Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-14
THE LACK OF A NICKEL,
And the Inconvenience of a Twenty
 DolIar Gold Piece.

And the Inconvenience of 9 Twenty
 DolIar Gold Piece.
 From the Philadelphia Press!
 Speaking about having money in your pocket and yet feeling as helpless as if you were 8 pauper," said Philadelphian' to some friends who were discussing the subject, reminds me of a small expsri- ence I had in that line a little while ago. was in the northern part of the city, and in a great hurry to go to Seventh and Market streets. In my pocket was twen- ty dollar gold piece and no other money not even a nickel Fully persuaded that no car conductor would change the coin for me, entered a saloon and ordered glass of beer, throwing the yellow piece upon the bar as I did so. The barkeeper turned from the keg rack, placed the beer before me, eyed the coin an instant, looked at me sharply, then reached for the un- the counter and said: You can't work that here; it's been tried afore.' l protest ed that the coin genuine, that it was all had and that I wanted change to pay fare-but it was no use. In his own words he was tonto the game,' and I left the place filled with my own rage and covered with that barkeeper's suspicion. 'On the next corner was drug store. l went in with the twenty dollar piece in my palm, and upon thrusting it before the clerk, asking him whether he could change it, he replied sneeringly, and in tones which i'm piled that he felt hurt at me for taking him for greenhorn: Well, not this time
 s'Once outside the place it occurred to me that if had made purchase there would have been no trouble in getting change. Re- solved not to be so stupid again, made for an inviting looking cigar store five doors r 1y1o1, kI,n glass top of the show case, and politely told the salesman if he would change it fer me I would be only too glad to buy two dollars | worth of his goods. The smile that crept l into his face persuaded me that I had con | quered him. In reality I had only put him on his guard. He merely said as he turned 1 to wait on another customer: And I've had ! lem offer to buy five dollars worth, but we're ! not in that business Nothing but the fear | of being arrested on the double charge of as- l sau1t and battery and showing counterfeit | m oney prevented me from throwing tobac- \ co scales at that heartless wretch.
 'At three other places the coin was re- fused curtly and suspiciously, and finally, | fully realizing what absurd thing it was ! to do, hurried ever to the conductor of a ] Columbus avenue car that had stopped on 8 crossing and showing him my solitary coin, asked him if he could make change for me if got aboard. He didn't even answer me, but as he yanked his bell to go ahead heard him say grufay to fortunate possessor of g nickel who stood on the platform: Guess that feller thinks I own the road
 'tNow not one of the people who refused to make change for me touched the coin ! the sight of it enough for them and il | made them suspicious. What did I do
 Why, I walked from Columbus avenue and ! Eighteenth street to Seventh and Market
 and the big end of my twenty dollar piece
 went to pay for the supper and theater tick cts. I had wagered on being there ct the ap ! pointed time. That's what nickel cost me when didn't have it.'
 l evan AmburGh Is the man."
 When Delmonice, the negro lion tanner
 was asked what influence the human eye had on wild beasts, he replied, F'I should say about the same influence the eye ot
 one man has on another," and proceeded tc
 illustrate this by story told of Van Am
 burgh, the great lion tanner. The latter, or
 one occasion, while in an American bar
 room, was asked how he got his wonderful
 power over animals. He replied, ''It is by
 nay showing them thst am net the leas
 afraid of them, and by keeping my eye' steadily on theirs. I'll give you an example of the power of my eye." Pointing to { loutish fellow who was sitting opposite,
 Van Amburgh said, "You see that fel low? He's regular clown. I'll make him come across the room to me and I wen't say word to him." Sitting down, Vas Amburgh fixed his keen steady eye OF the man. Presently the fellow straightened himself, gradually got up and came across
 When he got close enough, he drew back his arm and struck the tanner tremeR- deus blow under the chin, knocking him clear ever the chair, with the remark, "Yeu stare at me like that again, won't I yoaa"