Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-31
A Man VINO Was saving Ten-Cent
philadelphia Pressl

lPhila1eiphia Pressl
81 was in Chicago some time ago,
said a man about town, land had some
business on the outskirts of the city.
While / WAS waiting in a small cGfe a
large, fne-loOking man, eray-whiskered
and bearing q strong resemblance to the
late Roscoe COnkling, came brlskly INTO
the place and called for some of the best
rye whiskey. 1t was set before him. He
poured ont modest drink. and, as he
was raising the glass to his lips, he slipped
his other hand IN his trousers pocket.
queer expression came over his lace. lie
put the glass down.
81 beg your pardon, he said to
the bartender, but don't want the
drink.
"With that he hurried out.
"'Crazy. said the bartender. Or
else he didn't have the price.
81 returned to the hotel soon after
ward. An hour or so later the gray
yhiskered man came into the hotel look
Ing very tired and jaded. If I'd had time
I'd satisfied my curiosity about the man
there and then. But L didn't, and hur-
ried away to catch train to Phlladel-
phia.
zone day last week 1 dropped into
restaurant in this city. You may mag
me my surprise when l saw sitting at
table with a jolly group, Of which he
seemed to he the life, the handsome,
pray-whiskered hero of the incident at
the out-of-the-way Chicago car. / was
30, Ila a
that most iovial of all the reliable old
time actors, Matt. Snyder, now with
the Little Lord Fauntleroy' Company.
| recalled the peculiar circumstances OF
our meeting in Chicago, and asked HIM
If he remembered It,
al should say 80. he replied; 'and
il was all because OF my not having "A
quarter instead of ninety cents. With
tho ninety cents | couldn't get It, 1t is
this wav : Some weeks ago | had
sudden inspiration, and | said to my
wife that from then on ia never spend
another ten-cent piece, but that every
one | got I'd keep ior the children to
put in their savings banks. Mrs. Snyder
Thought that would be good scheme,
and 1t was adopted. 1t had been in force
only a few days when you saw
me in Chicago. ! was playing an
engagement there at the time. The
day OF the little cafe incident | had
gone out to that jumping-oh place on
business. Just before starting | found
| had no money in my pocket, and got
a silver dollar from my wife. The street
car conductor gave me nine ten-cent
pieces and nickel in change when L
paid nv fare. / ran about Tor two or
three hours out there, and when | got
through was tired and thirsty. lspied
the little care and struck bee line for 1t,
tossing my nickel to blind beggar as l
went. That drink you heard me order
was gong to taste better than any
thing I'd had for months. AS l was
dallying with it in joyful expectancy l
felt for the money to pay for it. My
finger came in contact with the niue ten
cent pieces. Instead of four or five fat
and solid nickels l had but a paltry
ninety cents, and I'd have choked on the
drink if / had used single ninth part
of the sum to pay for it. That was why
/ returned the cup to the BAR
tender and went sorrowiully out
hastily out ! rushed for a car. 1t
was not until the conductor came around
for his fare that came to myself again.
Again the fatal nine ten-cent pieces arose
before me, and | suppose the conductor
Also thought was crazy or broke, the
way | got off Of that car. | tramped
the five miles back home, aud ! suppose
/ was lust dragging myself into the ho-
tel as you were coming out.
"sBut it's q great scheme. A fellow
can save lot OF money by holding on to
his ten cent pieces, but he wants to have
a couple OF dollars or so with him TO
spend while he's doing 1t If he don't
want TO 40 dry and walk.
A Pacific coast paper reports that the
blowing up OF rock IN the harbor OF