Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-03
A FOURTH WARD SKETCH.
Mr.. Long John Flynn and the Mc9ibbenses
Discuss woman's Sphere.
Nete York Sun.

Mr.. Long John Flynn and the McGibbenses
discuss woman's sphere.
Nete York sun.
A tall man, whose gaunt face was In
keeping with his long black overcoat and
high, shabby hat, picked his way through
Chambers street few days ago. His lips
were puckered as if whistlipg, and IS he
passed Park row be tilted his high hat to-
ward his right car, and back from his fore
head. He greeted an acquaintance with q
sharp ''How are you, me boy? It's fine
day we'll hane, if it don't rain" Then
be passed on and went into the tall tene-
msnt on Batavia street, nearest Chambers
street As he passed on to his apartments,
up near the roof, he whistled easily and
Quietly, vet every tenant knew that it was
John Flynn that was going up stairs. Long
John Flynn. be was sometimes called, to
distinguish him from Little John Flynn
on the next block below in Chambers
street. Sometimes he was fantastically
called "whistling John flynn" but not
often.
'sIs that you, Mr.. Flynn" Mrs McGib-
bens cried out, wiping the soap suds from
her big red fat hands and arms, and wish
ing more to engage him in conversation
than to be assured that he really was in
the hallway.
'Tts me, Norah," Mr.. Flynn replied,
isuntily. Hard at work, see. If it
wasn't We wimmen, we uen down in the
Fourth ward 'ud starve in the long winter
wild nutin' fer rs to do"
''Lord love ye, Mr.. Flynn, but Pm glad
10 have me health and strength to do II, !"
answered Mn. MeGibbens, her eye kind
ling and the fash of pride reddeping her
cheek. She busted chair with her apron
tor Mr. Flynn to sit down, and went on:
"Shure, poor folks were made TO work and
ate and sleep. Sorra bit else have done
these twenty-five years that am married.
Where wur ye? Did ye see any signs Of
me man anywhere"
II left i'm Wild the Aldermin over at
the City Hail." Mr.. Flynn said, with 3
sigh. I'VE wur in tryin' to git i'm toput
us on the subway or on the streets. But
don't know, but Pm thinkin' that'll be q
hard Job. II things keep on in this way
poor people'll have to starye."
The Aldermin are o. no earthly use
anymore, Mr.. Flynn, but to dhraw their
own salaries, pickin' up bit here and
there, and ridin' about doin' nothin'." ex-
planned Mrs McGibbens, with q look of con-
tempt upon her large fat face. 81 wudn't
give pinch o. snuff for all the Aldermin
there is goin' nowadays. They're no good.
They've no grit in them. God be wild the
Aldermin we had fifteen years ago. In
those days, Mr. Flynn, there'd be no SUBJ
way il they didn't get their min on"
Mr.. Flynn rose as if not caring to be q
party to criticism of the Alderman, when
ne expected the Alderman to get him a job.
The door was pushed in and Dir. McGib-
bens appeared
III be leaviu', now that your good
man is come" Mr.. Flynn said.
eyes, he's come empty handed, ay
coorse," Mrs. MeGibbens said. Here
have to slave and toll all me life long
And We sport about havin' the fat O. the
land. Ye aren't min"
Mrs. McGibbens started toward the
washtub. Both the men eyed each other
and winked. Mr.. MeGibbens reached to
the mantelpiece for his pipe, package Of
tobacco, and some matches, when Mr..
Flynn started to leave.
"Foin time ye wimmen'd have in the
world widout the men," Mr.. McGibbens
said, putting on his pipe. "Hould on,
John, I'll 20 out wild ye. The ould wo-
man is yexed There be no standin' in the
house wild her."
He made dash for the door, and got
ahead Of his wife, who ran from her wash
tubs to put her burly form in front of it,
80 az 10 keep her husband in the house.
Fair weather afther ye both. It's the
sore heart / has wild ye, McGibbens,
workin' day and night to keep ye idle and
contented. But it'll stop sometimes; I'll
play the lady some day.