The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-25
MIDNIGHT MEMORIES.
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLICE
AND PRESS.
How an Officers Bad Ear for Music Got n
Couple OF Newspaper-M Men In Trouble,
and How n Good Witness and an
Impartial Court Got Them
Ont Again.

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repotOrial force Is in Lyncbburg to-day"
remarked friend yesterday. "and sup
pose you are having quiet time"
The remark brought out compliments to
the absentees, who were sweating over
heated tables at the Lynchburg Democratic
Convention, recalled the void made by fre-
quent loans of knife and pencil when they
were present, caused a sigh OF relief at the
escape from chinning incurred, and
brought to mind an episode, the particulars
whereof have never appeared in print.
About the close OF the heated term last
year, and at that time Of the month when
wit is on the wane, the moon being full,
and at the time OF night when all Rich
mond nearly has gone to bed, lonely re-
porter was making his way homeward.
The sound OF song attracted his attention,
and q nearer approach In the direction OF
It disclosed q group OF jewellers standing
under the garish light Of the gas that lit up
Il frst-clasS saloon on the corner OF we'll
known thOrOughfare and cross street that
is as much travelled as any in the city.
1t was a good, Jolly crowd-a city Off
cial, a correspondent OF northern paper
"a fine companion, Just returned from the
springs). another newspaper-mln (the Ncs-
tor Of the press Of Richmond), and brace
OF brave spirits good at joke, and ready to
stand whatever turn the cl;rrent Of events
might bring to surface.
MERRY AT MIDNIGHT.
81 went in," said the reporter who told
the story. land OF course a cordial well
come was given orr friend from the
springs, mingled with hand-shakingS and
something cool 10 drink. and followed by
song in the most approved style that
NJ Uhe returned correspondent could
command"
The city official was clean gone on
when the Roses Come Again." lie al
WAYS keeps level head and has Il fair tenor
voice. George Wilde once said had "a
tenor robuSto squeak" but at any rate /
Joined in and led the air OF the popular
song: and in little while we had a merry
auartctte, NJ taking the bass IN the hap
picst style, the volume and tone OF his voice
being wonderfully adapted TO this part.
1t was such a success that a sercnade WAS
proposed. and as there dwclt hard by 4
lover OF opera, we rendered him the first
benefit. Before beginning we took the pre-
caution TO get close under the caves
OF the building, for when people throw
from q window they generally stand back
some distance inside and throw straight
out TO the front. The precautQn was
needless on this occasion, rs the object OF
our compliment was spending the night in
other and perhaps more comfortable quar-
tiers. This discouraged the NeStOr, and he
suggested that we 90 into the saloon and
get some lemon, rcmarking that "itS sue
lculence, when artfully disguised in proper
ingredients, operated handsomely in I'M
parting clearncss TO the voice." and
"oIrs needed it," The sagaciOus old gen.
tleman sOOthed our vanity by saying
THAT he thought the music sufficiently
sweet to move the hospitality OF the
saloon-keeper, but this consideration did
not move us to the task; we went in on
higher ground, and Just as we began on
Z" Wait Till the Clouds Roll BY, Jennie" a
dog-light broke ont across the street. This
so iniurated the tenor that he let down on
his high notes and let fly his broad-brim
felt hat. landing it among the CANNES.
NJ took a hand with his cane. and the
CITY official in making a Catherine Lewis
kick at a terrier came near dislOcating his
knee-ioint. With the usual eternal fitness
OF things, the only man who made no de-
monstration-the NeStor-got snapped on
the shin, either from a stray missile or by
a flving dog, he knew not which.
The opposition defeated. the quartette
sang When the Roses Come Again." and
lust as the last notes were being waited
away on the soft breath OF the morning
SQUAD OP POLICEMEN,
whose slumbers had been disturbed by the
music, rushed up in hot haste and great
excitement and demanded our surrender
for disturbing the peace. We insisted that
there was some mistake, that the noise
complained Of was the dOg-tigbt, that our
singing was not loud, but OF the most ap-
proved order, aud OF style rarely il ever
coualled and worthy of high commenda-
ton. "No, sir" said the spokesman OF
the braSs-and-bue squad, "it want
Il dog-fght nor the Roses Come
Again; you were making night hid
le0us with 'Old Lang Sync,' and
Won know it," This was Il SttInner, and
a storm Of indignant denial followed, re-
sultng in a summary arrest and march
TO the station-hOusc. 1t is but just in this
connection to say, however, that the officer
afterwards confessed his ignorance OF mu-
sic. and admitted that lie couldn't tell
:. old Hundred" from "Yaukce Doodle"
and that the only time he ever attempted a
song was when his mothcr-in-aW died,
when he went out in the back yard and
yelled "All Around the GoOSeberry
Bush" In this connection he cOnfidcn-
italy asserted that the sad event referred
TO SO moved his feelings that he went to a
clothierS and bought a suit from the light
allliction department, at cost price aud Il
discount for cash; obtained three days
furlough, and went on an Adams d Perduc
pic-nic to the new pump-house at Maiden's
Adventure. When we got
TO THE sTATION-HQrsE
the hard-hearted sergeant talked about
locking Us up for the night, but one or two
suggestions in the shape OF an invitation
10 do so by VI -, accompanied with a
cantata, had the affect OF release on bail.
II NJ - had sang through the night there
would probably have been three vacancies
+, on the force next morning-one sergeant
! and two privateS. He sang for friend in
the country once, and mule engaged in
agricultural pursuits In field near by
handed in her coupons, and submitted tC
Riddle-bungliDg readiustment.
+. Next morning found us
AT THE POLICE COURT.
case was being tried, and a witness or
fine stand had pulled of his coat TO testify
fine Court having first squelched a duo
decimo volume OF written testimony which
tbe witness wanted TO read. His counse
made a pathetic appeal that brought tear'
, to his clients eyes when the lawyer as
tribed TO Solomon the words, "HOv
sharper than serpent's tooth it is to have
tbankless child" our case was called
after awhile, and il there is better wit
ness on the top Of the earth than the city
ofic,ol who was along when M and
were arrested, wouldn't like to have hin
, in a case against me.
The policeman talked straight from tn,