National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-25
PENCIL SKETCHES.
N Hours sojourn at the Bar Of Jul

1
1t was in an alley-one Of those grim, damp
i passages where many of the eity's wretehed
psupers exc out their scanty and pinched exist
ence. The shadows Of sin and poverty seem to
/ rest perpetually upon the dreary place. 1t fs no
new quarter, built up in the rush Of hurried and
wide Improvement, but 1t is one OF the ancient
cess-pools Of iniQuity, founded with the city and
| augmented In filth and wickedness with the pro-
gress Of time 1t Is one of the main tributaries Of
that current Of pauperism and social fmoecflity
which feeds with increasing persistency our jail,
the house Of correction and the grave OF drunk
enness itself As the guardians OF the public
peace beat the same dull round from week to
week in the vicinity Of this populous poverty,
their attention is often attracted by the existence
OF crime in some aggravated form, and upon these
occasions alone is the public made 70 feel the
presence Of this woe. Saturday, al smearea
nstinS I pooi Of varied iniGuitiss, Mary Mcguire
was dragged into public notice on the charge OF
yagrancy. As she was thrust into the dock py
totterinR, fell into q seat in one corner oil the
little pentup apartment, and buryinx her nag
gard countenance with shriveled fingers,
HER WEAK AND EXHAUSTED NATURE
sank into heavy sleep The mob Of hSrd asslog
for the sentence Of the law gazed upon the cover
ing figure, but were not moved TO taunt OF aeriae.
There was something In the abject misery OF the
scene which checked the tongue Of ribaldry and
mirth. No disturbed herr no one even 30
much as sought to ascertain the cause OF 9 9er
business and the noise and hustle suppressed, the
heavy bresthings Of the woman could be dis
tinetly heard, sleeping exhausted In the prison
"John Simpson-rise up John, 4" said the clerk
'.you are charged with keeping vicious dog
for Just as soon as learned the beast had ruined
the calf Of Finnegan's leg dropped croWoar
my vine and AZ tree in the back yard He sleeps
yer Honor,
THE LONG SLEEP
and, therefore, don't see how are" "You
And his Honor looked Iongingly for the next vic
tim.
"what, again in the dock. young Scruggs,"
said his Honor, as sharp-nosed boy rested his
elbows on the bars and thrusting his thumbInto biz
mouth rubbed his eyebrow with his index hnRer,
How often have struggled with your wicked
heart, and toiled with your stubborn nature, and
urged you to seek the narrow wayH Twas but
last week; think Of it. but short days, since
you would seet some useful field of labor and ind
SEINE manly work to do, and no" you turn up as q
uindow-smasher."
"Slip him up for thirty days, and call up that
young man with bruise on his nose. Oh1cer,"
on the common with q dilspidated pack Of cards
in his coat pocket?"
Eyes, SIR"
"YOu are sursP"
"WeII, then, young man, send word to your
mother that you will be home again in time Tor
your Christmas presents. Give him two months,
clerk, and if he don't stop picking his teeth with
that rusty hairpin It will give him the lockjsT."
FLIRTING.
HE didn't really care anything for the GIRL"
6s Sst WAS S N fS cut
perhaps faithfully, and from his present appear
snce before his Honor 1t was clearly evident that
months time. Pony had caught him cutting"
and We do not hesitate to say that when Pony
catches s0T his b.as OF 0s S Ss5 gTs
IDENTIFY skinned his eyes back Of his ears and
watched his chances carefully. but had rushed |
in boldly and had been kicked out bodily with |
out moments warning.
The Judge said, Young man, whose chain |
lightning have you been wrestling with nowPn
t'Sir, cried the youth, 81 have been beaten"
"0f course you have, anyone can see that; the |
threshing machine was evidently too much for |
you"
your Honor, I've been msliciously pounded" |
"Ground, you mean; that is, pulverized, pow:
dered, mashed, said his Honor, taking hold Of |
his waistcost to help suppress laughter. you
must learn to keep out Of the meshes OF four
horse powers and the like. Why it was only |
yesterday that heard Of man being blown into |
million and seventeen and three quarter pieces
Just because he would sit on glycerine can, and
you ought to know BY this time that q Jealous |
gered by the advances OF q rival. Bind up your |
eyebrow, young man, and heal up your nose and /
will fine Pony Simpson ten dollars and costs"
MARY INQUIRE. 4
Mary MCGUIRE answered to the call OF the court |
and stood IN the dock window one Of the most |
pitiable wrecks Of humanity that the great city /
affords.
what is this woman here fOr2" said the
Court.
ITO die" replied Mary, as she fastened her
sunken eyes upon the Court "Can't you let me /
do 1t in peace. man, or are you bound to drag me
by force TO the grave? i am going soon, and keys
of your dungeons and doors Of your worKhouse
viii not stand in me way. Avau1t, ye beast Of
man! can't ye let poor old wretch die in
peace!"
The Court looked at the woman for moment /
and then motioned pervously for the efficer to L
take her away-away to the Workhouse, and then /
to the grave.