The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-02
avid FRESHMAN.


respectable fraction thereof taking its indus
trial way to the opposite shore, and there gain
ing an audience and a hearing in the rather i'm
posing growth and hurly -burly Of its big manu-
factories, and the consequent rapid appearance
of multitudinous neat cottages, tenement houses
and business blocks. stranger, entering South
Bend proper on any ordinary day, will be at
some loss TO account for its very prosperous APP
pearance-its tagged and powdered streets-its
handsome mercantile blocks, banks and busi-
ness houses generally Reasoning from cause to
effect and seeing but meagre sprinkling of peo-
pie on the streets throughout the day, and these
seeming for the most part, merely idlers, and in
no wise accessory to the evident thrift and opu-
lence of their surroundings, the observant
stranger will be puzzled at the situation But
when evening comes, and the outlying foun-
dries, sewing machine wagon, plow, and other
works, together with the paper,mills and all
the nameless industries when the operations OF
all these are suspended for the day and the
workmen and workwomen loosed from labor
then, as this vast army suddenly inyades
and overhows bridge, roadway, street and
lane, the startled stranger viii fully comprehend
the why and wherefore of the city's high pros
perity. And once acquainted with the people
there, the fortunate sojourner will find no ordi-
nary culture and intelligence, and, as certainly
he will meet with a social spirit and whole
souled heartiness that viii make the place
lasting memory. The town, too, is the homo OF
many world known notables, and host of local
celebrities, the chief of which latter class
found, during my stay there, in the person of
Tommy Stafford, or THE Wild Irishman" as
everybody called him.
ssTalk Of odd fellows and eccentric characters,
said Major Blowney, my employer, one after
noon, you must see our Wild Irishman here
before you say you've yet found the queerest,
brightest cleverest chap in all your travels.
What dye say, Stockfordr And the Major
paused in his work of charging cartridges for his
new breech-loading shotgun and turned to
await his partners response.
Stockford, thus addressed paused above the
shield sign he was lettering, slowly smiling as
he dipped and trailed his pencil through the
ivory black upon bit of broken glass and said,
in his deliberate, half-absent-minded way,-s1s
it Tommy you're telling him aboutF and then,
with gradual broadening of the smile, he went
on, We'll l should say So Tommy What's
come Of the fellow, anyways l haven't seen him
since his last bout with the mayor, on his trial
for shakin' up that fast horse man
'sIhe fast-horse man got just exactly what
he needed, too said the genial Major, laugh
ing, and hopping his perspiring brow
''The fellow was barkln' up the wrong stump
when he tackled Tommy! Got beat in the trade
at his own game, you know, and wound up by
an insult that no Irisman would take; and Tom
my just naturally wore out the hall carpet of
the old hotel with him!''
-sAnd then collared and led him to the may
or's Office himself, they sayr
"Oh, he dda said the Major, with dash of
pride in the confirmation; that's Tommy all
overp
Funny trial, wasn't it!' continued the rurni-
mating Stockfordls
Wasn't it thought laughed the Major ''The
porter's testimony: You sec, he was for Tommy,
of course, and on examination testified that the
horse-man struck Tommy first And there
Tommy broke in witll He's a5neanin' well.
your Honor, but he's lynn to ye-he's lyin' to We.
No livin' man liver struck me irst-nor last,
nayther, for the matter o that And thought
-the-court- would-die!T concluded the Major,
Ill a like imminent state of merriment.
YES, and he said if he struck him first sup
plemented Stockford, he'd ike to know why
the horse-inan was swearn' all the black ewes
and the blood, and the boomps on the head of
UNI And it's that talk Of his that got him off
with so light a tinea
As it always does said the Major coming to
himself abruptly and looking at his watch
Stock, you say you're not going along with our
duck-shooting party this time? The old Kan
kakee is just lousy with EN- this season.
Cant go possibly said Stockford, mot on
account of the work at ALL but the folks at home
amt just as well as I'd like to see them, and I'll
stay here till they're better. Next time I'll try
and be ready for you. Going to take Tommy,
of courseg
"Of coursel Got to have THE Wild Irishman'
with usl I'm going around to find him now
Then turning to me the Major continued, sup
pose you get on your coat and hat and come
along. It's the best chance you'll ever have to
meet with Tommy. It's late anyhow, and Stock
foidll get along without you. Come on!p
Certainly said Stockford; Go ahead And
you can take him ducking, too, if he wants to
60
But he doesn't want to go-and won't go"
replied the the Major with a commiserative
glance at me. Says he doesn't know duck from
a poil-parrot- how to load shotgun-and
couldn't hit house if he were inside of it and
thetdoor shut Admits that he nearly killed his
uncle once, on the other side of tree, with a
squirrel runnin' down it Don't want him along!r
Reaching the street with the genial Major he
gave me this advice 'sNow, when you meet
Tommy, you mustn't take all he says for dead
earnest, and you mustn't believe, because he
talks loud, and in italics every other word, that
he wants to do all the talking and won't be in
terfered with. That's the way he's apt to strike
folks at first--but it's their mistake not his.
Talk back to him-controvert him wheney er he's
aggressive in the utterance of his opinions, and
II you're only honest in the announcement Of
your own ideas and beliefs he'll like you all the
better for standing by them. He's quick-tem-
pered, and perhaps trihe sensitive, so share
your greater patience with him, and he'll pay
you back by fighting for you at the drop Of the
hat In short, he's as nearly typical Of his OPP
pressed country's brave, impetuous fun-oving
Individuality such a likeness can exist
But is he quarrelsomelg / asked
Not at all There's tine trouble IF he'd only
quarrel there'd be no harm done. Quarrelings
cheap and Tommys extravagant. A big black
smith here, the other day kicked some boy out
Of his shop and Tommy, on bis cart happened