The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-05-30
A Successful Ruse.

The Philadelphia Record recalls the
following story of Richard Vaux's ad-
minishation as mayor Of Philadelphia:
"Handsome Dick" as he was famil-
iarly called, was able to so disguise
himself that his most intimate friends
could not recognize him when he had
tucked his long and sparkling brown
beard under his shirt collar and made
some slight alterations in his hat and
clothing. Whenever it was dark
night, through the rain or snow and
sleet, Vaux would make his venture
out among the police, i'll order to qui.
etly and personally observe their man
ner of doing business. He went eve.
rywhere, especially where it was dan
gerous.
One cold winter night, when the
snow was lying deep on the ground,
four policemen might have been seen
standing at the northwest corner Of
Eleventh and Washington streets,
! holding an amiable caucus on matters
in general, to the detrimeut of the in
terests Of their respective beats. Pres
emily along comes, crossing the street,
an old man, meanly clad and stagger-
ing slightly, as if he had taken one
whisky punch too much. AS he reaches
the pavement where the officers are
leaning against the ratings of the
graveyard located there ESQ as best to
enjoy their social chat, the poor fell
low stumbles and falls into a snow
bank.
"Won't you please help me up?'
he family cries 81 am freezing"
"Lie there, you spalpeen! It's the
best bed you deserve" was the com
fort he received. eff it wasn't so cold
I'd lock you up; but I'll not dirty my
hands with you.P And the officers
!. walked off to Il neighboring tavern to
warm themselves.
They had no sooner disappeared
than the old man quickly regained hi:
feet, moved hastily on to Twelfth
f street where he took carriage in
waiting and rode home.
The next morning the lieutenant ot
of the down town district was aston
ished to receive an order to have al,
{ his force at the mayors Office at ter
o'clock. The men all spruced them,
, selves up, imagining that some unex
pccted honor awaited them. Whel
they were drawn up in line in front o
his honor, in his public office, he re
quested the lieutenant to call Ont>th'
E names Of the four men whose beat
were in the vicinity of Eleventh anC
Washington avenue on the previou
night. The four were called and bold
, ly stepped to the front, sanguine o
some great reward for extra service.
, The mayor then briefly related tt
/ them the story Of a poor old man VIII
had fallen into snow bank at th
| corner of the street mentioned and th
, refusal Of the four officers gathered
! there to assist him. leaving him ther
, to perish.
a 1t didn't take many minutes for th
quartet to most positively and upe
quivlcally assure the mayor that n
such an occurrence had ever takel
place. They hadn't seen each othe
! excepting for the moment they Nigh
!, accidentally meet as they faithfull
treaded their beats. Each Of the fou
was willing to substantiate the other
positive denial Of every circumstanc
related by the poor old man.
! "Stop = Indignantly exclaimed tn
: mayor. "You are liars as well a
brutes. Lieutenant, strip these me
; Of their badges Of Office (there were II
uniforms them dismiss them from tn
J service. aisgfaeed, and forfeit thei
= pay to tho city, The poor old ma
. stands before you He was your may
orl"