Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-16

sspSsibly think oil IN connection WIN
hotel, from the bar to the bootoiack'
These. according TO experience, number
about sixty. A pointer does the whole
work. You move 1t TO the articles re-
auIrcd, whether they be one or dozen,
and tie fact is not only instantly indi-
Gated in the Office, but the call remains
in sight until it is answered. The same
arrangement is also applicable to the
telephone in such manner that when
party addressed is absent the an
ncnncement is left standing that he Is
wanted on his return. The principal
hotel people Of the city regard the In
yention as important, and will intro
duce II In their houses whenever it Is
ready, the cost Of the service being not
more than two or three dollars q room
per month. The young fellow wants a
half.miIlion dollars and the control OF
the stock. and, like most inventors,
that's where he is " off his basc.s The
device is operated by electricity.
AN RxTERPRIsIN0 BooTBLAcK.
A brother journalist yesterday re-
lated the following incident, which is
worth publishing as lesson TO boys :
Ten years ago he picked up in the ves-
thule Of the New York Herald Office,
on q stormy winter night, little six
year-old child who was fast asleep be-
hind the stairway. He had failed to
sell his newspapers, lost one Of his
shoes, and was afraid to 60 home to a
cruel step-mother. The editor wrapped
his oyercoat around the waif and car
ried him to a neighboring newsboys'
clearinghouse. He was quite small for
his age, and so handsome that the au-
thorities Of the place expressed a desire
to adopt him, but it seems that the
little chap wanted to shoe his own
row. The journalist was surprised a
week or two later to receive visit from
his young protege. "1've come to
thank you, SIR" said he, "but / don't
want to be 4 newsboy any more /
ant to be a bootblack there's lots in
it." AS the suggestion appeared to be
a good one, an outfit was purchased,
and the benefactor accompanied the
lad to Wall street, where he was intro
duced to number Of brokers and his
brief story related. Since then the
incident had not occurred to the edi-
tors mind, until the other day when,
during a visit to the Exchange, he
was accosted by the usual cry, "Black
your boots, sir?" Looking in the
face Of the tall, manly boy who had
spoken, he recognized in the blue eyes
and curly hair his little friend of ten
years before. In the conversation
which followed he learned that the lad
had steadily pursued his chosen voca-
ton, made many friends, and by his
industry saved nearly 1900, which he
now has in bank. AS soon as the pre-
sent hard times are over a clerkship in
a brokers' Office awaits him as a reward
for his fidelity, and the same enterprise
that has so successfully carried him
thus far may one day make him the
head of great firm. At any rate the
boy has a bright future before him, and
is an example Of what may be accom-
plished by lad who paddles his own
canoe
PoLlTENEss THAT DIDN'T PAY.
THERE'S an old saying that "polite-
ness is like an Observation-Disclosures
there's nothing in it, it eases our jolts
wonderfully" Recently it did not
prove true. In a crowded Sixth.avenuc
car last week an old gentleman gal
lantly rose to give his seat TO lady.
AS he did so rude but well-dressed
elbow took it. Thinking there was some
misunderstanding, the old gentleman
explained matters. The other surlily
replied: II found the seat empty, and
IN going to keep it," Then you
ire not fit for decent society; you're a
BLACKBOARD you respect neither wo-
man nor the gray hairs Of your Seniors"
- Old man, if it wasn't for your years
I'd smash yout" Waive the years
and get right out here" exclaimed the
now enraged grandsire, "and I'll teach
you that you are not only BLACKBOARD,
but coward and puppy" But the
younger man didn't bulge until several
blocks were passed, when he pulled the
strap, alighted and said: "Now Pm
ready for you," but before the old
man could turn around the fell
low darted to an opposite cor
uer, brought policeman, and the gen.
ileman was hustled off to court. One
or two Of the passengers went along and
testified in his behalf, but the brute and
the officer were chums, and both being
in the same political ring with the JUS
tice, the culprit was fined sl0 dollars.
1t was paid on the spot, but the fiery
veteran as he left the courtroom could
not refrain from saying that he would
" give hundred dollars more for the
privilege Of conversation with the
scoundrel just three minutes long, and
if he didn't polish him off in that time
it would be because his right hand had
forgotten its cunning"
BEHIND THE SCENES.
How few people recognize the dis
tressing circumstances under which
actors and other public servants are
sometimes compelled to keep their en-
gagements or disappoint the multitude.
Just before the dramatic season closed
prominent comedian was forced to
leave his dying wife and 20 upon the
stage to make the people laugh On
reaching home he found her a corpse.
Last Sunday visited Manhattan Beach
to listen to the music Of Gilmore's
Band. 1t was generally observed that
the famous leader was greatly depressed,
and that the last piece on the pro-
gramme, "Nearer my God to Thee"
was played with more than ordinary
fervor, the band standing, and the i'm
mense audience joining in singing the
grand old hymn. j inquired of Mr..
Gilmore few minutes later the cause
Of this unusual solemnity. "My dear
old mother died two days ago, and at
the moment her favorite hymn was
being played she was being laid to
rest" was the sad reply. "To tell
the TRUTH" he added, " | was almost
obliged to leave the stand, for / was
blind with tears, and only the sense o.
duty prevailed"