The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-05-23

In Mr.. Cables current novel there ~ an
incident that will come home with force TO
the jewellers In large cities as an illustra'
ton OF the practical beartlessnees OF In.
tramual life. Among the interesting types
strongly and intelligently defined In the
book Is that nj John Rlchling. n man OF
peculiarly refined ssnsibilities, a gentle.
mandy birth and education, possessed OF
all tho qualities that make mp nm honorable
aud pure manhood. He 10, however, do
iicient In business tact, one OF those un.
happily constituted creatures who do not
know how TO make the best use OF their
contact with the world, or gain u selfish
advantage In their dealings with men.
Through a series OF mlsforlunesv very natural
10 the experience OF such man he Is re.
ducod to the last strait OF destltution, UNI
able to profit by the education or strength
he would gladly devote 10 any nort OF re.
spectacle labor however onerous or below
his proper plane OF employment. There IL
a friend OF u practical but sympathetic
character, willing and DESTROYS TO aid the
man who has dfifted beyond his personal
knowledge, and, exhausted from lack OF
food and mental suffering, Richllng an.
peals TO this good DR.. Sewer. They are
10 meet ut the hotel. Richling arrives be.
fore the doctor has como In, and, weak and
iainting, sits down upon the steps TO await
the coming of his former friend. He pree.
emily falls asleep, and while enjoying this
Temporary relief from the burden OF his
miseries, police officer percelves him.
The policeman. with but one'sided con.
sciouspess OF the sub-stratum OF society,
sees only the absolute vaRrsnt, stupid from
drink. uo roughly seiEes the sleeping man
by the collar and violently shakes him.
Suddenly aroused from elumbor, but hall
awake, wholly ignorant OF the police privi-
leges and the sancti;y OF the uniform, Rich
ing only remembers that he Ia gentle.
man extensively assaulted. He obeys the
first and natural impulse OF his nature. lilo
strikes tho policeman, This resistance
gives ample excuse for the use OF the billy
The half-statved and physically prostrattd
wretch is dubbed into insensibility.
crowd gathers and looks on with customary
careless curiosity. The man, still unoon-
scious, 10 flung into wagon and carted
away. At that moment DR.. SEWER comes,
caatB a glance over the crowd comprehends
In that glance the conditions OF an ordinary
arrest, aud hurriedly goes up the steps TO
meet the friend 1t is his hope to succor.
That which gives force and interest TO this
scene is it's absolute fidelity TO class OF in
cIdentg with which most OF us
in the city are too familiar. Scarcely a
day passes that is not marked by an arrest
answering, In all essential respects, to MIR.
Cables description. The TWO principles M
yolved are, first, the aggressive antagonism
of the police toward those who infringe
police regulations without reference to
cause; and, second, the utter indifference OF
the throne TO the plea OF human sympa.
thy. On neither side is there an attempt
to ascertain the true condition OF circum-
stances, and no one knows or seems to care
whether or not the man IN custody 10 &C.
serving of compassionate regard and gentle
treatment. II he Is helpless the .presump
ton is always against him, it being easier
for crowd TO think man
drunk than believe him to be Ill.
Policemen have no thought OF being
brutal or crowds OF being uncharitable, per-
haps, but 1t 10 the entire absence OF thought
iulness that works the injury. Too hastily
reaching a judgment on the merits OF
case of the kind in point often casts unde-
served contumely upon persons OF real re.
spectability lg,d refinement, in spite OF the
apparent absence OF these qualities. III Is
not always practical for individuals from
,hroag to step forward to interfere, even
with tho most humane motives, for 1t 10 TOO
much the rule that police officers ere In
clined TO resent any such overtnres as
being unduly ofiicious, an indication
of FRESHNESS" they are not disposed to
approve. But II Is possible to adopt
more considerate manner in taking charge
OF persons who may become subject TO
police attention; and II Is gross wrong for
those servants OF the public who are sup
treat every man upon whom they may lay
hands Us though he were hardened rufiian
or a creature Incapable OF the feelings that
are common to human nature. 1t Is rarely
they encounter sufficient resistance to war.
rant the use OF the club, and there is no In
stance where they are justified in bundling
a man into the patrol wagon as If he
wera sack Of potatoes. Policemen
are prone to regard every man as
an actual or possible criminal. They
are not apt to make any liberal allowance
for misfortune. misery, or sickness 10 be
ragged, money less, ana homeless is to show
them an Indictment against moral charac.
ter, and they would laugh to scorn the
assum ption that with these evidences OF
material wretchedness there could be any
delicacy Of sentiment or sensitiyeness OF
feeling. The incident narrated BY Mr.. Gable
may have q good effect because II concerns
characters readers will esteem and respect,
and from the fsnciiul condition 1t Is no
difficult matter to gather better consider
alton tor the hard reality that may have
behind it just as much suffering Of heart
end agony Of soul,