The Red Cloud chief., 1889-04-05
A CRITICAL SITUATION.
The Sandwich Man Relates the
Story of His Life.

A. I Wss walking through one OF the prin-
eipal London streets the other day, on my
way to fulfil . business engagement. my at
teEtiOn was attracted by one Of those huge
posters which plentifully besprinkle the
walls Of the city. In resounding tones of
red. blue and bright vermilliOn, 1t called the
attention OF the public TO the fact that the
stirring sensational melOdrama. Of deep do
nestle interest. entitled: '.For Life or Death;
or. the Graves Witness" was then being
performed TO overlooking audiences at the
Royal L0rne Theater. Just above the
printed nnO cement was q picture repre-
senting o gentleman apparently in the act
of boring . hole in the floor with another
g~outleman's head, and which I took to bear
reference to the printed notification below.
My momcutary curiosity satisfied, l turned
to proceed on my way, when my eyes en-
countered those Of = maj standing by my
eide-a man whom ! had not noticed before.
and who might have been the very ghost Of
q sandwich man instead Of a sandwich man
in the flesh. 80 suddenly and quickly had he
come upon me. Yet, there he Enthusiastically
was, his tattercd old frockcOst. once the
pink OF fashion, fray>d at the edges. worn
to shreds Mt h seams and bullying at the
elbows; the trousers darned and patched in
Q dozen different places, but now gone far
beyond the last stage of repair; the patent
leather boots broken and down at heel. and
almost sO!eless; the battered white hat.
with back hand round II, and the brim all
but gone; the dubious red nose, the tremb-
ling mouth and the bleary eyes that told
their tale. l stood for q moment star
ing At his sudden appearance without any
particular reason. and he. in his turn, star
ing Mt me. This pause. awkward enough in
all conscience. was Of that character in
which one of the parties feels impelled to
make an observation Of some kind in order
to get decently away. Before l could open
my lips, however, my companion anticipa.
ted me-.
striking sort Of picture that. he said. in
dry, husky voice. and with an ~apoloSetic
kind 81 snin.
III coloring has any thing "a do with t. |
should cert iinly say IL was striking enough"
Ireplied.
AIR he returned. ''you seemed inter
cstcd in il. but I'll warrant you arc not half SO
Interested In it ~ I am. There's not a soul in
all this CITY hat understands that picture ms
lido. The worst VI il is. when I once star;
looking I'm unable to leave il for thinking
Of what this play once did for me. Then
the police have &C. move me on and that gets
me into trouble. Even il would forget
the past, l NAV not, for-look here."-he
pointed TO the two boards siung over his
shoulders ~ he spoke. and showed me the
description. "Fo Life or Death" in light.
ring -igxaG letters.
Ma people stop to look at the roster.
here and elsewhere. but there is not one OF
them to whom il means wha, il does to me
To you and them I, is only q picture badly
designed. au n sily cut and worse colored
To me il is Tho story OF nv life's ruin. Per
haps you'll nonler wha, I'm driving 1t. L
o care to listen for a few rnoments I vii
tell yon." He glanced at the open doorwa,
q one Of the old city churches near At hand
Como In here" he said: Its Quiet ana
shady. and when tn ere's no one about the!
sometimes let me 60 in there for Q rest
Yo0 may like to hear what I have 70 tell
and | shall b glad 60 set these iuferna
boards Oh my shoulders for . few momeutA
Thoroughly interested already In apite O
myseH-rerhaps moro by the mans man
ner than anything eise-I followed him
Entering the porch he took the boards Of
hts shoulder and placed them aeainst Ii
wa md taking his seat on the bcuch Jus
inside the doorway. drew Q pocket hAndkes
chief from his pockse md mopped his fors
head With it.
ITO bskin viii" be sahd. after momeat'
siseuce. 'aes Ne Tell yoa that my name
Edward 4ortos. Perhaps you viii not b
lisve - i'll say that I was once upon
tiDoeWAat o& q. thin9s h b world d
yOu tAink- dramatic criticl Yea NJ tru<
tHhsS q morA adramaaic criticism ~ Ii
N~eGiuuine and end OF ~ downfall snd thi
q how it happened. Il VA about tea yoaz
-. end sooa Mar I started my j~curnalissi
49, In IL ueovincoS thai I took Q satnl
- - - q COR great daily Rpess-n
H-a.,1eree. . Wit his I succeeded in d
sei.ine sAroogA tAe infasaos of . ft3eaA q
- -. foeA yo1Aeseae ~ on1ogA