The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-08

Is Smail, ears prominently eyes Dlue, collar |
paper, cravat black, hands small, and usu- |
ally tinged with the smut of type. A few |
slight wrinkles have come under his eyes
and around his mouth, all of which look as
if produced by long spells of laughter. He1
Is pleasant conversationalist. genial and
frank in manner, always ready with some
funny anecdote or fresh word. No one
would ever notice him on the street; but
when you come to get at him his bubbling
wit and fun are at once apparent his
capacity for work is really marvellous. The
funniest of funny paragraphs flow from his
pen as easy as rolling off log. A column
of wit is a mere bagatelle-he feels not the
effort. Besides his daily writing In the
Free Press, he does vast amount OF 9th
er literary work. The GALAXY, BGtloas
Monthlv, american Homes, Chicago Fire
eide Friend. Neso York Weekly, The Fire
SIDE Companion, The Sunny South, and
others famed for their sensationalism have
numbered him among their honOred con-
tributors for years, while large number
of dime novels own him as their author.
Fiction is his forte, facts impede him. A
telegram from any publisher for sensa-
tional serial is answered with the first
chapter by return mail, and he keeps it up
as long as desired. The plot is not laid
out and struggled with. beforehand. All
this is remunerative, and Mr.. Lewis earns
by his versatility about sc, 900 year. Yet
young, apparently on the sunrise side Of
life, future Of pleasure and profit is be-
fore him. No offer can tempt him from
Detroit, where he has very charm
ing home, and as usual but little honor.
His appearance and his talents do not CO.
incide-the one rusty, the other very bril-
liant Truly an unset western diamond
shining through the press.
BIJAH AND THE JUDGE.
Perhaps Mr.. Lewis has won his most
uebulous fame by his hours at the central
station court, where the celebrated BUah
and his honor, the judge, alternately dis
pense justice and consolation. The for
mer is man past the prime of life. and
probably fast verging toward three-score
and ten. His name is Abijah Jay, and he
has been public officer for the past
twenty years. For twelve years he was a
special officer at the Detroit and Milwau-
kee depot, and in 1867 he was appointed
on the metropolitan force, taking the posi-
ton of doorman at the central station
About year ago he was transferred to
the Ninth Avenue station, where he now
remains; but every Sunday the old man
goes for the Free Press, and for an hour or
SO he fancies himself at the court under
the skilful delusion of M. Quad's pen.
Again, in fancy, BUah runs the old mill,
and supplements each sentence with orig
inal comments on the descent of man.
BUah possesses genial face, always
wreathed in smiles. commanding ap-
pearance, full gray beard. swears, chews,
drinks, but is owner of heart as that of
an OK, which is entirely given away to
those who suffer and are destitute His
!, love is unbounded for boys and girls, and
he would do anything on earth for child
The second creation of NJ. Quad's at the
, court was the judge. and the present in
, cumbanto of the office, David Il. Harbough
is so taken with the idea of judicial vii
that whenever Mr.. Lewis is present he
tries to furnish him with some funny re-
J marks, usually, however, failure. Mr.,
Harbough, a venerable punster of sixty
was elected in 1872, and since then has
daily talked of the island--in winter at s.
in the summer at 7. His immediate pre-
decessor, who has often ate Quad's tradi
, tionary apple, one of the kind that Solor
Shingie was so fond of in sass. was AL
bert j. Boynton, very popular justice
J who resigned to accept the political editor
ship of the Free Press. Before him Ger
man, Julius Stole, had sat and dispensed
, under Quad's careful handling, poor jus
tice and better wit Mr.. Lewis rarely at
, tends the sittings of the court, but on Sat
turday looks over the records and writes
) his hour for the Sunday issue,a task which
he now deems very irksome. Befor,
/ leaving him and his continent renowned
pets, may appropriately mention that h
/ will shortly publish book brimful of hi
! quaint humor and story; which indeed
{ promises a rare treat for Il HOnsnae qai ril