Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-05-31
METROPOLITAN SCENES
Glimpse Of Less az Life Revealed In Ii
Streets ~ New York.

METROPOLITAN SCENES
Gli.p... Of Less az Life Rev-aled In the
Streets ~ New York.
IN . s,seet through which I pass
daily some old buildings were recent-
" torn down. A plank causcway MAS
bailt over the sidewalk while the cellar
was being excavatc,l F .ul weather or
fair. this bridge would b. packed with
oilers until one hal often to take the
other si.ie of the way in despair Of
forcing a passage. There was nothing
to be seen at hes, bit a lot of Irish
men and Italians diggin. dirt and
weary cart-horses hauling it away. In
wet weather The work was suspended.
But in the wettest weather. when the
rain was pouring in ailfulis the
bridge would still hare its unrest;ng
force collected. in triple RANK Of
wide-eyed stupidity. immersed in the
absorbing employment of looking a,
some muddy puddes down in a pit.
Oie streaming morning. when the icy
rain was freezing as it fell asked a
man whose OvercOat had been turned
into sheet of mail by the eongealins
downrour. what he was looking at Sc
earnestly. He replied. in hoarsc and
awful lone of voice. holding at the pi,
the while:
They're diggin' a sullar."
WELL" said 1. ''what if they are?''
ITS too we, for 'em to work" he
responded. irrelevanilv. but solemnl 3.
1t was not too wet for him to remain
on guard over the deserted digging.
though. and l left him. one Of the
many who were gradually stiffenine
into icy pctrifac,ion for the pleasure Of
doing nothing. or not being called
upon to think while they were do.
ing it
Ihave friend of the clubs-as mad
wag as ever lived when the humor
Of his bcfore-dinner absinthe is upon
him. We were, crossing public
square. one balmy evening last spring;
six clock had just been screeched Il.
Us by every factory whistle within
hearing. and the sidewalks were
1Swarn.
I'll lay You the dinners. said my
farcsur. 'fhat can create riot here
inside of FIVE minutes
He stopped at the public drinking
fountain. and took up the lineup tina,
was chained to it. The passerS-b,
stared little to see SD elegant gen
tleman stop 10 drink at Q common
fount of cheap refreshment. Severa
halted. after going on few PAGES. tt
look back. He filed the cup deliber'
ately. The waiting several had be-
come score. He raised the cul
slowly toward his lips The score grew
to fifty Suddenly he dashed the
water into the basin and filled the cul
again. only to empty it untouched. By
this time we were enc.rcled BY So
many people that they could not bt
counted. and l could hear such oh.
serva,ions and inquiries all around u-
as:
He II drink it this time
Bet you the drinks he don't"
Must be dirty"
What is it?'
May be the cup leaks"
He must be some crank"
What ails him. anyhow
MAY be common water isn't good
enough for him
There was also addressed 10 him
through this running fire of comment,
many more or less friendly and disin-
terested suggestions and instructions.
like:
Wrench the cup out." from a
mo,herly fat woman. poking her UNI
brella ut him.
Have stick in it" by man with
shiny black hat and SHINY red
nose.
.:Tell the waiter to open another
bottle"
This sally. which proceeded from q
young man in cros>-barred trousers.
with very large and massive cane.
which he carried like yards;ics. was
hailed with such applause that a park
policeman found himself called upon
to interfere. whereupon my friend
buried the cup into the basin with an
expression of the face indicative of
great disgust and loathing. and showed
his way out If the crowd as quickly as
he could. We could hear the roar Of
voices and the sharp rappiny of the
policeman's club when we turned into
the restaurant block and more away;
and learned by the papers next day
that the shiny red nose and the shiny
black hat slept in = station-house cell
on a general charge Of disorderly con-
duct and the utterance of murderOus
threats against some person or persons
unknown. Cor Boston Budget.
Almost q Tragedy.
Dramatis PersOn2-Mr. and Mrs
Tantrum. who have quarreled Mrs.
Tantrum discovered by her husband
with a cup in her hand and a wOe.be.