The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-12-10
TOUGHs OF NEW YORK.
A Saturday Night Scene In u Bowery Ill
Hard Room.

The smoke of six big cigars curled
slowly upward from the mouths of six
boys who stood around grcen-toppcd
pool-table in Bowery saloon last night.
Each one had n cue in his hand, and
looked lcarnedly at the loose-trousered
bartender, who distributed tickets for
irirk among the participants in the
ga'r which had just ended. On the
val were pictures of actresses and
prizy fighters, while over the dirty bar
wuag 4 work of art which might be
.aRra cithcr as portrait of the pro-
prielor or II remarkably good likeness
IF the chmpa1zee in the Central Park
mcnagere. F,vo of the boys wore
light leg raimcnt, and the lower limbs
If tie sixth was attired in pair of sky
blue bags, from which wandered two
ample feet. Standing few feet from
Tie able was n youth on whose dimin-
utiye form was arrayed bright plaid
suit, set off by brass horseshoe pin
and an "Ah thcre!' hat, which was
tipped eloGuently over his left eye. One
foot was thrown forward, with his heel
IN the door and the toe in the air,
while both thumbs were stuck in the
arm-holas of the plaid vest. The rest
If the boys paid great respect to this
Young person, and called him ''Pete. !"
The party represent 1.-The little toughs
Of New York" the rising generation of
| criminals.
When the colored balls were corraled
into the shape of 4 pyramid, the tallest
boy laid his cigar on a shelf where none
Of the others could reach it, and made
the opening shot with reckless energy.
Then bow-legged member of the par
ty sqlintcd along the tops of the balls
like a civil engineer looking through a
throdolite. Finally his cue shot for
ward, and a purple ball rolled into the
pocket. The player looked at Pete,
who laughingly remarked:
Good. You're comm on. Dat was
a ringer. Play der seven-ball across
to der side pocket
The 5ow-legged boy s1uintcd through
the imaginary eodolite again and
shook HI, head doubtfully.
"No cross, no crown" suggested
Pete. Oats what der bloke with der
white necktie says"
The cross-shot was attempted, and
proved TO be success. Three balls
were sent into the pocket in succession,
and then the player made miss, leoy-
ing the balls in favorable position for
the next boy, who remarked that twas
q good "lcavr
"Nu'hin' bat leaves, observed Pete,
as he aotepio d cigar from an admirer.
dis onacientiIic play makes me sick.
Now. deere a Shot anyone cud MAKE,
and it'll be missed, sure"
The tall boy bet drinks with the next
player On the shot
MAKE it for der crowd said IA thin
little fellow who basked in Pete's smiles.
The SUGGESTION was received with i'm
mcnsc ayor by the onlookerS, and the
better, reluctantly consented When
the play rnlissed the shot, Pete drank
brandy.
For thee hours the game went on,
and AT IT, end Of each contest the bar
tender distributed green tickets for
drinks 10 the boys. They loungcd
around the room, drank beer, smoked
cigars, apd listened to the decision, Of
Pete OF the technical points Of the
game Then they discussed Edwin
Booth AL John l.. Sullivan. for both
of whom great respect was shown.
The tail boy bet drinks that Grant was
sure Of election, and Pete decided that
ne had Won. whcreat the tall boy said
that Pc would yet be n member of
the board Of aldermen, remark which
was not resented. Two Of the com
pany daHcad double shuttle and were
thrcalc 4 with election by the bar
tender the ground that lhGy were
iutcTu' ny the business OF the house.
One Of q lads drank 50 much beer
that he cred to fight Pete. He was
at nee .izcd by the collar and GER
tain pcr on of his trousers and as
sisted e he sidewalk in hurry by the
bartender. The boy looked astonished
when i cached the street. for the bar.
tender wfS not specific in the contract
nor nominated in the bond which he
had proposed.
BY midnight the party stood at the
bar steadily drinking beer and pocket
ing cigar4 until every ticket had been
cH,hed. Petc's "Ah there hat was
tilted very much more over his left eye,
while with the right eye he watched the
tall boy counting up handful of silver
coin. Just as the company was leav-
Ing the saloon Pete smoothed his plaid
snit and whispered to the tall boy, and
led him back to the pool table.
I'm tell yer what I'll do he said,
with benevolent look, 'I'll betch a
dollar kin beat yer in nice soshble
game wouldn't play wild der rest of
der gang. Most Of dem are skins and
dunno what honesty is"
Two one dollar bills were solemnly
laid in the barkecper's hands and the
game commenced. The tall boy put
in four ball, at the start by delicate
strokes. Then Pete took Off his jacket
and chalked his cue. The tall boy cx-
amncd the rack to count his score, and
while his back was turned Pete pushed
the fourteen ball into the pocket
with his hand, and remarked as his OPP
poncnt looked around.
"Dat was hair-curler, me boy
didn' tink cud fetch it,
Then he missed the next shot. The
tall boy made another ball and went to
the bar TO settle disputed account.