St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-02
BLIND MEN HOLD A REvEL.
Sightless Human Beings and Their
Jolly Club Life.

Jolly Club Life.
From the New York Telegram.
when that man there is sober little
boy leads him; when he is drunk he is
independent and walks Alone"
So said Third avenue poll ceman to
a Telegram reporter.
''By that suppose he is blind" re-
marked the reporter.
''Blind as bat.''
SIS he a beggar"
Not by long shot. He earns his
living and never gives us bit of
trouble. Like to know him?'
Certainly"
"Fll introduce you. He's probably
gOin' to meetin', and I'll git him to
take you along"
AT the call of the policeman the blind
man stopped and walked back. There
was pathOs unspeakable in his reckless
advance. AS he drew nearer the re-
porter recognized him. He had often
seen him walking the street timorOusly
trusting to his boy guide, while he cried
out: 'BroOms! Here's your good
brOOms cheap!"
LOADED again, John?' observed the
policeman.
Not yet" and John smiled and
smacked his lips, as if in anticipation OF
good things to come.
'Then you are gOin' to meetin'?"
''ThiS is the night we boys meet
around the festal board"
Il have a friend here that would like
to go with yOu," and the policeman in
trOduced John and the reporter.
Every pleased to know you. SIR" he
said. 'The boys are always glad to see
a friend of the cop. Eli, old fellOw?''
and he grasped the policeman's arm af-
fectiOnately.
AS he seemed impatient to be off, the
reporter slipped Johns arm through
his. John promptly withdrew it.
"NO," he said; 'you take my arm. ]
am escort Oh this OCCASION"
He conducted the reporter up the
avenue, and above Twenty-third Street
turned toward the East river. Before a
three-stOry house he paused and opened
the door with latch key. Going in, he
where he entered a room without
! knocking. Inside there were half a
dozen men seated at table, smoking OF
| drinking fro M mugs of beer. No one
tu1ned his face when John and the re
| porter came in.
sit is john" said one, and in chorus
| they all said:
GLOW are you, John?"
They knew John had not come alone
but they waited for him to announce
| the visitor.
Il have friend with me-a gentle
man." he said.
| They rose to their feet
us he affiicted?'' they asked in {
voice. They meant blind.
''He is not" replied John.
'DOes he come to mOck?'
"He does not.'
''Then we drink his health.''
Thus was the reporter made welcome
at the table round. When the guest wa:
seated a mug of beer was placed in from
| of him. John was also helped, anC
everybody drank.
John started bacchanalian song, an(
| the others joined in with the vigor Of
debauchees. The reporter sang, too
but made a wretched discord, which
| they Hospitality overlooked.
Friend from the light of day, tell II:
children of the night news" said one.
"a story" said John, lis what they
want, about those who can See."
The reporter complied, and was graf
| flied that he pleased his auditors.
Empty is the grOwler," exclaimed
| the blind man who Officiated as waiter.
"The dice" cried John.
A cup and dice were set on the table
The lowest number pays for the
| drinks" he cried. "Our guest will tel
us what the throws amount to and save
the time taken up by feeling the dice. .
That speech presented picture tt
the reporter. who had consented to act
as tally clerk. AS he watched the cast
| of the dice and made his record he
imagined these blind men throw
ing for drinks and then carefully feel
| ing the holes in the dice to learn how
much they had scored.
at is on john" said the reporter
when the dice box had gone the rounds
"Ha, ha!'' the merry men laughed il
| chorus.
.sJohn pays for the drinks. Ha, hap
John raped on the table with his
mug, and little girl appeared. Johr
threw dollar on the table and sang
rather than said:
Fill up the GROWER, Meg, Meg, fill ii
full"
The others took it up, and while they
| chanted the words the reporter looked
around the club room. 1t was bare OF
| furniture, save the table and chairs, and
had no window that looked out into
| street or yard. 1t was what is known
as dark inner room. and rented cheap
Meg came back quickly and the mugs
were refilled, then emptied and filled
again.
"a story from the dominic is in OF
DER" said John, and all grew quiet
| while Sad-vOiced man rose to his feet
"Fll tell you a stOry-a short one
about little girl. Last summer, one
day, bare-foOted girl who had beer
crying stopped me and asked: 'Blind
man, do you ever stump your tOes?'
''She had hurt her toe by striking il
against stone. Yes, so often that
| there is no feeling in them,' said"
81 wish l had been blind and got
over it, she said.
$50 do l wish l could get over it,
replied"
$50 do we ALL" exclaimed the chorus
as the dominic sat down.
So passed the night. There was sing
ing, story telling, dice throwing and
frequent Temperatures of Meg. AS the
morn approached one after another OF
the blind fell asleep with his head on
the table, and the reporter slipped out
leaving them to their dreams.