The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28

Yesterday about o'clock in the even
ing gentleman was seen to walk through
Court Square slowly, absorbed in unpleas-
ant thought, as though the shadow
OF some great grief had overtaken him.
He sat down near the south side, and,
unwrapping parcel with n religious care,
began to place tho contents in position.
lie began then to move them about They
were placed here and there and every
where for while. Then he would pause
and begin to think. After awhile he
would begin to keep on thinking. Ho
worried and worked; put the movables
here and yonder, but that pig remained
still in the clover. Sometimes, indeed,
the swine would appear almost out, but
from natural Perverseness would slip back
in again. He continued, however, to labor
with the problem, and paid no attention
10 anyone.
''What is that fellow doing?' asked
young man Of his companion.
Him? Oh, that muttonhead is trying
TO work out pigs in the clover"
"lluhl" said another one, that chump
can't have much TO do to be playing with
that fool thing"
The man continued on the puzzle.
An old lady passed next, and exclaimed:
"Land sakesl II that man amt busy,
do wonderl"
That man, however, never took his eyes
from his task. lie worked constantly.
lie worked quietly. lie worked faithfully.
Finally little negro boy who was passing
stopped in front OF him, stood on one foot
and watched him. A bootblack came
next, sat down on his box and with
both hands under his chin, watched him.
A white boy, with one suspender and a
pocketful OF marbles, came next, plunked
at the little negro's heel, denied doing so,
and joined the watchers. An old gentle
man with a basket OF wares came next aud
looked on. A lady and gentleman came
from the north and stopped to look. Two
gentlemen came from the south and
stopped 10 look. -Four gentlemen came
from the east and stopped to look. Six
ladies came from the west and stoned 10
look. Then they came from every
point Of the compass They crowded
around, iostled each other, trampled
on each others feet, looked over
each Others shoulders, peered under each
| others arms, shouted, "Down in 'front.'"
pleaded, "Let me seel" demanded, "What
is it?" walked round and round the crowd
10 find acreyice through which they might
squeeze into the sacred precincts OF the
inner temple. And the most frantic
among them were the scofers, male and
female. who passed by when the gentle,
man first sat down. Tney claimed that
il wasn't fair TO keep them on the outside
when they were the original discoveries.
The old lady would reach over the crowd,
and. with her parasol, punch some
4 one in front Of her. and ask
"What Is it7 What Is he do
ing now ?" Word got out to the
outside Of the crowd that man had sui.
cidcd. that a man was murdered, that 9
woman had tainted, that runaway couple
had died in each Others arms. that naiu
raj gas had been found, that Sullivan ant
kilrain were fighting 10 finish, that Salt
marsh was paving over his shortage 10 the
city, aud thousand other things. Thcs,
set the crowd wild. They surgcd nnt
swirled like stampeding steers, until final,
the blootblack was thrown against the ab
sorbed player, knocking his puzzle ives
and crooked.
This was the first time he had notices
that anyone was near him, aud giving th,
crowd a look OF supreme disgust, he gath
cred his traps aud went away complainin.
that he was Just on the eve Of making !
when the blame Niger fell out Of a trc'