St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-16
THE TOWN TATTLER.

silence save now and then the fervent invoca-
ton of lonely feline. 1t was night for
love. The cans and empty beer bottles in the
alley glistened in the moonlight like the rim
Piles OF Lake Como, and the soughing of the
wind in the branches was as musical as an
-Eolian harp. He had been there to dinner
and his beautiful red countenance had caused
| the insurance man TO consult his table of
rates several times. The embarrassment of
his manner was suggestive, although the fur
tive chances he cast upon Miss Jones left lit
tie for mere suggestion. They had been on
the back porch since dark Miss JONES' I
heard him say, in that voice peculiar to con-
fessions OF love and great crimes. "YOu
probably see that I am embarrassed to-
night"
Yes Oh, no indeed, not in the least"
81 am, though, and all on your account
''Mine? Why, how ridiculous!''
Miss Jones, or Hattie, if 1 may say so, I
am going 20 ask aquestion which may offend
your (''nOt that, am sure very softly
from Miss j. ''but have known you some
time, and have done everything in the
world TO cure myself, but without success"
Here followed long silence. very irritating
to man who was anxious to learn how the
thing was done. Finally it was broken by
the lady.
Perhaps It was ordained that you should
not be cured wish that could reproduce
the assuring tone in which this was uttered.
GOD forbid" was the pious but seemingly
irrelevant response. ''YOu are cured, are you
notg''
II hardly know what you mean. II feel
so very funny"
''why-why, your feet, you know, Miss
ones"
A ,1s-,, Il
over the back fence and with unsteady steps
took its way towards the Tivoli.
-
Going down Third street the other day, I
was preceded by a man whose figure bore evil
dent signs of belonging to a granger. He
carried loosely in his hard what might have
passed for d trunk, but which was neither a
valise nor carpet-sack. 1t was a long.
wooden box. and, although il would hold a
ton of hay, its probable contents were paper
''dickey' and a pair of stout boots, provided
in case Of rain. He walked along quite rap
idly until he had passed the Merchants, when
he slackened his pace and commenced looking
for something. Seeing the sign. ''Cut Rate
Tickets" he started for the door, but he
might as well have started for the moon. His
chances of reaching there would have been
as good. A tribe of runners surrounded
him instantly, and their hOWls could
be heard n block away. This way, sir
for your railroad tickets THAT man will
cheat you" This fellow has been arrested
for swindling countrymen." keep your
hands on your pockets while that red-headed
cuss is about" The miserable ruralite was
frightened out of his wits, as well he might
have BEEN He forgot all about his contem-
plated purchase and tried with the energy of
desperation to escape his tormentors. The
last L saw of him he was still elbOwing and
pushing his way down Third street, pursued
and surrounded by the hungry crowd of ticket
scalpers.
-
II reminded me of the halcyon days of yore
when an arrival at the union depot always
furnished work for two or three hacks, his
baggage going in one and himself in another,
and generally to different hotels. A few
days ago / saw that the old fires were
not extinguished, merely smOulderiug. A
careful and business-like traveller was bar
gaining with a hackman at the union depot
to take him TO the Merchants. The regular
price was two dollars $50 the Jehu said, but
in consideration OF business being dull he
would do the job for $3.50. The bargain was
struck and the astute stranger was driven
up Sibley street at a furious pace. / sup
pose that the enterprising driver took his
load to its destination on the principle that
the longest way round is the shortest way
home"
-
Despite the assurances we have that "a
pOliceman's lot is not happy one" there are
divers and sundry people in st. Paul who
would gladly exchange the plain habiliments
of private citizen for the blue coat, brass
buttons and other insignia of office which
distinguish the stipendiary guardian of the
public peace. More than 400 applications for
positions on the police force are on file in the
mayors Office, and the fact that there are no
vacancies does not seem to influence appl-
cants in the least. All the applications are
Endorsed by influence" of one sort or an
other, and each applicant looks in now and
then TO see how his little matter is progressing.
-
Calls of this sort keep the mayors affable
private secretary from growing lonesome
When he is not entertaining applicants for
positions on the police force, he can give his
time to begYars, peddlers, people who want
passes, seekers after the mayors signature,
politicians, newspaper men. strangers in
search of information, women who have
lost their husbands, husbands who have lost
their wives, wOrkingmen who want to know
pardons or dog licenses, the irrepressible
genius with a little theory as to how the city
ought 10 be run, and others of that ilk He
can do his corresponding. at night or when he
is not busy.
-
The other day five young workingmen from
Chicago paid the mayors Office a visit They
were victims of some employment agency in
the latter city, where they had been guaran-
teed employment in Dakota at a dollar and a
half per day and half-fare rates to the point
of destination. They came through 10 ST.
Paul according to contract, but at this point
they were asked full rates to go beyond, and a
deficiency in funds brought the expedition
first to a halt and next TO the mayors Office.
They wanted his honor to intercede for them
and secure half-rate tickets.
80
Why these strapping, able fellows should
ask the city TO assist them is a business prob
lem somewhat beyond the average compre-
hensiou. The town is red with signs Offering
employment on farms or railroads to day
laborers, and there is no manner OF reason
for an able-bodied man being idle in st. Paul
a day. OF course our jobbers are not run
ming up and down the streets seeking 1nan-
cially-Stranded gentlemen to manage their
business for them, but when the choice is be-
tween begging Il quarter and shouldering a
shovel, an honest man should not hesitate.
-
OF drummers. Not long ago a train on a
Irty of five St. Paul commercial travellers.