was pointed out who three
short weeks ago was living in unknown OBJ
security. He was ambitious and to-day h'a
name is in all men = mouths. Proudly he
stands on the very pinnacle of Fame, and
points the nozzle of hose eight feet longe,
than any other in town those belonging Il
the Fire Department, not excepted.
Every body has hose. Not to have one
ia a blemish on q mans reputation, respec-
table people shun him.
Business houses are closed an hour EARL
er now in order that the proprletors anC
employees may have more time for hose ex
ercise in the evening, and it is beautiful
sight, as the sun is sinking behind the ives
/ tern housetops, to see in every yard, the en-
| tire length of the street, the honored hes
Of the family, serene and happy express
ion on mis- face, surrounded by his admiriD
wife and CHI dren, pointing dripping noz
zle up on the house, up in the trees, into tn
air, into the shrubOery, into his neIg hborI
yard, out in the street, into passip carriages
and then to see him tenderly place It in til
hands of his children, one after another an
his wife, and to note by the sparkle c
their eyes the thrills of pleasure it give
them.
Ladies have been known to faint with &c
tacy upon frat trying it, so delightful is tn
sensation of holding the nozzle.
As passed along an aged man wa
borne out of house, his arm chair set
the yard, and nozzle placed in his hant
shall never forget the heavenly express
ion of that patrierch's face as his trembin
hands turned it fnll against my shirt bosom
BE held it till his strength gave out, an
then with a suffer ov-they -servsnt-to-d'
part-in perez air resigned it TO his gre,
grandson and was carried bacA into Ii
house to die.
They don't play Croquet in Indianspol
any more. The water works have auuihi
ated "bsse ball, "biliards" and all tina
Hose Recreation" is the thing now
shall visit Indianapolis again when the
get to charging" for the water, which the
do not do now, and have q presentimen
that, as an amusement, "Hose Recreation
will not be so popular.
JINsoN JOHNSON