The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-08-15
The 9laiIg Arens.
Friday, August Is, 1873.
The Hoodlum.

The Hoodlum.
In the population Of San Francisco Is an
engaging class OF yiyacious young men,
nresent;ng many traits of the fireman
politicion of earlier New York, and are
known TO local fancy by the cot Hood
lums The etymology OF the designation
l. involved in much obscurity. and its cred |
Il Cnr its addition 20 the language has been |
yarionsly assigned. Aside, however, from !
any nicely of pathological derivation by
which il might be dramatically explained
the term is no sooner represented TO intelli-
gent observation by its average bearer,
that its exact Appropriateness is at once cen
coded. even as some of Dickens's character
names, though sounding extravagant and
incredible at first, always justify themselves
finally TO the apprehension as the only
titles that could possibly have belonged TO
such personages as wear them. The Cali
fornia hoodlum is an extremely vivacious,
irreverent, and short-haired being, much
given 10 unholy hours aud noisy habits,
and full of political local knowledge and in
renious terms of expression. Living by
wit. as is developed in himselfand deficient
in others, his general popular career Is
humorous rather than sinister, and II his
practice Of audible criticism sometimes dis
turbs the solemnity of a woman suffrage
meeting, it is the most dramatic attraction
of the ordinary political convention. food
society, preiudiced by aristocratic tradition,
looks askance at the hoodlum, and is con
tinually invoking the police TO make him
less audible for which reason he, in his
turn, is somewhat contemptuous OF the
higher social circles, and not ayerse to an
occasional small game at their expense.
few evenings ago, rs a young lady OF pa
trician family in San Francisco, ON her re-
turn hnme from friendly visit, was walk
ing along O'Farrell street-says the loca
CAroaicie-she was acoosted genially by .
young man with an immense cigar for hi
principal feature, who, in Choice Hoodlum
ese, hoped she was as well as could be ex
pected and solicited u tritling loan as
mark of esteem. Unaccustomed as sh,
was TO public speaking, the damsel respond
ed with a scream whereupon there darte'
from the opposite sidewalk a sturdy gentle
man who promptly knocked down the pre-
sumptuous hoodlum, and as deity escorte,
the alarmed lady beyond reach OF furthe
pecuniary importantly. Having reudere
this service the stranger would fam hav
taken his leave, but the rescued fair on
nervously besought his continued proteC
ton ~ her home, aud there prevailed upo
him 10 enter the house and receive tn
thank, of her father The surprise of tn
fashionable household may be imagined
proceeds the Chronicle, when Miss ---
introduced her deliverer, for the stranger,
attire was decidedly seedy. But when III
lady explained ~ her father how the bray
fellow had saved her life and whipped a ma
twice his size the heart of the old geutl
men warmed towards him. He called hil
a noble young fellow aud pressed 81
piece in his hand which. after some r
luctancc, was accepted, aud the plucky d.
fender of unprotected woman left ii
house with an invitation from the faith,
n call at his place Of business next da
and he would try II he could not do som,
thing for him. Accordingly the mob
young fellow presented himself at III
store ton Front street. next morning
There did not happen a. be a vacancy
the position of head bookkeeper lust thei
and besides the noble young fellow coul
not write and hi, chivalric young soul ha
never stopped 10 learn the my,terie,
figures. 80 he was installed as porter
position for which nature seemed u ma,
specially designed him. This is Il
rough California newspaper style Of betra
ing the vulgar common prejudice again
men who do not dress extensively an
boast collegiate educatioBs In the col
duct ct this hero from humble life theI
was nothing % discredit his character I,
chivalrous mauliness and bluff ,implicit
Of nature until one evening soon after ii
above events, when the merchant and h
daughter, while enjoying a twilight prom
cuade. encountered the heroic porter
the company Of an individual at sight
whom the young lady turned faint. Gu
ious 10 relate, this individual was no 9th,
than the one who had been Knocked dow
for accosting our heroine 50 ,oriidly, an
when the old gentleman was informed
the fact he lost all faith in human natur
Indeed, on the following morning /
charged his porter with having practise
an imposition upon him. and was shocke
ut the trankness with which the justice
the impeachment was confessed. Not
blush suttused the cheerful cOuntenance
the detected hoodlum as he ingenious
ayOwed that the little drama of the sire
encounter had been ingeniously arranged
an intimate friend and himself as a sOci
blc speculation upon the gratitude Of
wealthy parent, anu he concluded h
statement by the remark that, while /
was ready ~ resign his porter's situate
seeing that partnership in the firm a,
the young ladys hand were the least
could be induced 70 accept for remain
in mercantile liie-hc trusted that hi, v,
cradle friend would not refuse to sign
his continued esteem by partaking Of
splrituous beverage at his expense I
merchant refusing this profIered court,
with extreme hauteur, and making sd
irascible demonstration with one of
boots, the still unruifled hoodum retir
from the palatial warehouse with comm
dable alacrity, apparently quite unc
scious that he md his intimate friend !
done anything that had not It's perfect "
rant in the universally conceded priviei
Of superior astuteness and knowledge
human nature