The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-07-25
THE LAST OF THE B'HOYs.
Modern Folk Get Glimpse of the Kind Of
Rough.of Generation Gone.

dressing himself to the first man he met,
asked:
Can I go to Blocker street this
wayP"
Accident had thrown him in the way
Of Bowery b'hoy, who replied after the
manner of his kind: "Well, l CUES you
kin, sonny, if you berhave Yourself"
The Bowery boy and, in fact, every
variety of the New York rowdy of
twenty-five years ago, was picturesque
and in some respects admirable as COM
pared with the tough of to-day. The
rough characters of that day did not find
1t inconsistent with their dignity to work
for their living. They were mechanics,
painters, butchers, newsdealers, printers,
hatters, vendors, and, in fact, followed
any and all callings. They even rem
dered themselves extra useful by work
ing in the Volunteer Fire Department
a service they were nearly all very fond
of. When they were not at work they
got their high silk hats out and aired
them magniiicently, carrying them tilt
ed on one ear, often over flannel shirt,
topped boots. A tough was not a tough
if he did not have high hat for evening
and Sunday wear. They were ire
mendous and incessant fighters, but
their fists were the weapons they pre-
ferred. They drank and gambled, but
they did not necessarily steal, and twas
not at all beneath their idea of dignity,
OF al Fl, 70 Ot1t.t
the pretty girls of their acquaintance,
marry them, treat them well, and sup
port them in comfort.
1t is astonishing how almost COM
pletely they have disappeared. There
are few yet to be found in Washington
Market and there are others over in the
Ninth Ward and in the old shipyard
district, but they dress very nearly like
the men they meet every day, and it is
only by little signs, the way they pro-
nounce certain words, the angle at
which they wear their hats, the black
silk scarfs tied in enormous bows that
they cling to like death, and such triAes,
that one who used to know them by the
hundred can now pick out these few
survivors.
One of them rode over to Brooklyn in
the bridge cars yesterday. His big silk
bowknot, the red stockings that were
revealed by flaring trousers and low
shoes, his broken nose and old-school,
smooth-shaven, typical Bowery boy
face betrayed him. Even the old famil-
lar impudent curl of his upper lip re-
NAMED with him, and when he spoke to
a stranger he first looked him over and
then called him either "cully'' or
boss" according as the PERSONS APP
pearance impressed him. He was two
thirds tipsy. A new broadcloth suit
and massive chain and finger ring
showed him to be prosperous. His
wife, a substantial, jolly looking woman,
walked by his side with little girl of
ten or eleven years beside her. Her
dress caught in a projection from
valise on the car floor and she had to
stop and free herself. The owner of the
valiSe apologized, and assisted her in
disengaging her dress.
By the time the old-fashioned tough
missed his wife from his side she was
about ready to move on after him. He
saw that something unusual had detain-
ed her, and, installing the cause, put
himself in readiness for fight.
1t was amusing to watch him. He
first showed astonishing sOlicitude for
his wife's comfort, got her seated, saw
the little girl comfortable by her side,
and then sat on the extreme edge of an
: adjoining seat, and adjusted his hat so
nearly on one side of his head that it
seemed marvel that it did not fall off.
His eyes flashed, his upper lip curled,
and he glanced at the man with the va
lise.
"Win I chaw him up, Gussie?" he
whispered to his wife. 81.
"Who, TomP What's the matter?"
the woman asked in some alarm.
"Who? Why, dergalloot what stop
ped yer. Give us the right of it, Gussie,
an then I'll let the sawdust out of him.
What d d he doPn
Between his sentences he glared most
fiercely at the man with the valise, who
was reading a paper, and was calmly
unconscious of the fighting mans exist
ence.
"Why, he's all right" said the wife
in still lower tone than he had used,
she acted very gentlemanly'-and then
she explained what had happened
Gradually the old rowdy's face bright
ened up, and a smile took the place o.
the frown. He arose and went INSTEAD
ily over to the man with the valise, anC
attracted his attention by giving him {
whack between the shoulders tina
seemed hard enough to loosen his teeth
You've just had marry escape,
said the old-fashioned tough, laughing
hoarsely-"a marry 'scape bergosh. 4
minute more and I'd took you up ant
broke you over my knee. thought yo'
done something rude to my old woman
Big, but yer didn't do no SIGH thing
did your No, indeed, you didn't AnC
yer wouldn't, would yer2 Cause II
chaw man up for less'n that-Iwould
b'goshl"
After entreating the man to stel
,.;orbt off and have q drink and heinz