New-York tribune., 1889-10-20
BOYSJUST As SMART As THEY USED 10 BE
SPECIMEN FRANKS OF THE OLD AND THE
RISING GENERATION.

SPECIMEN PRANKs OF THE OLD AND THE
RISING GENERATION.
Two New-Tork merchants swapping" remi-
ntscences OF their childhood the other night I'm an up
town hotel 81 went back TO the old homestead this
summer said one. and I think ! never so sur
prlsed In my life rs when found thai Old father
and mother were not only willing 20 allow the young
folks 10 have a game Of cards In the evening but
would even take hand I'm # themselves. When !
was a boy, the worst whaling ever got was when
| the old man found a cuchre deck hidden under my
mattress. and low tho order of things about
| was curious 20 know. All that father mother
would say was that they had changed their minds and
saw no sin now in an innocent game Of cards where
no money was at stake. But this is tho way II really
happened My Oldest brother BIZ has a smart but
delicate boy named Roger that he sent out Of tho city
to the farm 10 grow strong. The old people Just
dotted on that BOY In a few months and nothing that
he did seemed TO them, til be wanted to play
cards This was going too far. however and 1t was
stcrnly forbidden.
"Wen. the boy studied over the thing for few
days and finally seized the old mans weak point.
Tom, my youngest brother, you know, was killed in
tho War and father IS done Dragging about Il
and reading stories. so the lad got a lot OF
business cards from his father and painted on some
Of them rough pictures Of the famous generals Of
The War. Grant stood, IN his mind, the king of
hearts, though he dd not call him so; ; sherman, the
king Of diamonds; sheridan. the king of spades Nc.
Clclau the King OF clubs JEFF" Davis the bnave Of
hearts Lee, the knsvc of clubs etc. while privstes
stood for ten spot, and all the way through.
When this was done he showed them to his grand
father and easily induced him to learn how pay
with him game he sad he had invented himself,
which ho called battle Tho old man found it rather
engaging and by and by the Old lady got Interested
and before long they became expert players.
One day BIZ came over 10 sprud a few davs and
see his boy, and father tol him OF the little fellows
cutencSs IN inven,ing such interesting game. Du
watched them playing al Il for awhile that night and
suddenly broke up the fun by excalmng: why, you
lmpudent Hie bcggar. what do you mean by teaching
your conading old grandparents how 70 play euchre
" 1t "as too true and al first the old people were
mad and chaguned, but they loved the boy that
they forgave him before long and rejecting upon all
Tie innocent fun they had got Of the game, they
concluded that they too Old yet to break OIL
irom stupid traditions and keep up with the rising
generation. and that's how found thor inIo
he old home al last"
Pretty smart boy,7 said tho listener but no
smarter Than lad used 10 play with years ago. lie
uNed on the farm next the school house. and he was
bad one tell you, and OF course we all admired
him His father had tlrslshed him till no wearied Of
H. ana one DAY vailed the punishment By setting him
~ PCh az uIe stones out OF two aero lot. The boy
lsieU Of breaking his back over the stones stole an
od scatccrOw out OF his fathers cornhed aud set II
uo schOG4{ ara. Tor week that boy had target
p@uc' Ot ID, scho0f'il0ws throwing stones at that
s'aieciOW uhiu every In that two acre lot that
uoYlsh arms could throw was out IN the lane whore
he scaIro.ow STOOL. Hall days work sunlced for
Ao hIgsc. iOch,, aud none of US knew that he had
90 20 clear me held TIL he began 10 gather them up
SPEAKER s ~
- Well retorted the other IL think the boys OF
o It. os . times were good deal smarter than those
don't know about t!ft,' was the reply. - ] saw
,h SIa eutler snlpe at The entrance 10 the Bridge
me oheF day, dive under the feet OF the crowd after
a. slVer coin on the pavement. That's mine, J
SSIVpped ~ said man as no reached out his hand
Ior u. Nav yer didn't sneemd the boy mot this
one Here he peered at the coin In his dirty fs and
suded' Yours didn't have no hole IN it' yes Il
~, SAID The man, speaking before he stopped 10
MINK Give II here Well, this ain't got no hole
qhrped The urrhn, be held II up tauntlngly, and
,etore the man could from his embarrassment
Tho crowd surged over him and bore him along.'