Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-01
Mr.. AND MRS BoWsER.
Bowser Goes to the Park for Quiet Out
ing, but Gets Roughly Handled.

Bowser Goes to the Park for a Quiet Out
ing, but Gets Roughly Handled.
1T think we'll 20 up to the park to-nor-
row." said Mr. Bowser the other Saturday
evening as he finished his cigar. -
But won't it be c.eadful crowded. ]
queried.
There you go, You are always ready to
| oppose anything I suggest.
II am not opposing you, only you know
| that the boats are always crowded on Sum
| day, and that one is apt to meet with many
| lawless characters. l have heard you say
that the place was in possession OF mob all
day Sunday"
"Neverl On the contrary I have always
| boosted how orderly it was. I guarantee
that you can go up there alone and stay all
day and you will be treated like queen"
well, if you think we had best go,
why"-
"Of course 1 do. l think little trip on
the water viii do US all good, and at the
island we viii seek some sylvan retreat and
enjoy the beauties of the surroundings"
And you-you won't get haad?'
''Mrs. Bowser, what do you mean!"
eff things do not go right you won't scold
and blame everything to me"
Have you gone made When did ever
blame yous If you suspect that you are get
ting softening of the brain, let me know and
I'll have medical examination"
After dinner next day we made start l
think Mr.. Bowser started with the firm de-
termination to keep his good nature at every
hazard, bnt something occurred almost i'm
mediately to upset him. The street car was
jamb full and running over, but it stopped
and we wedged our way in.
In the squeeze some one stepped on Mr..
Bowser's corn, some one else knocked his plug
hat off, and third person was heard to re-
mark that if he weighed a ton he would char
ter a special car when he wanted to ride.
This put Mr.. Bowser in trim to say to the
conductor:
Does the manager of this line think we
are lot of hogs that We can be packed in an
old car this way!"
Don't know, sir"
''Then you'd better find out. It's an insult
on decent people, and for one don't propose
to submit to it,"
THAI rize, ole fel'r," shouted half drunk
en- man from the front of the car.
go in, old bay window" added a second
"Ten to one on old Bowser," yelled a man
from the rear platform.
We finally got down to the boat. 1t was
black with humanity and | didn't want to
go, but Mr. Bowser eibowed people right and
left and | followed. After being crowded,
pushed damned, squeezed and knocked about
for ten minutes l got a chair which a drunk
Ell man had just fallen off, and M. Bowser
found standing room beside me-
Il told you l thought the boats would be
crowded, :" remarked as soon as l could get
my breath.
well, that shows all you know about it.
There's no crowd on this boat. She could
carry as many again"
''But what a rough set of people!'
''No rougher than we are. You simply
want to find fault and make me uncomfort-
ablen
In getting off the boat at the island some
one stepped on my dress skirt and nearly tore
it off, while Mr.. Bowser's hat was crushed
down over his eyes and some one picked his
cigar case out Of his coat tail pocket. We
finally got out of the crowd and wandered
away until we reached a shady spot, and then
it did seem as if we might take some COM
fort. | began to express my sympathy for
Mr. Bowser, when he turned on me with:
"When want to be condoIed with III let
you know Thus far we have had a real
good time and don't want to hear any
more kicking about it"
This is the sylvan retreat you spoke of,
supposeT' l remarked as | looked around and
saw cigar stubs, playing cards, pretzels beer
bottle corks and rusty old cork screw lying
on the grass.
IT L. p -
couple of young men came that way and
stopped and asked Mr. Bowser for a match to
light their clay pipes. He didn't have any,
and one of them said:
well, yer needn't be so crrsty about it.
We are just as good as you are"
And blamed sight better, Jim," added
the other
Mr. Bowser jumped up, but both of them
piled on TO him and | screamed and brought
assistance They split his coat up the back,
tore his collar Off and tore three buttons off
his vest, and as they went away they threat
ened to come back and finish him Off.
Mr. Bowser,' said after the crowd had
started, hadn't we better go homer
No, ma'am, we hadn't! came up here to
enjoy myself and I'm bound to do so.n
I coaxed and argued but he was obstinate,
and pretty soon something else happened.
A gang of five or SIX men came along, ripe
for mischief, and one of them halted before
Mr. Bowser and inquired:
SHAY, ole fel, lost dollar here about an
hour ago, and you picked it up"
''You are mistaken, sir. ="
Course he did" put IN second tough,
"and he's got to give it up!"
- haven't seen anything of your dollar"
boldly replied Mr. BowSer, and the gang was
making threats when ran for help.
Before Igot back they had rolled Mr. Bowser
on the grass, taken all his change away, and
cuffed him about until he presented a sad
sight Then the policeman who had come
too late advised him:
Say, old man, you'd better 90 home
You've had five or SIX rows within an hour,
and | shall have to run you in if you don't
leave You are evidently desperate char
Mr. Bowser beckoned 20 me and led the
way TO the boat On the way down he was
pointed out as Sullivan and kilrain, and
everybody had gibe at him At the wharf
he hired q hack 10 take Us home, and not one
word would he speak 70 me all the way up
When we finally got into the house be locked
the door of the sitting room and sat down
in front OF me and said:
Mrs. Bowser. look at me,'
Eyes, its awful I was afraid it would
burn out this way"
And yet nothing would do but you must
CO."
why, didn't want to 90 one stepl'
Take care! You are to blame for this
!