New-York tribune., 1890-06-01
HE CHOSE TO DRINK - LIKE 4 GENTLEMAN
An EXPERIENCE WITH A TRAMP WHO READ
TILE NEWSPAPERS AND APPRECIATED WIT.


THE NEWSPAPERS AND APPRECIATED WIT.
4 certain newspaper Of this town. who finds
II a good deal OF trouble 20 keep from drinking too
much himself though he succeeds. has fondness or
ccturng his friends in an unobtrusive way, on the
evils of intcmperance. and sometimes extends the
good advice TO strangers. lie was passing through
City Hall Park night last spring. when one OF tic
more hardy species of gentlemen who seem TO oc'
cnpy reserved seats the benches there from dawn
to dawn. even in wet and chilly April rose to his
feet confronted the newspaper man with quiet
lmpcrtnence and said. with correct accent:
Boss, give me a quarter TO get glass os whiskey
WITH
The newspaper man. whose name begins with n,
scanned the bcggar carefully from hat 70 boots lie
saw a man who lad fallen evidently from considers
ably greater height, socially speaking, than his feow-
toggars: a man who had probably received a fsir
cduca.on and had gone to ruin not through lazness,
but through drink That's what would certainly como
to-" thought NJ, If ever let 20 my grip.
wonder if il is possible for him to reform. eApecS
not Then he said:
Il you read the papers
IIow's tLatl7 said the tramp, looking astonshed
and a little shecplSh.
Because that's a joke l coined myself replied
The tramp laughed. Are you surc'7 he asked.
sure said Nj, "yOu expect me 70 be aston.
Ished at your gall and remark that five cents Is
Right, $ far said the tramp with a grin. |" Go
on though, perhaps YOU amt Oh 10 it after all
ply That 90 sir. bat. Great scott! what kind OF
whiskey IS IT, - AN A,.,
the Great scott never SO horribly a. that.
But did you really write tnat iohe Yourself, lus
The sail Of It astonshed them. IL smacks OF better
days, without any whine to IT, ,o got IL 81 IN voas oe
Work. boss. / mast say would not be ashamed "a
use any ySr SIS sS % &, my esmy STm II Ike your
imperttnencc see you have vein Of humor your.
se %9r Sm ae E@ O@ eTs FSi a @ @ ana
as the worst Of them ,, .., tram, IN .ur,r,se.
~YoW're ee real brotheriy. amt yoni never saw
newspaper man turn ont 70 be FsSnlst Gs & We3
ihe IN o5 a man cut me adrii started out in the world
with education and not dosr beside erin ye hea
'"% slt DOWN "1 'IS here said want to talk With ;
@ G oT na ssy an 'fS hour rG on the rot.en o
he always called T. of man drinking more tn than wa:
l Interested in any man in his life , as SsrS he be;
s,s after sa 1 dead nad S skS os
bcaroyed sodden and clothed in rags and the other
after taking with the result reversed. The tramp
sS'%a % nm,cd w5S ccmPlste go 1nsPgS refoTm Sy
NJ offered him assistance to get work and, and the ~
took % sa IT, TG%'s Ss tn reform 4Sr to and SSy tried hard
fHc m tramp waS never drunk vet his breath savs
double dealing and the tramp would swear that no
wasn't drinIing. finally confess that ne nad tahen
lust one glass. and then in abject repentance and
shame would mentally sign the pledge again %aa aH
earnest. but il was good. NJ, stuck 70 nm;
though gave him money enc9uragei ana & ,b.t h,s
him, long after the tramp had warned MN 'ha' h'S
kindness would be thrown away: ,...
FINALLY Nj came across his charge one hiens
boneessiv drunk on the old park bench The tramp
smoke first Mr. NJ he said, don't ask M %, 20
ali / never was a liar anyway, ul ! saw yol.
I've quit vim now and gone back to drink hks
! nom 1ep1an