The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-23
Nothing Left but Pride.

SllnR Wnlto locks anu lUIh uO"'
almost double by age. has been
familiar spectacle in the public parks
of Washington for several months.
He has studiously avoided announc-
ing his proper name on any occa-
sion, and is known only by the slang
titles of "nosey" and "old man."
The formerappeIlation was given him
by the street gamins, among whom
he is well.known. 1t was doubtless
suggested by his prominent and al
most ak.like Roman nose, which
is a distinguishing feature of this
otherwise human oddity. During the
summer months his lodging place
was on settees in the city park. The
chilly blasts of winter have denied
him that privilege now, and now the
.'old mani is compelled to seek quar-
ters where Jack Frost cannot force
the temperature down to point of
absolute frigidity. He was met by a
reporter in front of an uptown res
taurant. A handful of crackers and
cheese, which he munched at rapid
intervals, told the story of his raid
on some free lunch counter.
Eyes, sir" he said, in answer to
the reporters interrogatOry; 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 that
you do. not understand my motives
for thus concealing my identity. The
answer is simple. PrIde-manhood
Is not that sufficient?"
The last words were uttered in an
emotional, almost tragical manner.
They revealed. too, that the speaker
was a man of more than ordinary in
telligence and learnin
"But l am not yet beggar, sir !;
not yet" he continued, in scarcely
less emotional manner, "although l
am very, very poor. The bnotbIacks
and newsboys are my friends. They
have not yet forsaken 'OId Nosey,' as
l have been good.naturedIy christen-
ed by them. The boys bring me GUS
toners, people who cannot write, and
l write letters for them, and sOme-
times make out bills. carry my tools
with me. Here he produceda a bottle
of ink, pen, envelopes, and notepaper
from an inside coat pocket.) My
charge for writing letter ranges from
ten to twenty-five cents. Business is
never very brisk, though. for litter
ate people have very little corre-
spondence."
"Where do 1 sleep at night? Well
l hardly know how to answer that
question. Ny list of lodging places
is long. In Railways sometimes, and
often in the corridors of secOnd-rate
hotels. During the summer time
slep in the parks. The watchmen
all know the old man and never in-
terfered with him. You don't know
how pleasant it was. The cool, sigh
ing hreezes, glorious sunsets, shower.
ing their baths of golden beauty and
mellow crimson through the leafy
cOverlets overhead. Then the pretty
little birds, hopping about with mer-
ry chirps or singing sweet songs to me
from swaying boughs. To awake
amidst such scene was glorious.
Why. even my morning wash at the
fountain was grand and refreshing.
The air laden with perfume from the
flowers impregnated the very water,
and made it appear as delicate cologne
emitted from an enchanted fountain
more mystic, and heavenly than any
described in the "Arabian Nights
But the play is over now. Grim win
ter, with icy locks and freezing blasts
has curtained the scene with murky
ashen clouds. and of all the actors in
those scenes alone ar. left. and prob
ably never to enjoy such beauties o
nature again. This old frame can
not stand much more. Cold winter
is relentless. Death and winter ART
conspirators in common cause. Tt
the poor, winter is an euemy-death
a friend."
"Why do ] not seek lodgings a
the station house? Because to do tina
would be to announce myself VA
grant and to- mingle with tramps,
am neither, sir. but gentleman, poo
almost to deaths door, but proud t
the very parlor Of the palace"
! Here he was considerably agitate'
and his long, bony forefinger invol
unfairly pointed toward the capitO
building, AS he said in husky tones
"Why, sir, l was once leader i
that--But forget. | must not te
secrets now. My diary will reveF
all, both military and civil, and
will request that my body be not IL
tered in the potler's field, for / al
proud even untO.death."
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