The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-06
For THK ARKANsAw TRAvELKR.
 NEW YORK LETTER.
BY ALEX. E. SWEET.

takes to walk block, is kept busy pick ing himself up, brushing hio self off, ana sitting down again, huniediy.
 There is as much peril just now in walking down Broadway as there is in trying to steal horses on the Texas front fer. There is ice on the sidewalk Very often it is covered with a thin coat ing of snow At such times the people do not seem to have much else to do ex- cept to sit down, and think of their pa, lives. The bible says that the wicked walk in slippery places If that be true, it is no wonder that there is SO much wick edness in New Yo'k One thing is cer- tain. It is impossible for the uprigh, man to stand in slippery places. If a man, no matter what his social status may be, undertakes to walk uprightly the first thing he knows his feet slip up in front of him, he falls over backwards, and becomes backslider that is, he slides around on his back.
 The usual position just now is to stoop over and walk very slowly, as if sfl cted with permanent curvature of the spine, or hunting for lost nickel.
 Yesterday was crossing the street at Gramercy Park, near the residence of MT. Tilden. was half way across the street, when suddenly perceived two objects in front of me, little higher than my head. What do you suppose they were9 They were my own feet. They had slipped up so quickly that saw them in midair before realized that had lost them. Of course, the vision did not last long, for second later came the usual dull, heavy, sickening thud.
 1 was not killed outright. Twas some- what jared aud shocked, and saw the usual pyrotechnic display. As soon as the fireworks were over, once more got on my feet, with the assistance of good Samaritan who had seen me fall. aiterward learned that he was doctor, and was under the impression that WAS fatally injured. He said that such falls which did not result in fracture of the skull, were very rare. He seemed dis appointed when he examined the back of my head and found it all right.
 l thought to myself such falls as that are rare, and not liable to occur again to me in some time. It may be a month before again stand on the top of my head, and try to write my initials on the pale wintry sky. So l stepped of as brisk as you please. My attention was immediately called to the eccentric con- duct of my left foot. It was swiftly glid- ing away in a northeastern direction. | was powerless to control it. could not even steer it with accuracy. While was wondering what all this meant and where it would end, my right foot began to cause me uneasiness It seemed to be anxious to travel in the direction of Coney Island. This time simply sat down, but, oh with what superAuous vio- lence.
 As soon as the second act was over got on all fours, and made my way slowly but surely to the nearest lamp post.
 A little thing like this, particularly when it is encored ten or fifteen times, annoys me.
 Of course there are different styles of sitting down on the ice. No two men sit down precisely alike. Every individ- ual has got some peculiar mannerism. E.ch man has some peculiar way of picking up the sidewalk. Some come down with rush like dropping a 4 ooo- pound safe from a seven story window Fat people have preference for this mode of asserting themselves. It seems to be the most popular mode just now. They come down quick. A few days ago fat woman on Madison avenue came down SO suddenly that her poodle dog was buried in the ruins, so to speak. The poor animal was completely hidden from sight, but his smothered howls ot agony were very painful.
 Perhaps this incident may explain why so m any women in New York have real puppies following them. ltwould seem, however, as if a properly adjusted air cushion would answer the purpose just as well. This way it requires new dog every time. A dog that, like Truth, is constantly crushed to earth, cannot last forever.
 Other people prefer to sit down on the sidewalk more gradually. One foot slides out. The unhappy man endeavors by spasmodic contortions to restore his miss ing equilibrium. He assumes a Ha !.is- | this-a -a-dapcer.l.s -a before-me2 2O ex nress.