The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-12-05
A GOOD INVESTMENT.
It Pays Better Than an Expensive Fish
inn Ernedftinn.

It was just after lamplight and the
place was at the corner of Broadway |
and Chamber street, on the City Hall |
park side. One was weli-dressed man, |
the other tough-loolSing fellow, with |
his right hand tied up in rag. He had |
evidently asked for aims, as the other
was saying:
"How do / know but what you'll go
and get drunk2'
81 certainly shouldn't, sir" was the
reply.
"Thats what they all say. never
saw so many rags and buns and dead
beats as are hanging around here just
now. It's nothing but give, give give,
and I've got tired of it, I've given away
hundred dollars this summer, and
who is any better OFF,"
"Please, sir, l."
"Go on have nothing for your
Let's look at his figures bit The
average New Yorker isn't struck by
vag to exceed twice n day the year
round, and he gives not to exceed II
nickel when he gives at all. Call it two
vags and ten cents day for three hun
dred and sixty-fve days. That's only
thirtysiX dollars and fifty cents for the
year. 70 be out of pocket that sum he'd
have to be Struck" by seven hundred
and thirty vags, and we know that such
couldn't be the case. He had probably
been "held up twenty times at the
most, and he had given not to exceed
two dollars. l was mentally figuring
this out as / followed the man toward
Park row. Overtalling him near the
engine house, said:
"Seems to be an off-nght with you?"
"And I've quit!" he answered as he
looked up.
something the matter with the
hand?"
Eyes; had it smashed four weeks
ago."
Lets have n look at it.
We took cut through the park and
| brought up on bench near the fount-
ain, and he removed the bandage and
exhibited bad-loolsing hand. The
thumb had been hurt the worst and a
new nail was growing.
This means that you have been out
of work for a month";"
Eyes, and something more. I'm "A
lnachinist and came here from Milwau-
lSee. I'd worked only day and half
when hurt this hand I've had to pawn
tools and clothes, and for three nights
past I've had no bed"
mo friends in Milwaukee?"
"None able to help me to dollar"
"You told that man a poor story for
one with facts to back it up"
81 suppose So but to-day l used the
last cent had to get a bowl of soup,
and that was my first experience in
begging"
"And now what?'
He waited long minute before re.
plying
1t had grown dark and the wind was
blowing up cold and drear. He looked
about in u hopeless way dropped his
chin into his hands, and quietly but
bitterly replied:
What fool a man sometimes is
about things. lie loses his nerve just
when he wants it most"
DO you want nerve to rob some
one?"
NO! l want it to go down to the
river and take header into the drink
That's exactly what a man ought to dc
who is down and going lower. Thai
would settle everything in short order
It's just what a nervy man would do
but can't get my sand up yet. Per
haps it'll come tomorrow, however"
you've been fishing?" I asked.
Eyes. What of it?"
Nothing, except going fishing ex
hibits one of the curious traits in hui
man character. A man goes and buys
an outfit costing perhaps ten dollars
and it costs him ten dollars more to gel
to the fishing place and back, and yet
you never hear him complain nor figure
that he is out cent even if he doesn't
/, get nibble."
That's So"
but turn it around. man invest.
a dollar on tramp, and if that dollar
doesn't brace the poor devil up anC
make u great statesman or capitals
out of him inside OF a month the givel
regards it as a dead loss and shuts Iii
!, purse to all future calls"
That's mighty true"
"a well-off, respectable man beats u
, out of five hundred dollars and w,
make no kick and never wonder how
: he is going to use the money. If w;
l give vag dime and he spends it fo
whisky we feel awfully cut up"
, "'rhat's it."
. Hundreds of men in this town arr
losing from one dollar to fifty dollar
per day on the races You hear ne
signing or complaining. Let one of 'en
lose fifty cents on tramp and he'd 60
about declaring that he no longer kat
any confidence in human nature"
"He would, for sure"
"Once more. Men are willing ant
= anxious to take chances on lotteries
a races, games, the gaming table, and 81
on. Why not take chance on fel
= low-human being now and then?"
y "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Just this In "a week your hand will
9 be we'll enough to enable you to go t.
p work I'll pay your board for the weel
q and I'll take your tools and clothes ou
of pawn. You can pay me SO much
:. week after you get work. You ma,
beat me. If so, have simply played
= horse or bought lottery ticket ant
lost"
He looked at me a long time in pu2
. zled way, and then laughed as he said
y "I've been wondering"
c whether I'm a fool or a philoso
r. pher?"
= "Yes"
= "Well, we'll try it on either line yo
:, choose, Come on"
We went to Bowery hotel and go