The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-23

work. I swept the streets, and was
cheated by the foreman Of the gang.
l even tried to wait in a saloon. My |
best suit was rather fancy, perhaps |
but I looked we'll, and I served in 4 |
saloon on the Third avenue where
singers in the chorus go. [ did pref
ty we'll. but wanted Beatrice. l
wanted my wife, and I grew careless.
Then Coolbaugh put me here. Do
yous know Coolbaugh? He's a man
who owns more than a hundred hand
some organs and over fifty monkeys.
He's very rich. He has had trouble
with the Italian Government about
the little boys who play on the violin
and harp. He allows his agents to
treat the boys shamefully, but he is
a pleasant man himself. ! went to
him and told him my story. This
was twelve years ago. Since then
Peter died with the scarlet fever,
and was buried by the city. | was
away. And Beppo-well, Beppo went
to the bad-well Beppo, Beppo's up
on the island.'
ssHard luck old man.
eyes, hard luck. However, when
I saw Coolbaughh he rented me an organ
and monkey, and gave me a route.
"What do you mean by that?''
Every man has his route. All the
city routes were full, so he sent me
on the road. didn't mind that, for
l was foolish enough to think that
there was possibility of my meeting.
seeing, or hearing about him, even II
I was denied my child for ever. On,
curse him Curse him ! If ever-but
never mind. What right have | to
talk! I'm here to suffer, and will fill
my fate. On the road L
s'He let you have an organ and a
monkey =
eyes,
"For which you paid what p
HE said if l was in the city, | must
pay him two dollars a day, but while
on the road ten dollars week. That S
for the hire, and if l could pay more,
: the extra was to go to paying for the
organ and the monkey, but the mon
, key was to be paid for first.
"Why e
because monkeys die here especial
ly in our business very soon. Child
J rem give'em candy, candy gives EN-
u. ~
than small poX in a human. My first
5 route was up toward Bridgeport, New
Haven, Hartford, Springfield, and
Worcester. We can't go to Boston
) because Coolbaugh's agreement with
man in Boston secures the Eastern
, States from that point to him. Bridge
: port and Hartford are two good places.
[ There's so many factory people there
| that good solemn organ can make
| five dollars in day, unless there S
: been one the day or SO before, New
: Haven people are down on hand
r organs. and monkeys don't seem to
draw. The college boys don't like
/ EN-"
"Not rivals are they! =
Fl s'Sir 7"
eco on
t "But Worcester is the best OF all.
T can 90 to Worcester with this solemn
t organ and
"You've said solemn twice. What
r do you mean by it =
+ The old man looked at me soberly
3 for moment, and the three monkeys
apparently in the spirit Of the scene
+ looked too. Then rising, he put the
e strap over his rounded shoulders, the
buckle settling in it's well-worn vel
!. veteen groove, and turning the crank
r ground out, with marked, pronounced
t time the grand old ''Marseillaise. :
y This he followed with ''Hold the
e Fort and that with the Puritanic
/ tune Dundee" Then, as he lifted
e the organ to the ground, he patted
8 the grayest monkey on the head, and
L said: "Them tunes is what l cal
$ solemn
i. And SO they were.
!, 81 can make three times as much
e money with solemn organ as car
n with a dancer. Children like dancers
r the best, but children don't payin The
@ country. Many a time I've asked tC
l. pay for glass of milk at a gentle
n mans house on the road. They gave
/ it to me. Then l gaye'em Hold thu
Fort and before l leave they fill mt
j. up with dinner, and slip me a staml
5 besides. If l was to play THOUSAND
years I'd never touch anything but ;
n solemn organ. Why even the mon
n keys know the difference.
T. ssBut all this time l was thinking 0
g what I'd lost. Sometimes, when t.
r three monkeys were up to the jollies
d of tricks, and everybody was shoutin,
k with laughter, found myself swim
# ging out the Marseillaise Hymn will
d a Jerk and rush that the notes didn'
v call for and when came to myself
was numbering that monster VIII
d stole my girl away and killed my wife
# Oh, sir. to think. But 1 must no
o think. I've had city route for tire
& years. own that biggest monkey
,e but somehow l can't get an organ
|. 1 drink, l can't help it, and | don
e want to. They call me odd Grunt
h but Idon't care. Even Beppo. whom
d love, doesn't care for me. | wen
IS to see him on the Island. and becaus
,e the boys laughed at my coat, he pre-
n tended was his uncle. Just to thin
10 of that Coolbaugh wants me to mai
d. ry. Marry! 1 wouldn't marry th
Queen of Italy. Ny heart is in tn
As grave-except what's with the child.
ze didn't see my way very clear.