, 1890-06-12
TOO MUCH FOR THE CANE RACKET
A Mans knowledge of the Use of His
F1sts Serves Him a Good Turn.

A Mans knowledge of the Use of Hi
Fists Serves Him a Good Turn.
Two gentlemen were chatting to
rther about many things in a club.
One was a tall, well built man, whose
chief business in life it Was TO keep him.
self in good form. The other was al
admiring friend from the country, who
was listening to the formers tales OF
metropolitan experiences.
did you ever hear" asked the city
man, about the cane racket MOI
Well, then, l will tell you about one OF
the closest calls / suppose hat l ever
had 1t was 1 O'Clock in the morning.
After the theatre l dropped in here at
the club for an hour OF two. When /
left the club l had only a little small
change in my pocket.
at wa a mild evening in early au-
tumn, and l walk along up town at a
swinging gait. Ny overcoat was thrown
open showing my dress suit, and in my
right hand / carried a fairly heavy
stick. / did not keep to the avenues,
but to vary the monotony took occa
sionally a block on the cross streets in
working my way east. / noticed that
there was a man following a short dis
lance behind me who was very gradu-
ally overtaking me, but l did not think
much of 1t. As / turned into Thirty
siIth street he brushed by me, knock
ing my cane out of my hand. 1t fell a
foot or so in front.
Despite his muttered Excuse me-
1t passed through my mind in a minute
that it vas done purposely. l did not
upon him and let him have a left
handler right under the jaw. He was
evidently taken by surprise and off his
guard, for he fell sprawling into the
gutter.
Before he had time to him
sell / stood over him with my right
hand clinched and lifted. Crawl along
on your hands and knees said ], 'un-
til you get opposite where that cane is
lying He did so. Now said i,
while you keep your left hand on the
ground, reach out with your right, pick
up that zane and hand it TO me- He
did that, too. Once more / said,
get on to your feet, clasp your hands,
and hold them out in front of you
He obeyed sheepishly. Now / added,
walk straight along, and If you dare
change or make movement to change
from the position which / have given
you / will brain you
"a child could not have been more
obedient than was this supposed ruff
fan. He walked along with his clasp
ed hands held in front of him, slowly,
like a blind man feeling his way, while
l walked behind him gripping with
both hands the appraised cane, in the
attitude of Ajax defying the lightning,
strength and crack his skull, If he
showed the least disposition for funny
business We advanced this way a
little more than a block when we met
a policeman. To him / delivered over
my captive. 1 accompanied them to
The station house.
"'Hello,' said the sergeant at the
desk, is that you, Jim2 What brought
you heref
81 told the sergeant my story, and he
seemed very much amused. He began
to poke fun at jim for being so easily
run in by a dude in n dress suit. Jim's
reply was very complimentary, Me
amt no chump.'
when the officers went through
Jim's clothes they found a slungshot In
n of his pockets, as well as a revolt
yer. Had l stopped TO pick up that
cane / should no doubt have received a
playful tap on my head that would
have left me sleeping on the sidewalk.
THE sergeant warmly congratulated
me on my escape and on my rendering
valuable service to the police depart
ment. 1t seems hat Jim, otherwise
known a. 'Pimply JIM was a recent
graduate 81 Sing Sing. He celebrated
his return to freedom by committing a
house burglary, and the police were at
that time hunting for him. In going
from one hiding place to another he
had run Lcross INT, and thought that
he might utilize me, securing my watch
and ready money. l had the pleasure
of seeing him sent up for ten years. !
tell you what it is, it is worth any
mans whils to know how to box, espe-
cially If he is a man who knocks around
more or less at night. Epoch.