Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-11
TRANIP'S PLEA.
Posing rs n Broken Down Club Man
Before "a "SwelI."

From the P4UadelD1ta Pross,
There were four of the new service
stripes on the arm of the policeman who
stood on the corner Of Broad and Walnut
streets early Tuesday morning. He con-
templated them with pride and whistled
an air from the sMikadO" The location
of has beat gives this officer great oppor-
tunities for the study Of opera, both grand
and bouffe, and he has improved them
He stopped his music as a reporter whom
he knew came down Broad street, and re-
marked sententiously: "Catch on the
bum, working the drunken swell" The
police generalize the classes with which
they deal in two words, "bum" and
"crOOk."
Clubs aud cafes abound in the neighbour
hood Of Broad and Walnut. A very tight
man in evening dress had just came out
out OF one o! them, steered with ponderOus
gravity down the steps and stood totter-
Ing ON his heels on the curbstOGe. The
momertous problem was evidently in the
weighing process in his mind as to
whether 10 call a cab or not. His appear
ance was picturesque. His crush hat was
half shut up on his head, and resembled
a concertina in moment Of inspiration
He seemed to be utterly regardless Of the
TACT that the clutch he had made
on his light Overcoat as he came
down the steps was SO far relaxed that the
end of one sleeve remained hanging over
his arm, while the tails, body and other
sleeve trailed hopelessly toward the gut
ter, suggesting in their inebriated outlines
the suicide, by hanging, of a clothing
store dummy. 1t was towards this pic
ture OF ruin that tramp, who had come
up out of Juniper street, was approaching
when the policeman spoke. The two spec
tators Of the scene were near enough to
il to hear what was said.
81 beg your pardon, sir" the tramp be-
gan in a stage whisper but there's an
officer over there, and they're always on
the lookout for a chance TO take advantage
Of a gentleman"
The drunken swell stopped mis- teter in
mid-air, swung back on his heals, con-
templated dive into the gutter, and
asked in a tone through which surprise
struggled with liquor:
''Whathedev' d'ykn0w bout gen (hic)
temony7
'He's Bit said the policeman.
The tramp gave tug at his ragged
vest, thrust his hands into the holes in mis-
trousers which m r. in an undecomposed
state calls pockets, and laughed a sar-
1onic stage laugh.
IL don't look much like a club man, do
I, siri Ha, ha. No, indeed"
The drunken man looked at the tramp,
then at himself, and then give a vin0us
giggle.
"You dom look 'smuoh Ii club man
s'h'i do.D
The encouraged tramp changed the tone
Of his laugh fiom sardonic to hearty.
"You're right sir, you're right. You
90 look like a club man, the way a club
man ought to look at this hour in the
morning. Bless my soul, sir, when | re-
member all the fun I've had coming out
Of that very club at this very time OF
night l think Pve had not such very
hard life after ALL"
The drunken man looked at the tramp
as sharply as he could. Suspicion strug-
gled with rum in his glance as surprise
had with rum in his voice.
"lou're (hic) lyin Tine" he said.
''1'couldn't e'mout thai club, unless y'd
b'nin tha'club. Howdje g'tinY
81 don't suppose you believe me. sir.''
said the tramp, humbly. ~ would have
spared myself the pain Of having you dis
believe me, If | had thought. | wouldn't
have spoken OF my ever having been in
there, but your remark awakened old
memories. That's all, sir"
The drunken man fixed look OF Judi
eial gravity on his face, and firmly pur-
sued his object.
oAN9 uoN' uk z y I'm budCluDE
The tramp's manner changed TO a brisk
man Of the worldly air as he said:
'Wby it's no use my telling YOU: you
won't believe it; but l had the months
liberty of the house there ten years ago
from friend Of mine who was member.
and l suppose l would have nut up if NV
cursed luck hadn't dOwned me-"
The drunken man was now drunkenlv
awake to his duty toward society of in
10 at Inn hao
perate EFFORT he got down into an inside
pocket and produced pencil, then, with
the judicial look more firmly than ever
fixed on his face, he queried:.
'Sher frien's name?7
The tramp mentioned the name of a
man comparatively we'll known In Third
street, who has visited the club in ques-
ton for by far the greater number OF
nights In his life for the last twenty Years.
The drunken man put up his pencil.
Shn0 use putting s'hname down:
knome (hic) we'll"
he went into his pocket after another
struggle, and produced a card case.
~ call M yofiice 5 morning." he said.
handing the tramp bit OF pasteboard.
''G' washed frsh."
The tramp produced the sardonic laugh.
sect washed, sir" he said. who's TO
pay for itf''
The drunken man went on ,nother fish
ing trip IN his pockets ana GOOD green
back
"Heres'h dollar-g'washed.
The tramp's dirty fingers folded over
the bill Il Will, sir" he said. "God
knows don't miss food itself as | do the
chance 70 keep clean"
The drunken man pointed waverIng
hand TO where, by the corner Of Chestnut
street, was a clump of lights,
"Call m cab" he said thickly. The
tramp started. The policeman looked
at his service stripes admiringly once
more and then at the reporter. "That
buns as slick as grease" he said. Eve
seen him working these fellows half a
dozen times before, but never listened
10 how be did it,
Couple wheels ratified loud on the Bel
gan block iVs then. night hawk de.
canted the drunken man in upon the
cushions I'd drove of up Walnut street
with one sleeve Of the light Oyercoat yyav.
Ing out OF the window like the flag which
COmmander-ln-chiei Gov. Pattison orpa-
mented his carriage with at the Grant fi-
Reral.
"Ihat buns taken his bath by this
time" said the policeman chuckling.
A bath" as the policeman called IL. IL
one Of the huge hve-cent drinks Of whisky
which, In slum parlance, is also called a
hummer" The tramps who take "hum.
mers" are said 10 ''drink rats
Princess Marie's Trousseau.
Fro.s ~ y,,y,, mn. ~