The Washington critic., 1890-03-27
THE CRITICS" CAMERA.
PICTURES OF MEN AND THINGS AT
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.

Some Devious Ways of Lawyers.
The next strike in this city will likely
be a BARRIERS strike. This matter has
been fully determined upon by the ex-
ccutiye committee Of the BARRIERS
Union, and only needs the formality of
ratification by the organization at its
meeting TO be held for that purpose
next Thursday evening. What the
prospective strikers want is to have the
days work stop at o'clock during the
summer months ON every week day eX-
Ccpt Saturday. This seems a modest
enough request. but the employers for
some reason seem TO view the matter in
another light
The boss barber of Washington IS.
ms a rule, a meek and humble indi-
vidual, who bears his yoke gently, and
is the last person q stranger entering
his shop would pick out us the proprie-
tor. He meekly accepts hard earned
dimes and insults from his subordiuates
and generally has his chair in the dark
est corner of the room. He is usually
considered undesirable by the patrons Of
his shop, and with good reason, for he
is generally the poorest scraper in the
gang. But even the worm when trod-
den on will turn, and the boss barber
declines the apparently modest de-
mand of his employees that they shall
quit work at Z. There IS great indig-
nation over this among the dusky
Legitimate wielders of the ''razzer,"
and they intend to put their collective
and ponderous feet down heavily in ia.
vor Of early closing during the perspi-
ration period. There is very little doubt
but that they will be upheld in this by
the public. The man who can't get
shaved before p. m. doesn't want
sc1ape very badly.
A custom generally observed by
Washingtonians is that of stopping at
the sidewalk crossing and not passing
through funeral procession during its
passage. A very long cortege crossed
Seventh street yesterday and by the
time the last carriage had reached the
crossing of that crowded thoroughfare at
least 200 people were waiting to pass
over. Only three or four pedestrians
went over between the carriages, and
they were apparently in a hurry. THE
CRITIC asked several of the parties who
had been waiting whether it was due to
superstition or simply respect for the
dead. An old c0lored man said, "It's
bad luck to go through funeral pro-
cession, while younger man of the
same hue declared that he would not
"cross a hearse with body in It for
love or money" Among the whites
it was more a matter of etiquette, but
the colored people cling to the belief
that it is bad luck to "cross a CORPSE"
and they will not do SO under any cir.
cumstancGs.
One of the characters of Washington
is John Classic, who is sfamiliary known
as Crying John" lie is confirmed
inebriate and spends the greater part of
bis time in the workhouse. The ap-
pellation, Crying John" was given
him several years ago on account of his
habit of going about from one groggery
to another literally crying for drinks.
He would enter these places and If the
proprietor refused to give him drink
John would sob and cry bitterly until
he was either given the liquor or or
dered out OF the place. John also had
habit Of accosting people on the
street for five or ten cents. A refusal
would invariably be followed by an out
burst of weeping which would usually
accomplish Johns purpose. This un-
fortunate individual was gallant Of
ficer in the Union Army during the
war, but later became victim of John
Barleycorn. He is now in the work
house and an effort is being made to
have him admitted TO the Soldiers
Home at Hampton, Va.
care you aware" said well-known
lawyer yesterday, that the legal pro-
fession in Washington is being brought
into ill-repute by the Objectionable prac-
tices of some attorneys. For instance,
a member OF the Bar was very recently
employed to secure divorce for a
client from his (the client's) wife,
whom he claimed had been unfaithful
to him. Rather than resort to the GUS
tomarv method of employing detec-
tive to shadow the woman, the attorney
proposed to demonstrate that he could
dispense with the services of such an
assistant He cultivated the friendship
of his clients wife, after having been
formally introduced by the husband.
lie preyed upon her affections by
saying that her husband associated with
other women, and argued that it was
her privilege to do likev Sc. In this
way he completely conquered Mrs. -,
and the outcome was that the client and
husband came home one night aud the
scene that followed was very much like
that which occurred in the home of DR..
Condory on Thirteenth street early in
March.
Another attorney of similar calibre
was employed to carry out the divorce
proceedings, and, if necessary, attorney
No. l will be put on the stand to give
the needed testimony. Some of the
members of the Bar who do not resort
to practices of this nature have been
notified and will probably be heard
from.
The other day an attractive and very
richly, ,atlired woman stepped into the
clerks office at the City Hall and
accosted Major Williams. 81 have {
notice" she said, as she drew scral
of paper from her purse, ito appear
here and pay some costs in connection
with some civil litigation in which
am involved" why, madam" sale
the Major, your attorney represented
that you were not financially responsi
BILE, and, on his say so, the costs in thu
case you speak of were entered on thu
paupcr account" Upon hearing thi
remark the lady brought the heel of he
patent leather.tipped shoe down upoI