Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-03
HIS LAST BLUE CHIP.
The Tramp Who Had Been Trained
Journalism Works q New Scheme

The Tramp VINO Had Been Trained for
Journalism Works a New Scheme.
The tramp was very seedy Individual al
together, tall and angular, with a woebegone,
Ratchet faced, and a general air OF disrepu-
liability about his make up His shoes were
ragged, SO was his sack coat; his trousers
were patched, and he had no necktie. He
might have been an i'll starred actor, Or q dog
fighter gone to seed, or tramp printer. But,
none the less, it was graceful attitude that
he struck before the door of the cottage as
1.-THE lady of the house" appeared.
Madam" he said, "you see before you the
wreck of one of the grandest chicken handlers
that ever opened game soiree in a New
Orleans parlor. Do you follow me, madame"
The woman replied that she knew nothing
of chicken fighting or of Louisiana society.
well, madam, let me put it in another
form. represent the remains of Chicago's
noblest work of art-an untamed bunco. /
have numbered among my patrons the fore
most men in America. Why, it seems but
yesterday that met General Booth and in
troduced myself to him as the son Of his old
friend and playmate, the president of the Ske-
daddels bank. All, madam, if 1 could touch
every one meet as touched General Booth
for a double x, would not be here cringing
J OoA AebSO
Do-er-do you yet size me up?"
The woman thought she didn't, but wasn't
quite sure.
"'Hic jacet sweiterkasep as Napoleon said
when he threw his last dollar on the seven
teen. Have you ever noticed an actor,
madam, when the fretful babble of society's
pampered favorites is hushed by the force of
his magnificent impersonation? Such was
once, years ago, ere l sank beneath the
sings and arrows of outrageous fortune
You see? you parlez vous?"
The woman was growing restless. eff you
want to sell picter book or new double
back action can opener, young man." she
said sharply, 'show yer samples. Don't
keep body here in the cold"
''Well, madam, l am a ruined man. ire.
trievably ruined. You see, l studied jour.
nalism at college and thought myself another
Dana. | was full of hope when l first SET
foot in New York and set about creating
sensation l imagined myself city editor,
then managing editor. saw myself obliter.
ating the old style Of journalism and 1nau.
gurating new school. My name was heard
everywhere. 1t was blazoned on the musty
scroll of history and sent forever down the
future years. Well, didn't make much sen.
sation or money, and in an evil moment
took to writing verses, hoping to supplement
my small weekly salary Don't shudder so,
1 have paid in full the penalty Of my wrong
doing"
He pulled out the tenpenny nail that served
for a button in his coat, and, thrusting his
bony fingers into an inner pocket, produced
greasy, much crumpled sheet of paper.
81 call this my last blue chip, madam, be
cause 1 have played it in every newspaper
Office east of the Rockies 1t is one of those
little poems that men Of genius toss off in
leisure moments never could bring myself
to part with it. When | have shown it to my
brother journalists they have praised it.
They did not offer to buy it lest they might
injure my sensitive feelings. But on the
strength of this poem they blow me off to a
square meal and give me list of the deserted
barns for the next five miles, OF tell me the
lay of the most vicious dogs in their neigh.
borhood. Today, as l was passing your
house, l saw your lovely face at the window,
andn-
"Why don't you show your poem to the
woman over in that red house,"
"Ohl madam, she is not like you. Pardon
my bluntness, but as 1 saw her sitting on the
back veranda she seemed as homely as a wire
fence. She must be a very ordinary person,
1 THINK. NO, below the average, Tor she
wears a wig. But in your face l saw the an.
gelic temperament, the refined simplicity
that would have turned Pope's cynical shafts
upon man and away from woman"
II think l can give you something to eat,
sir, if you will step in the dining room,' said
the woman; ''but can't buy your poem"
After he had eaten meal that would have
staggered the giant of a travelling circus, he
,%a ,+oI I
weary journey. But half mile further on
he stretched himself out on a fiat shelf of
rock and, lighting pipe, gazed up at win
try sky.
Originality is as good as money! he said
aloud. ''When I spent those six months at
Sing Sing thought it was a clear waste of
time But this little blue chip scheme con-
cocted up there is a dandy When wander
toward the lilacs of Louisiana for my lungs
sake I'll try to sell it to some of the boys on
the grand southern tour. "-Texas Siftings