The Evening critic., 1884-08-12
STUDIES oF CHARACTER.
How n Man who Rents Boats OBJ.
serves and Explains Things.


serves ana Explains Things.
well, how's business now 2" asked q
CRITIC reporter, sauntering into tho estab-
lishment Of the despondent boatman who
gave utterance through the columns Of
The CRITIC about ten days ago to some
exceedingly discouraging remarks about
the outlook Of the boat-renting business.
Picking up, picking up some," he 70.
Piled. "Taint SO good as IL used to be, still
it's picking up. We'ro having better
weather now and the couples are 1ocking
to the river more. Some nights now we
have every boat let and demand for more.
oh, we have nothing in particular to com.
plain OF now. It's full moon now, you
know, and that makes right smart sight
Of difference. Lots moro boats hired. It's
harder on us, though" he continued, with
sigh; we're kept up considerably later on
these moonlight nights. Tho people do
stay out 30. The girls seem to prefer moon
light nights so much"
More provocative Of sentiment, l sup
pose" ventured tho reporter.
Yes growlcd the other, "the fact is,
tho girls know they look better In the
moonlight, and they are glad to take ad-
vantage Of IL. Do you know" he resumed,
with an awakened interest, there's big
chance to study character when people go
boating"
mo, is that so 2'
"oh, yes, you can tell what sort of fell
low man is by the way he treats his girl.
When ho takes her rowing, now, for In
stance; one fellow will bring his girl down
here among the boats, stand around with
her while we pull his boat out, or perhaps
let her stand by while he helps, while, IL
he know anything, he'd take his lady to
tho place reserved for her to wait until the
boat is in tho water and everything is
ready. We can tell at once that fellow is
not used to going boating. Then again
some fellows will be so very polite. They're
all bows. Good heavens, how they do
pranco around the shop. You can tell that
they arc in the worst stages. And then
the boxes of caramels and things they bring
for their girls to chew while aping up the
river. But the worst is to sec them help
their girls into tho boats They stick one
foot into the boat to steady 1t, then take
the girls parasol, with one hand take tho
girls hand and with the other hold the
parasol over her while she Is getting in.
Mighty ticklish operation, for sometimes
the boat works little away from the float
and they stand big chance of getting
dump into the river. However, never
saw the thing happen, though have seen
it come mighty near happening. They
generally drop the girl and grab for the
float in time to save themselves. Then
you ought to see how they will hand the
parasol to the girl. Gads, they have TO do
that with bow, too. and before they have
pushed off from the float there's been
enough scraping to wear the float out! 1t
does me-"
How do the girls act 2" inquired the
reporter, rather amused at the cynicism Of
the man.
Just as affected as the fellows. Dear
me, the way they smirk makes me tired.
However, the most of them are good, SEN
sible people. They have como down for a
raw, and they proceed to take it without
any extra foolishness. The girls come in
trim, sensible boating suits. They leave
their satins and silks for parties, and wear
something that an occasional splash from
the water won't hurt. They don't have
any ballroom airs about 1t, either. If
fellow wants to take off his coat or light
cigar, why they don't kick. 1t makes some
girls sick to sec man in his shirt-sleeves.
Faugh they're not the kind to go boating
with. No; you want girl who accommo-
dates herself to circumstances" And with
these brief remarks he returned to his
laudablc efforts to transform cast-off dug
out into one Of the trimmest and crankest
Of working boats.