Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-19
BOYS IN OLD TIMES.
An Old Citizens Recollections OF Raids
on Peach and Pear Orchards.


'Forty years ago or thereabouts," remarked
an old resident ''the boys Of Washington be-
heved in the old saying. There's nothing
sweeter than stolen fruit and the earliest
varieties Of peach, apple pear did not escspe
them nor did an attack Of green fruit save an
orchard"
lyon mean to say that the bows Of old we're
partial to green fruitg" was asked
Yes" answered the old resident "Did you
ever bite an apple behind a book in school
when the rules prohibited any eating during
school hours2 Well. the flavor is much the
same. In those days there were but few peach
orchards Of any considerable size, and the
number OF trees were about as limited o. the
number Of varieties. The grower might be
ever 50 attentive 10 his orchard but the bows
generally sampled them when they took ON
their first blush toward ripening."
The boys, OF course, took risks with the
peaches" suggested a STAR reporter.
''les. there were risks run" said the old
resident. land there some rare sport in
the shape Of adventure, which added TO the
enjoyment of those who escaped. remember
TIE MERIDIAN Hill RAID
and the ludicrous scene which was there
enacted In the neighborhood OF New York
avenue, III, 18th and 18th streets there WAS .
gang Of boys ranging in age from fifteen 70
eighteen years with whom two or three men
from twenty-one to twenty-five associated In
the month of July. one Sunday afternoon, it
was suggested that Coxs orchard at Meridian
HUI needed attention. That was all that WAS
necessary, and at once q ready assent was given
and soon about thirty Of the hoodlums, with
teeth set for peaches. were on their way. It
was agreed. the orchard being back Of the
house, that the attack should be made from the
rear. Above Columbia college q halt
made, and as il was known that there we're
both men and dogs. and. perhaps, guns on the
place, thorough organization was suggested.
There was one young man who had seen sea
service and had some little knowl-
edge of maneuvering a force. To his
suggestions all bent a willing ear. IL was
thereupon decided who were TO climb, pick
and shake the trees, who were to pick from tho
ground, and who were 20 watch for the man
and dog and give the alarm on the approach
OF the enemy In case of discovery each was
to look out for himself and to wait at a spring
near the head of 18th street for the rest OF his
fellows.
jim WOULD 90 IT ALONE.
''There was one who, having read Of the er-
ploits Of the Texan rangers, determined that
he would go as he pleased and do his full share.
This was Jim De karr, and being determined
and set in his way he not pressed further.
What he intended 70 do was unknown, but
when the climbers got TO work Jim was seen in
a tree whose branches were bending with loads
ground but the limbs were fast depleted.
Soon Jim's broad pantaloons seemed TO swell
and from the ankle (around which he had tied
stout cords) each leg seemed to grow till they
suggested that he was afflicted with the ele-
phantiasis. 1t was soon apparent that In .
little time he would be
WAIST DEEP IN PEACHES.
"Just about this time from several parts OF
| the field came the alarm dogs and a general
scatter took place, all escaping excepting Jim.
Some went one route and some others, but
finally the spring reached and the mis-
| fortune which had overtaken Jim was discussed,
all being certain that something fearful had
befailen him, for the last seen Of him the men
were driving the dogs of to keep them from
molesting the peacb-laden Jim. However, We
waited at the spring till near shutdown, when
Jim came dowu without q peach, and at once
| told the rest of the story as follows: i didnt
hear anything till the dogs were barking under
my tree and looked up and you all get
| ting away. Then an old man came out, and
| when he looked up at me- he laughed and said,
Hello! you've got nearly all my peaches.
Didn't need any bags, did youY" couldn't say
| anything. but when he told me to come down
didn't climb, but fell down. wished that the
strings would break, but they wouldn't, and
there stood with my breeches legs so packed
that 1 couldn't bend my knees. / told
him L would never touch his peaches
again il he would let me of, but he
| wouldn't. He said: Now, sonny, / have
some friends at the house and want you TO see
| them and walked me to the house." The first
thing knew ! was in a great long room where
| there were some ladies and gentlemen. and the
| old gentlemen taking me on the floor explained
bow L was caught and how convenient my pants
were for gathering peaches Then he said,
| You young rascal, when you want peaches again
come here and ask for them" Then he called
two gentlemen and told them to take hold Of
| the strings (Which were tied in a bow knott and
pull them while he raised his stick and shouted,
| Kun, you young rascal, rum. You may bot
| your life did and you ought to have seen the
peaches scatter. didn't, but heard them aud
| haven't got one left; they all rolled out on the
floor. Boys, said he in conclusion, pockets
out to be big enough on raid. II had not
tried TO put the whole crop in my pants might
| have escaped. The old gentleman told me to
ask for peaches il 1 ever wanted any, but
don't think III ask, for he will remember me-
| The best way is not TO be hog.
| ANOTHER E1PERIENcK.
''There was another lesson learned from the
| experience Of another member of the gang No
matter how warm the weather he persisted in
wearing shoes and stockings, and by his shoes
he was once caught Not far from Franklin
row was fine pear tree with fruit luscious and
plentiful. This tree was in the garden OF an
officeholder who daily left his home at $50 am.
But few people being about during the day
| there were opportunities for pear cribbing
| which could not be neglected. The place was SUR
| a fence Oh NOOu anu IRON, the upper
portion being in the shape of pointed spear
heads with barbs on each side. The fence was
quite low, and it was not difficult to Jump over
| and get the fruit. Our young admirer of pears
at S:35 one morning came out, and taking IL for
granted that the owner had left for his Office,
cast his eve up and down the street and hastily
jumped the fence and soon had got nearly as
many he wanted. Before he had finished he
was Mortified by the sight of the owner, but he
attempted to escape by jumping Placing his
foot on the stringer a barb caught one of his
shoes by the sole, holding il tight, and he fell
over on the outside, catching on his hands. In
this uncomfortable position the owner found
him with pears dropping from his pocket
OH I'll break my foot OF, screamed the
boy.
Stealing my pears, are your was the reply,
| accompanied by the swish Of q switch, which
| landed on the boys pants.
PLEASE sir, unite my SHOE pleaded the
boy. IN break my foot
another swish of the switch was the reply,
and then the pleading cries of the boy and tbe
swish of the switch were simultaneous for .
few minutes. When the old gentleman
thought the boy had enough he threw the
switch away and united the boys shoe, out of
| which the foot was worked; then, advising him
| to walk TO his door, ring the bell and ask fog
pears il he wanted them, the owner suffered
| the boy to leave. Before the boy wss out OF
1 sight however the old gentleman called tn