The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-15
MISCELLANY.
TAGARIES OF VAGABONDAGE
(From the Chicago Times.)


P? But not infrequently the 'svag," intent
and sometimes a pair of them will travel
together for the better working of some
:scheme. A couple of fine ones have con-
cocted capital dodge, that keeps them
on the high road to liquor and free
lunches about all the time.
They are a hard-looking crowd. Their
battered clothes are of the thinnest, and
to keep out the night chills one has
about quarter part of shawl-of the
Kind that were worn a
dozen years age-over his shoulders,
while the other jauntily sports the cape
of an old light blue army overcoat. Each
affects ''kids'' of which there is little more
than the wrist band left: AS simple en-
titles. experience has taught them that
no saloon keeper will long tolerate their
presence. No sooner has one made his
way to the store, and comfortably en-.
sconsed himself, than the proprietor
comes around, taps him gently on the
shoulder, and quite peremptorily init
mates that "this is no place for loungers. -
This sort of treatment coming upon
them every hour of the day, and keeping
them continually on the move, finally
grew monotonous, and after comparing
qualifications they determined to 20 in
pairs whenever good fortune kept them
out of the bridewell or poor house to-
gether, and as they were likely to get in
together, being always in each other
company, they had fair prospects of com.
ing out together for the working of their
little game.
Then
THEY HAD REHEARsALS.
studied each others vulnerable points,
which were legion, and having improved
their vocabulary of billingsgate until
they had reached an almost artistic state
of perfection, entered upon their mis-
sion.
AS has been intimated, when venturing
into saloon alone, they could never
gain foothold, and the thing to do was
to make themselves so agreeable as to in.
sure liberation. The little play decided
upon between them required certain pre-.
requisites, One was that there should be
two entrances to the place, at opposite
ends, and that there should be.a goodly
company present for whose edi6cation
the scene might be enacted. As to the
crowd, Chicago saloons are generally
pretty we'll patronized, and so~far as the
other essential is concerned, 'old time
temperance laws, which may be
again enforced at any moment, have
made two entrances, one in front and the
other at the side or rear, almost neces.
sity to paying existence. Now let US
observe the nodas opera1di of the
"vags'
They have rcconnoitered the position,
found front and side door, and a peep
through crevice in the blinds has also
convinced them that goodly company
of hail fellows we'll met ION a time,'' are
assembled. Nothing could be more
apropos. Quickly each flies to his posi-.
ton, and simultaneously one enters at the
front and the other at the rear. Naturally
enough the attention of the company Is
attracted, as it would be, if only casually
by any rev arrivals; but such company
as this is sure to receive more than :;
passing notice, as each ambles up to tn,
counter from an opposite direction. They
are pair that could play
- THE OLD t'BuMs,''
the major and the t.judge" IN the bar
room scene in exit, the Arkansas TRAY
eler,'' to the life, by simply personatin(