davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening world., 1888-01-03

deficiency was due to the fact that the expendi-
lures have been unusually large and exceeded the
expectations OF the head OF the Law Department
was made"
Commissioner OF Taxes and Assessments Cole
man, who voted with the others TO approve the
budget, said he had been 1auring on the tax rate
for the year 1887. ''Tnere has been an increase"
said he, "in The valuation OF taxable city property
OF about s4s, 900, 900. Last year the total amount
was 81, 5O7, $40, 66S This would make the rate
3. 1871, az compared with q 10 last year. In 1885
the rate was q ~. nasmuc az such great demands
have been made for an increase Of appropriations
in the Charities add Public Works Departments,
ana have been, on very COOL grounds, ! think,
allowed, I must say that IL surprises me not . little
that the tax rate has been Increased so little"
''If, remarked Comptroller Loew, 'the amounts
the Law and Charities departments are used Judi
ciously, l see no reason why the dc mands for m
increase made should be regarded as unwar-
rantedu
The evening world., 1888-01-03

couldn't bear the smell of a~ssaf1tida, and, of
course, was out of the question for a DOCTORS
wife; an eleventh had n bad breath, and the
twelfth wore spectacles-my abomination in
q young girl.
These feminine faces all assembled above
my head and disappeared slowly into thin air
-evaporated with the smoke which had re-
produced them. Yet somehow a sweet face
seemed to linger in the blue cloud that curled
from my cigar. Her blue eyes, her pleasant
smile, her graceful head and shoulders, her
exquisite hands and Incompatible fetal
were once more visible To me AS | had before
seen them, and almost fallen in love with
their possessor. But alas she was my cousin,
and / had been informed by Fanny's Puritan
mother that il was q mortal sin to marry
cousins, for the Bible said SO. So / let this
sweet face also melt away towards the ceiling
IAN ascending angelo, and sighed, half resolv.
ing TO turn Roman Catholic that | might get
n a" dispensation " from the Pope T" to marry
cousins ~ But her mother and the Bible,
how could l go against both? So | saw the
features Of my fair mt merry cousin fade
away with sorrow.
Not one of these will do" | said, shaking
my head and also shaking the ashes oil my
cigar. | then carelessly glanced out of my
window preparatory TO reviewing another
dozen of marrying acquaintance. At that
instant "A lovely girl was going by ON the
opposite side of the street. ! recognized her
at once rs II mysterious and graceful girl who
had so often passed my window. | had never
seen her face, Us il was concealed. How then,
did l know she Is lovely !! you ask. Because
The evening world., 1888-01-03
Her feet beneath her pctticoat
Like little mice peeped in and out.

The first day, two months before, that |
saw them, ! was at once taken captive. II
at length, " said / to Harry Hamilton, my
friend, behold the beau ideal OF my inlagi-
nation. The perfect foot which ! have in
vain looked for in the Medicean Venus. in
Powers " Greek Slave" in every work of art
illustrating feminine beauty. is now found !"
II was gathered in a close lifting golden
bronze boot, with neat heels like little wal
nuts, and us she walked l heard their nut
like "tap-tap" upon the pave. As she now
came opposite my window she slightly (the
least perceptible motion i'll the world ele-
waited her skirts to escape possible contact
with n patch of coal dust which DR.. Bung,
my VISA Wis friend and rival, had carelessly
permitted to remain after getting dow his
coal Such ankles of grace and beauty were
never beheld! They were tt mates to the
~twinkling feet. As l gazed enchanted the
symmetrical and graceful ms became such
lovely feet, turned II corner aud vanished
am not usually an impulsiye man. My
uncle, who was u physician. had told me that
impulse and eNcitability We're fatal TO the
success of n doctor of medicine that | ought
to cultivate calmness, imperturbability and
cool III .possession.
Gravity and dignity, slowness of gait
and deliberation i'll opinion are the highest
qualifications in IA medical man." he used
often TO say.
therefore, at my present age, eight-and-
twenty, was quite n Galen for gravity and
decorum of visage and manner. But / must
confess that upon losing sight of the fair pos
SCISSOR of the beautiful feet sprung from my
armchair, tossed my cigar into The CRATE,
seized my hat and stick "a gold -headed, doc
s. Dodwell, ir.," in full thereon) and rushed
into the ball and made for the street door,
resolved ] would this time follow her TO the
worlds end but that l discovered who she
was. Mrs. Bracegirdle was standing, in it,
chafIering with y woman for fruit of some
sort. AS crowded past her she looked Mt
The evening world., 1888-01-03

"No."I said, laughing. II don't care n
fig for money. I want beauty and goodness.
loneliness of face and symmetry of form {;
but land here l spoke with positiveness
and d~ecision-.but above ALL she must
Mrs. B~racegirdle slyly withdrew her plump
feet (No. 5s) out of sight, within the mystic
rious periphery of her black silk.
"A pretty foot"
of pretty feet 1 could not love Venus her
self if she had a big foot. 1t is impossible
but that q perfectly beautiful woman will
have small and pretty feet. I am willing to
choose a wife by her foot for | accept, in
this case. the aphorism that alls well that
ends WE'LL"
Mrs. Bracogirdle, after taking half a min
ute to think upon it, was vastly pleased with
this quotation used in such q relation, and
laughed heartily.
well, we'll, doctor, you are a droll gen.
tleman, TO be sure! You have such a pleas
ant temper, you'd make any woman happy.
But there's the bell! Good-morning, doc
tor" NJ, .aooo,5,o ,1so,a
and as she closed the door / added, sub uOce,
IF l thought / could make any woman
happy I would try and find some one among
the sex to make me happy. But this marry;
idG 4sw frd is a q w iSStteIr INTO a when SS9 ali miliG the as Sr %sii
and virtuous women names In New York,
written ON slips of paper, had been poured,
as draw from them met by chance at a party,
at church or in the street. If it is my des-
tiny TO be married, the right pair Of pretty
feet will by and by catch my eye tripping
along and challenge me-"
Thus soliloquizing. l took my seat by my
window in a huge leathorn armchair, and
drawing a match across the sole of my boot l
lighted u cigar and gave myself up to refec-
tion and inspection Of the passers- by.
Mrs. Bracegirdlo is right" l calculated at
the end of ten minutes; " she is updoubt-
eddy quite right. / ought to take a wife. But
whose wife shall / take? as young Sheridan
asked his father"
As the clouds of azure smoke curled above
my head / conjured up, peeping out of each
curl, the faces of some dozen fair girls l had
known or still knew. As their features
blended with the wrcaths M passed in ret
rospection before my eyes, / deliberately re-
jected each, passing judgment upon them AS
they assembled and melted into thin mir be-
meath the ceiling Of my room. One had a
turn up a third was too tall n fourth had
too large a foot a fifth had bad teeth a
loud an eighth had big knuckles; "a ninth
had u mustache; u tenth'-a sweet girl
The evening world., 1888-01-03

very appropriately and significantly term
physicians, and being then a single man, 1
hired a front parlor from good Mrs. Brace
girdle, the remainder of whose very genteel
house was occupied by her "bread-and-meat
boarders, " as she termed her boarders who
took their usual meals at her table, by way
of distinguishing them from mere room occu-
pants like myself.
I had taken this parlor for my Office, be-
cause 1t was pleasantly situated and just
suited me and my profession-being on
Blocker street, and ON that precise portion
thereof east of Broadway, where physicians
seem most to c~ongregate. In New York Ger
lain streets seem to be relinquished to certain
professions, as tragic Bond street to dental
gentlemen and Blocker (east) to medical
men. Whether 80 many doctors have got to-
gether there because misery loves CON-
pany," or because in the multitude of coun-
sollors there is safety" ] know not. The fact
only is clear. In old timesa young physician
would have set up his "shingle" in a vici-
mage far from any other; but an opposite policy
seems now pursued, perhaps OF the princi-
pie that one in n fiock of birds is more likely
to he hit than one flying alone.
But leaving this matter for the discussion
of others. l merely state thut / had been Mrs.
Bracegirdle's ledger and tenant for O year
The evening world., 1888-01-03

and three months, and never " had q word"
with her save in the kindliest manner and
tone. As l ! never was in arrears and always
cheerfully prescribed for her rheumatics
without charge, l was a f~ayorite.
80 Well. Mrs. Bracegirdle, have you any
thing to say ?"
Her eyes surveyed deliberately and admir-
ingly my handsomely furnished room, with
its handsome curtains, elegant bookcases,
rich sofa and chairs and snowy carpet, before
she replied, and then, with a pleasant smile
and knowing nod, she said
II do wonder, doctor, you don't get mar
RED. Such q nice room, and you could have
the one above it for q sleeping room, and 1
could, you know, if you liked, let you have
your meals private like, letting your Office
boy, Tim, the lazy rogue, with nothing to do
but play marbles and chalk my sidewelk, to
set and wait on and clear off tablet! l do
such a pleasant spoken gentleman, and so
quiet and respectable, for u young doctor, in
your 'habits-all calculated to make a wife
happy! It's a pity such nice furniture and
such a nice room should be thrown away 3d."
Mrs. Bracegirdle was handsome, not over
forty-one, q widow and $50 said rumor) had
laid up not less than $500 in the savings
ban1din With '5oa tSs " ggSeSs T Faats f of a popular smr
selves upon my mind, and I looked now at
my hostess to see If she was trying to lay q
snare for me-. 1t is true she had on a shade
smarter cap than usual, and looked unusu-
any hJtrhCLlNe, Dut wien i TeHeCUeu tuhJ bne
had regarded me always more with q moth
erly feeling than a"young widowish" one,
/ dismissed the unworthy suspicion from my
thoughts and said, smilingly:
And where shall 1 get a wife, dear
madam ?"
BLESS me a handsome young man with
such white teeth" (Mrs- Bracegirdle had
splendid teeth(. "a horse and buggy and
some money of his own, to ask where he shall
find a wife! There's fifty ladies would jump
to get such a chance!"
You fatter me. my dear friend" I an
swered. secretly rejoicing in the fattery, as
to be taken with it. "A wife is a dangerous
risk !. One must change ones habits If one
marries! l should lose my independence I
can now do as / ~please-smoke, lounge, wear
my slippers. go in and out as ! wish, sit on
three chairs, and a table, too. if / take q no.
ton to spread myself, and II lay anything
down / know where to find it! Why, If it
makes me nervous to see your Betsy, the
chambermaid, come in my room with that
buster of an old, torn silk handkerchief. lest
sho should do mischief. what would become
of mo with u wife, who would put : every
thing in order not understanding that there
The evening world., 1888-01-03
An Obliging Host.
Iron The w.issr tidaho) Leader

Iron The WeiSer tIidho) Leader.
One day recently two men in a carriage drove up
to the home Of l.. L. Burns, on the nat below this
town, anu one Of them entered the house, took OF
his overcoat and seated himself near tie stove.
Mr.. Burns came up at this time and asked the other
man to get out of the carriage and come into the
house. lie declined and said that his friend had
gone into the house merely to Inquire the way.
Mr.. Burns then entered the ROOM, spoke to the
stranger and made some other easant remarks.
After some little time the stranger arose, and
looking Mr.. Is. IN tn face, replied: : Say, paid,
let's you and i put on the gloves" All right, I"
said Mr.. Is. the man exclaimed, "Yeu are too
willing, and 1t is too much trouble to put on the
gloves; let's shuck coats and 20 1t open-aandel."
"All right; peel your linenl" said Burns. on
cane coats and at 1t they went like Kilrain and
Smith. The first blow from the well-directed hand
Of John Burns Knocked the stranger TO the floor,
and he was then Kicked out at, the door. The man
jumped up and exclaimed: stranger, / didn't
mean i'll" II Is not likely that this idiot will ever
enter another mans house and propose to act the
part Of sullivan, Kilraln or Smith.
The evening world., 1888-01-03

me with amazement and cried out in alarm
WHO is hurt? What is it, doctor2 IL
anybody run over ?"
No, | am after my wife !" I answered;
and leaving her mystifed, I pursued at Q
rapid step the course taken by the twinkling
golden bronzes. Upon turning the corner /
met her full in the face, returning, as if she
had taken the wrong street. l was so taken
atack-to use q sea term-that | stopped per-
fectly still, COMPOUNDED at the rencontre, and
she glided past me without even glancing at
me, slightly deviating to pass by me as she
would have done by a barrel that stood in
her path. Her face was concealed by a brown
veil, worn, MS the fashion of young girls is.
double over the face, though for the life OF
me how they can see to walk SO blindfolded
is n mystery! After she had passed me l re-
covered my self possession which this unpre-
pared-for encounter had in a measure de-
priyed me of. and turned to follow her, re-
solved that | would never lose sight of her
until l knew where she abode, which ascer-
tanning, l determined to take steps to become
acquainted with her.
Instead of continuing along Blocker street
she crossed and seemed to be looking for
some number. She slowly read the signs on
the doctors window shutters III read she
could through her thick barege mask), and,
passing on, l saw her linger an instant to
glance at the name on my window-blind and
then lightly trip up the steps and ring the
bell-not Mrs. Bracegirdle's, but mine!
do not know whether surprise or delight
the most predominatAd in my emotions at
this. My hoy Tina red-headed little mu-
~latto-opened the door, and was about to say
! was out, when, catching a glimpse of me,
he said, loud enough for me to hear:
Hes coming, ma'am-walk in ~
The golden CATERS disappeared lightly in
the hall and l followed with u palpitating
heart.
1t is not often l receive patients in my
room, and never ladies; and the condition Of
my apartment, with all its confusion, cigar
boxes, old hats, empty via's, and chaos gem
orally, rushed upon my thoughts, and hest
tated whether / should 60 boldly in and
take the responsibility of all, or quietly
withdraw and Keep out of my visitors way.
But curiosity TO snow why l was thus hon
ored overcame this hesitancy, and / entered
the hall. Mrs. Bracegirdle was just ending Q
peep through the njar door into my office at
the lady. | saw her look a little rosy as she
said, in a sort of apologize way :
IL thought you'd gone out, doctorl There
is a young lady i'll yourfoom!"
:" saw some one come in and returned"
| said, with dignity, as if it were nothing to
were the lady old or young.
TO b. Concluded To-MorvoV0 EUsniag.
The evening world., 1888-01-03

Of the Union Square Theatre wears other
peoples coats without askin' 'em You're
o nice lot o. r~oosters. amt yer, to spring that
Kill of Il story on me?
II got to take YOU gentlemen in, and give
you a chance to spring il on the Judge in the
morning. You ooh as il you might convince
him Of 1t. But you can't play it on me. no.
how. Turn your horses round' driver. Now
With that the door was slammed, the man
got on the box, and away they went up West
street.
Through West. up Canal, down Broadway,
through White into Centre.
Good heavens" said MIR. Hill, well
miss that second act, too
II all comes o. you being so fresh" re-
marked Mr.. Palmer from somewhere under
his coat collar to Mr.. Vernam. ~ AS a coat
snatcher you are not q success"
o." I'll make II all right in q minute with the
Captain, " said Vernam, if we ever get there.
Where do youu suppose the id curse is
taking us top
Ten minutes later they drove up to the
Oak street station. The coach door was
opened. Now then, look lively, gentle
men" said q gruff voice.
oh, but | don't want to prosecute them"
said somebody. "All l want is my prop
livery we'll" said the man. If you'll
leave the property here at the station -
Leave il" shouted MIR. Hill. well leave
everything and pay you in the bargain if
yOu ~ Stb 10 phSh v 70 tho bcCohu hCb VI
that play,
coats here at the station. There's my card.
I'm O ward detective"
The coats were pulled off and passed out
the door. The card was showed into Mr..
Hills vest pocket, and the coach ratified back
to the ferry.
When they got to the play Mr.. Harrington
was laid on the steam heater. Mr.. Palmer
was rubbed down with hot cloths, md about
10 o'clock they were limbered out.
1t was ~ O'Clock when they got back to the
Morton House. 1t had got to be n joke by
this time. 1t was narrated to Col. Warning,
Mr.. Charles Gayler and Jake Hess.
They laughed and Mr.. Gayler said: Yes
I missed my fur coat, but they told me that
Mr.. Palmer had borrowed it. It's, all right,
if you brought it back because there was a
new play in the pocket that is worth $40, OOO."
Yes" said Mr.. Palmer, Eyes, brought it
back. Damn it. No"
Mr.. Vernam rushed to the telephone. No
complaint of Union square coat thieves here.
Who is the officer ?" came from the Oak
street station.
Mr.. Vernam collapsed.
Mr.. Hill tremblingly looked for the card in
his waistcoat pocket. He pulled it out and
held it up to the gaslight. 1t read:
The evening world., 1888-01-03
The storytelling Fiend.

TFrom Ns NeJrdskd State JonrndI.I
There il no more disagreeable man than the one
who always wants to tell a story. When he Is per-
mitted to unfold a narrative he generally ~digresses
30 widely that 1t would take a civil engineer 10
keep track of the thread OF the story, but he wan
ders laboriously along, and stumbles over himself,
and twists the epilogue of the story into the pro-
logue, and finally, in an enthusiastic dash, ushers
In the alleged joke, which is supposed TO excuse
the long and desolate preamble. Then people are
expected to laugh, although they would prefer
weeping. And when 1t is all over the internal bore
says: ''That reminds me of another story, ~ anu he
launches into a second wilderness Of aggressive
chestnuts, and so on until bloodshed results and
the story-teller Ia gathered to his fathers.
The evening world., 1888-01-03
IMPORTED FROM HOBOKEN.
Tho Quiet Jersey Home of n Popular and
Dainty Turkish Confection.

-
Dainty Turkish CONNECTION.
or late the street candy merchants have
been selling what is variously termed
Turkish, Bulgarian or Persian candy, which
is placarded as one of the greatest of deli
cacies. A vender in Park row advertises his
stock MS the ~favorite of the Sultana Azizs,
and as manufactured by q real, genuine
"Turquo."
In general appearance the article is not in
viting. 1t comes in huge masses somewhat
resembling big lump of dough which has
just come from the manipulation of the cook,
aud its color liz n pale, sickly yellow-thRt is,
where the original color can be distinguished
through the veneering of dirt which it has
received from the grimy hands of the Italian
who dispcnses il to his customers and the
copious baptisms of street dust to which IL is
continually subjected.
As IL takes several weeks to dispose of one
of these enormous chunks, the external an
pearanco of this delicate morsel, when il
reaches its final stages, is better imagined
than described. 1t is usually cut up by
means of II cold chisel and n hammer, in the
use of which, since the advent of the article,
the Italian street vendors are said to have be-
come very proficient.
Those who have observed the mass in its
various stages of disintegration may have no
ticed that in some cases it's composition has
been varied by the introduction of almonds
and other kinds of nuts, which, unless they
are inspected closely, give one the impression
that n species of leprosy has broken out in
the candy.
1t is stated on the authority of an expert
that the substance which is thus sold us a
choice imported dclicacy does not come from
my greater distance from the home market
than Grcenpoint or Hohokeu, and that a care.
ful analysis has shown that il is nothing more
nor less than diluted molassos candy tiavored
with altar of roses or Jockey club. No evil
dence has yet been produced which is power.
full enough to overthrow this conclusion.
The evening world., 1888-01-03
TWO COTlLLIONS AT ONCE.
To-Night's New Years Dance Mt DelInonico's
"A Wedding ut 81. Marks.

"A Wedding mt 81. Marks.
New Years, although now we'll over, will
still be remembered by society in its festivi-
ties for some days to come. Tonight at Del
monico's will take place the great New Years
ball which began to be discussed at Newport
last SUMMED.
Delmonico's entire establishment has been
leased for the night. The carpets have been
removed from the long parlors on the
Twenty sixth street side of the building and
a new parquet floor laid. A second ~cotillon
will be danced here while the first is in pro-
two leaders will be Messrs. Thomas Howard
and Elliot Roosevelt. There will be three
orchestras, Il in each ballroom to play the
dance music and one in the large hallway for
the promenadeS. The decorations are to be
on o superb scale.
Mr.. Ward McAllister is the manager of the
entire entertainment. There are fifty SUBJ
scribers who have paid 800 each and who
each were given the privilege of issuing seven
invitations.
This afternoon at old st. Marks Church,
in the Bowery. Mr.. Manice and Miss Sallie
Remsen, youngest daughter of Mr.. William
Remsen, will be married. Both. bride and
groom are members of old Knickerbocker
families. Thu wedding will attract a large
and representative assemblage of old New
Workers. Miss Remsen's bridesmaids are to
be her sister, Miss Lizzie Remsen, her
cousins, Miss LIE Roy and Miss Carrie Rem
sen, and Miss Manice, sister of the groom.
After the ceremony a reception will be held
at Mr.. William Remsen's, in Waverley place.
A recent society event was a social which
was given by Mrs. ~Bruckheimer to celebrate
her daughters birthday. Among the guests
were Miss Mayer, Miss Whitehead, Miss Leh-
man, Miss Stempels and Miss Chuck.
Mrs. Alice Shaw, of 249 West Fifty fifth
street, is at home to her friends on Fridays
during the winter.
The evening world., 1888-01-03
MR.. FULLER HAS A NEW SCHEME.
This Time He Wants. n Wide Drive Through
Central Park.

Lawson N. Fuller is at it again. Once it
WINS Il cable road around Grants tomb that
claimed his surplus energies; then the Har-
lem goat demanded protection from an I'M
feeling public; again, the strap-holding pas
sengors on the elevated roads worked upon
his nervous sympathies, and now the project
of n wide driveway through Central Park has
risen up to beckon him on.
As usual, Mr.. Fuller will rush to Chicken
ing Hall to relieve his overburdened spirit of
such stray chunk of oratory as have not
been properly leayened by recent public APP
pearancos.
lie will speak in favor of his new scheme
next Monday evening. He says that he has
enlisted with him in this praiseworthy move
ment Roscoe Conkling. Russell Sage and a
number of owners of fast horses. Mr.. Fuller
himself owns a pair of flyers that give dust to
everything on Washington Heights.
The evening world., 1888-01-03
LOUIS ALDRIcH.

A gush of laughter went up from surround
ing throats, in which the clear alto of Mr..
Gayler and the sub-bass of Jake Hess min
gled.
atre this morning md say =" Overcoats to
Mr.. Hill he will give you a box.
If you pass into the Morton House and re-
peat it to Mr.. Vernam he'll add q bottle of
white label and ask you not to go ound re-
porting such internal nonsense.
NYM CRINKLE.
The evening world., 1888-01-03

her feet were the most captivating little men,
bers my critical eyes ever rested upon. Such
feet could only belong to n lovely body-a
lovely body, to match i'll symmetry the fault
lovely head and face. From such cogent ar
g~umentation there can clearly be no appeal.
l had often pointed her out to some Of my
friends; more than once said / would be will
ing to marry her without seeing her face.
The fair promenader now made use of her
little feet with exquisite daintiness. Their
sweet movements realized fully old Sir John
Stockings admirable lines: