The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-16
KEEP OFF THE GRASS"
CURIOUS STORY OF A MAN WHO
NEVER WEARS A HAT.
New York SUM-


appearing regularly on Broadway and at
church and the theatre and riding In the park
without o hat has had many foolish explana-
tions. Some of the shopkeepers and residents
above Union Square have theory that Mr..
M. b. Dale, the gentleman In question, Is q
monomaniac. But nothing In the life Of the
man warrants such conclusion. He is re-
spected by large circle Of friends, and was
once O man OF ample means and considerable
social influence. The name OF Menzies Buck
ner Dale, which he signed in full In bold
flowing hand, is said by those who ought to
know to have represented ut one time $4,000
In real estate in the twenty-frst ward.
It is pretty well known that he has not worn
hat for two years and half. Ordinarily his
head Is covered with scanty red skull-cap OF
peculiar pattern, but he Is sometimes seen on
upper Broadway without even that protec-
tion and then 1t Is observed that he Is slightly
bald and has profusion OF iron-gray locks
on the side of his head, which get blown about
by the wind, and this, no doubt, gives rise to
the belief that he is demented.
Nothing can be farther from the truth, as
his singular but interesting story, coherently
and pleasantly narrated to q representative
Of the Star, will prove.
There Is large shop for the sale of cakes
and bonbons in the vicinity OF the Park Thea
ire. 1t Is simply what in olden times we
called bakery, where dougbnuts, ginger
nuts, crullers and pie can be bought. But the
enterprising shopkeeper has fitted his win
dows with French confectionery and canned
sweets. and the lady promenaders who sweep
IL. hat In off no
can go In there and nibble the nutritious
doughput or peck the gingerbread that cheers
but not inebriates, without being suspected OF
anything baser than purchase OF gum-drops.
It is In this rendezvous OF hungry beauty
that the scanty red fez Of Dir. Dale CLEANS
every morning rs he takes his frugal lunch OF
cold crulerS. And 1t was there that the Star
representative caught him the other day.
hWhy, moo" he said, drawlingly but anna
bly,: II don't object to telling you my story.
BIZ, 1t amazes me to hear that there Is all in
telligent man in New York that does not
know it, Here I've been publicly fighting
gorgon Of civilization, actually sacrificing
myself on public platform Tor over two
years. and the representative OF q great paper
comes and asks me who | am and what I'm
This was said with benignant smile but
there was an expression in his eyes that be-
trayed the man Of stern Will.
Come into the Teading-room OF the hotel
on the corner" he added, as he swallowed the
last mors i Of cruler, dand | will tell you
what every citizen of this country ought to
know"
lows: ION the morning OF the twenty-sixth
OF May, 1875, about 10 o'clock, was crossing
Madison park. 1t was 81 delicious spring
morning. The birds were singing In the crisp
foliage, and the walks were alive with romp-
ing children. / had come across from TWEEN
ty-sixth street (where | live in unusC slly
buoyant spirits. / remember that / was
thinking, as entered the park, of the duties
OF the individual to society, and saying to
myself how much more security under the
laws we should have IL every man would sac
rifice u little time and take little trouble to
stand up stoutly In his own person for q prin-
Ciple. | suppose this train OF thought had
been started by q sermon had listened to the
day before on the decline OF public spirit, or
1t may have originated in an editorial whose
impression was even more recent, and which
argued with rare force that we could have no
guarantees that justice would be executed by
public officials until the citizen himself took
pains to array himself on the side Of law and
Justice, even when 1t involved some inconve-
nience to himself.
81 was. say, bordering these things, when
a gust of spring air lifted my hat and blew 1t
suddenly upon one OF the grass-plots OF the
park.
Joining the merry children in laughter at
my own expense, skipped nimbly over one
Of the benches to reclaim 1t, when rough
hand was laid upon my shoulder, and gruff
voice said:
"'You must not go on the grass
81 saw that it was an officer. | was in just
the mood to be pleased with his promptitude
and zeal, and while | complimented him [
called his attention playfuliy TO my hat.
"'Can't help that, he said my orders are to
let nobody go on the grass"
"There was merry chorus OF children, and
n sense OF the absurdity OF the position made
me join them again In their laughter.
TtH n o. "A , xrtI1 sanE
allow me to recover my hat you will not OBJ.
ject to fetching 1t for me Ii pay you for itY
He replied, MY orders are not to go on the
grass.
"'Then you will neither permit me 20 get it
nor get it yourSelfY
II amt got no judicial power. | only exc
cute the law and obey ORDERS be said. Then
he pulled out his club.
'f'But what am | to do2 Surely you must
acknowledge that am entitled to recover nay
hat
"I don't know answered the fellow. L
'spose you'll have to apply to the commits
slOner Of parks for permit
"'But where Is the keeper2h9 certainly
will 20 on and get 1t for me2
"'No. he won't. You see IL he vas to fetch
all the hats these boys'd keep him pacing all
day.
II began to see that this was one OF those
rare cases IN which an innocent man becomes
the victim OF literal construction. 1t WAS no
use arguing with the officer. In fact. the
officer arrayed me against the law, and I'M
dertook to advise me.
"'You don't want co have me broke for
dom my duty do your he said. And you
don't look like man that wants to violate
tho ordinances neither. Why don't you take
the easiest way, then3 Just step into bus
and 90 down to the park commissioners and
get an orderY
There was justice in what he said. Should
/ abandon my hat? Ny nature rebelled at
the thought. Besides, there was valuable
paper in IT, No, this was one OF these cases
In which citizen should seek the provided
channels of justice with determination.
II went to the Office Of the park commits
sioners bareheaded.
at seemed undignified for me to buy an
other hat, when the one / should be wearing
was |, ing there, with the exultant sparrow5
hopping in and around 1t.
after much searching, found the presi-
dent Of the Board of Park Commissioners an
affable and sympathetic gentleman, who in