Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-20

was true. he silently conducted the lady
within view OF her husband, and there
was Jim, now wildly waving his hand az
the clock and saying: There she
goes! There she goes This si-ht was
taken as conclusive evidence OF insanity
by the good wife. anu she rushed towards
her husband and piteouSly exclaimed
My poor jim, speak to me-" Jun looked
around, then peeped through the corner
Of his eye at the gentlemen. who were now
roaring with laughter, and lacOnically SAID
10 his spouse Darn 1t. you made lie
lose five dollars"
1t has been a common remark with
strangers who have visited the city on the
occasion OF big public demonstrations
that the Richmond police ere the cham
pions in managing crowds. The compli-
ment is deserved, and the force of the
upper district are entitled to their full
share of it. / have seen Captain Uuce
and his men under very trying cIIcum-
stances, and they have always been equal
10 ell demands. he Captain has good
nature, discretion, and tirmness, and
he knows when 90 combine them
or use thom separately. But the
Captain and two Of his best men
were routed and utterly demOraliZ-d
few evenings ago on Broad street. Be
fore the windows of one Of the dry goods
stores there was wild, merry mob of
little ones enjoying free show and the
Captain and his assistants We're thcre
20 preserve the peace and dignity OF the
Commonwealth along the sidewalk. But
theY didn't. The children did not care
any more for the peace and dignity of the
Commonwealth or for brass buttons than
If no sdch things existed. They swung TO
the COat-talls Of the policemen. hung on
% there brass buttons, and swept them
along IN perfect surge. When the riot was
al It's height approached Captain Hulce
and asked HIM with the steruuess
that only reporter who pays taxes on
$1,000 900 worth of real estate can com
maud why he did not do his duty and
clear the sidewalks. Assuming as much
dignity as man could whose collar and
cravat suggested his having taken the 9Jth
degr6e of the Sons of COnfucius OuR July
night, the Captain gasped I'd have you
TO understand, air, that | do not war on
women and children The moral Of tins
is that the police have been censuTed
on several occasions by men who ought 10
know better and ought to be more con-
slderate of the little ones Tor not
keeping the sidewalks III front of
the stOre-windows clear Of children.
The fact of the business Is that the
police are in these crowds of little ones
not to interfere with their innocent en-
ioyment--a duty that would be utterly re-
pugnant TO them-but to keep thoughtless
not to say beaTtless, grown people, white
and colOred, frOm crOwdlng upon them
aud inlurlnE them. it will be a sorry day
for Richmond when she has police force
that will be ordered to or viii assume TO
dispense crowds of babies who may be
looking at the Christmas displays in store
windows. If the children block the side
walks 1t Is easy enough to walk around
them ten days in the year.
Duelllng may be fashionable now, but
a young man tells an incident which re-
Gently occurred that makes me put very
little faith in this so-called Centlemaniy
prerogatiye to settle personal reflections
or difficulties. 10 was commonly known
that this gentleman (who was prominent
young real estate agent in this city up u a
few months ago. hada very handsome pair
OF duelling pistols The weapons had
attained fame by their connection
with celebrated fights in years past.
One bright fall day prominent
Young man of the highest social circle OF
Richmond appeared in the real estate
agents office. stated his grievances, and
asked that the pistols be loaned for the
occasion, which was TO take place IN a few
persuasion and with a merry twinkle in
his eye, promised that the firearms should
be at tho disposal of the principals
and their seconds the following
morning at 10 O'Clock. Precisely at
the hour prescribed four young
gentlemen appeared at the agents place OF
business. 1hey were invited INTO the pr
vate office, where very handsome leather
case was handed one OF the seconds. Tie
49, nd at al
craved pair Of Colts reyolyers with long
ehttering barrels revealed themselves.
They were indeed instruments OF death
and every one seemed TO be i'm
pressed with that fact. After a bret
examination one of the seconds
SAID Il viii not be connected with any
fight in which those weapons are to be
used" A snort conference followed and
the agent saw the would-Oo principals
shake hands. The fourth man stepped
forward and said to the land-dealer:
" We thank you very much for your kind
ness but an amiCable adjustment OF the
troubles has been made and we will not
need the weapons" With a suppressed
chuckle the proprietor of the place re-
placed the leather case IN drawer and
proceeded about his business.
The highest aim Of some young men with
social aspirations is to become members of
one or more of the fashionable german
clubs in this city. Once in such an organi-
cation the pathway to higher circles is
strewn with roses, but the difficulty lies IN
making this first start. You may have
is of primary imDortance-and
YOU NAV come from an excellent family,
but neither of these enyiable conditions
insure your chances OF getting
the wIshed-fOr entree. The membership
of the clubs is limited, and there are
always q considerable number or appli-
cants awaiting the favorable decl-
sion of the board, which IS vested
with elective power. Moreover, II
YOU happen 10 DO better-looking man
than some member of the board, and the
individual realizes it, he can rule you out
by his vote and you are doomed tor the
season, or until another set OF officers are
elected. Then YOU can take your chances
again. Thus 1t will readily be seen that
sometimes a comparatively unattractiVe te.-
low, with no particular friends and no par
ticular enemies, slips IN, wnne some APP
ulicant with more decided likes and DIS
likes IS shut ont. A man who fails to be-
come a member really has no reason to
feel mortified, and nothing IS ever known
of his inability TO accomplish his purpose
outside OF the board meetings. The Eel
low who gets through all right is lucky id
deed. He meets enough pretty girls 10
make him forget every care, ana cause
nm 10 spend two months salary before he
knows what he is doing.
Twas certainly astonished to read inyour
naper recently that some Of our city fathers
the electrician noises stopped,
aven II mules had TO supplant electricity
as motiye-power, and thereby place our
thrifty city twenty years behind the times.
rn,aark ed a we'll known gentlemsn TO me
a few GAYS ago. This called my
to the fact that the. street
railway companies have greatly I'M
nroyed their service, and 10 all appear
-, - l,aye radncad The noise made by the