St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-04
CAUGHT AT RANDOM.

Yesterday being a perfect spring day,
all the world and his best girl were out
driving. The roads in the direction of
Merriam Park and Hamline were one
procession of carriages ali the afternoon,
furs were discarded, and last falls bon
nets and light overcoats resurreeted to
do service until spring ones can be OBJ
tanned.
~
Judge Burgess and Capt. Farrell, of
Duluth, were discussing "reminiscences
of the old days I'D Duluth yesterday
They recalled how they two, with the
Ocratic club up there. and at the first
election after their organization, when
the club only numbered thirteen, they
elected a majority of the city and county
officers.
That the public appreciates comedy
more than tragedy is being clearly dem
Onstrated in Twin City amusement
circles at present. The history of the
two cities offers but few examples of a
standard company playing in one city
and not in the other, and yet year and
a half ago, when the Booth-B Barrett com
bination opened the Hennepin Avenue
theater in Minneapolis. but few resi-
dents of the Sanity City took advantage
of the week of classic, legitimate drama,
and the Golfers of the company contained
but little st. Paul gold. During the
run OF the Crystal Slipper extravaganza,
however, the amusement trains to and
fro have been crowded with theater-
goers, eager for an evening of good,
VhntPCnmR
and the theatrical people have seized the
opportunity. The prices were reduced
to st. Paul people, and all are happy in
Consequence.
Does this mean that the popular
taste is becoming depraved? Not at all.
The majority of work-a-day men and
women have enough sorrow in real life
without counting its counterfeit during
hours of relaxation. A healthy mind
would prefer to follow the lntricacies Of
a song and dance or ponder upon the
profound depth of thought as expressed
in the latest topical song, to being edi-
fed by the classic murdereSs, and White
Caps or Shakespeare. The polished
villain of the society play, the prosy
father, and the weeping heroine have
seemingly been relegated to the rear,
and fun and frolic have the amusement
public i'll firm grasp. and promise to
continue the domination for some time
to come. Carping critics may cry aloud
III the decadence of the drama, but the
public needs not their warning, pays its
money, and enjoys itself. Why not? 1t
often serves as a tonic and buoyS one up
for the stern realities of life.
-"
There's queer story going the
rounds just-now, and the Joke is on
certain dispenser of the fluid extract.
well-knOwn habits and aH-round good
nature. Last week an addition to the
family of the gentleman mentioned was
announced. The new arrival was
twelve pounds, and boy, and Mac eel
ebrated the event in somewhat hi
iarious manner, being ably assisted by a
cotery of kindred spirits called from
among the long list of his acauaintances.
Early on Friday morning he arrived at
his place of business and opened up for
the day. Shortly after a gang of men
filed in who called for something
straight" Among their number was
a man OF peculiar appearance. and Mac,
whose nerves were slightly Off as a re-
suit OF his recent Jamboree, stared
1ixedly at this worthy, his face exhibit
ing all unwonted expression of horror.
w nat S the matter with your eye?'
he asked.
"fbat eyes all right" responded the
customer"
But | tell you there's flies on it,''
persisted Mac, who was now thoroughly
scared.
The other said that the flies were on
the other side of the bar.
Mac hurriedly put on the coat he had
first discarded and claiming a last sum-
mer's straw hat on his pate, started for
home. His departure was the signal
for roar of laughter, when it was dis
covered that in the center of the
strangers eye, which was glass one, a
piece of paper, about the size of a pea,
had got stuck, completely hiding the
retina and giving grotesque if not
tiendish appearance to a countenance
not prepOssessing under any circum-
stances. 1t took a great deal of per-
suasioR to convince Mac of his mistake,
and that perverted visual sense was
not responsible for the gruesome ap-
pearance of his late visitor.