National Republican., 1883-12-18
A FALLEN STAR.
The Old, Old Story Of Departed Greatness
Yelled in Mystery.
"OId Nosey," the Bootbiacls's Friend, and
the Ignoranps scribe.

A queer little old man. with struggling white
locks and form bent almost double by age, has
been familiar spectacle In the public parks OF
Washington for several months. He has studi-
ously avoided announcing his proper name on
any occasion, and Is known only by the slang
titles of "nosey" and 'old man." The former APP
pellation was given him by the street .gamns,
among whom he is well known. II was doubtless
suggested by his prominent aud almost beak. like
Roman nose, which Is a distinguishing feature OF
this otherwise human oddity. During the summer
months his lodging place was oil setees IN the cly
parks. The chilly blasts of winter have denied
him that privilege now, and now the olu man
IS compelled 70 seek quarters where JACK F,oss Ss
absolute frgidty He was met by a reporter OF
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN yesterday in front OF
an uptown restaurant. handful Of crackers and
cheese, which he munched at rapid intervals,
told the story OF his raid on some free lunch coun-
tersv at, t. ,,,,vo, n tho ronor,or,,
interroRatory; "you have not been misinformed.
My name figures many times IN the histories OF
the United States. Beyond that Will not say.
Your looks tell me thatyou do not understand my
motives for thus concealing my identity. The
answer Is simple. Pride-manhoodl Is not that
The last words were uttered in an emotional,
almost tragical manner. They revealed, too, that
the speaker was man Of more than ordinary In
"But / am not yet beggar, sir not yet" he
continued, in a scarcely less emotional manner,
Sy They have
forsaken old Nosey,' as l have been good ma
turedly ohristened by them. The boys bring me
tiers tor them aud sometimes make out bills.
carry my tools with me- (Here he produced bot
S PEN And note P%p1S from
ter ranges from 10 10 25 cents. Business is never
very brisk though for illiterate people have very
little correspondence"
The reporter here hinted desire to know where
"Whers do sleep at night9 Well, I hardly
lodging places is long. In Railways sometimes
aud oflei in the corridors Of second-rate hotels
wstchmen all knew the old man and nd never lew inter.
fered with him. You don't know how pleasant
twas, The cool, sighing breezes. glorious sun,
mellow crimson through the leafy coyerets over
head. Then the pretty little birds, hopping
about with merry chirps or singing sweet
To awake amidst such scene was glorious.
Why even my morning wash at the fountain was
ms om he Tis ho
water, and made 1t appear as delicate cologne
emitted from an enchanted fountain, more mystic
Nights" But the play is over now. Grim winter,
with Icy locks and freezing blasts, has curtained
me me cnts sSsne w'a w ashea oI0uo ang OF ana nd
probably never to enjoy such beauties OF nature
again. This old frame cannot stand much more.
Cold winter is relentness. Death and winter are
conspirators In common cause. To the poor,
winter is an enemy-doath q friend"
"why do 1 not seek lodgings, In the station
houses? Because to do that would be to announce
myself vagrant aud TO mingle with tramps. l
am neither, sir, but gentleman, poor almost to
deaths door, but proud to the very parlor OF the
palace
Hcre he was considerably agitated, and his long
bony forcfnger involuntarily pointed toward the
capitol building as he said, in husky tone:
"Why, sir, l was once leader in that But l
forget. l must not tell secrets now My diary
will reveal all both military and civil and 1t will
request that my body be not Inferred in the pot
ter IS field for am proud even unto DEATH"
Come, on, Nosey." interrupted a newsboy
there's a cullud man wot wants yer to write 0
letter fer him, an he's goin' to pay yer in hard
cash, too"
The invitation was accepted with q pleasant
"Good-day, SIR" and the old congressman, states
man, and general perhaps, amblcd along behind
his little friend, and turned out Of sight into q
neighboring alley.