The morning call., 1891-01-14
MEN ABOUT TOWN.
Short Stories Cleaned From the
Hotel Corridors.
A Duel That Ended in Tragedy = Eastern
Republicans Growing Confident.
Avoiding Temptation.


rear of the Commercial Hotel, on Montgom-
cry avenue, was fought yesterday duel to
the death. The principals were two English
sparrows, thoroughbreds both of them and
game to the backbone, and quite number
of human spectators watched with eager
interest the fierce struggles OF the feathered
ught-weghts. The causes which led to the
fatal rencontre are involved in mystery. Per-
chance 1t was the result of an old feud, or it
might have grown out of a struggle for the
possession of a much coveted morsel of
bread; but the more plausible theory is that
the tiny warriors were rivals for the affec-
tiOns of feathered charmer of their own
race.
Whatever may have been the cause, it had
been sufficient at any rate TO rouse the most
bitter passions of the antagonists, and in
the battle that ensued no quarter was asked
and none given. From first to last they
fought like demons, while a half dozen of
their companions perched on different points
OF vantage to witness the strange struggle
and 10 vigorously chirp words of encour-
agement to their respective favortes.
They were not equally matched in size.
but this difference was fully compensated
by the superior quickness of the smaller
bird, who managed to elude many fierce
attack. After fifteen minutes of desperate
fighting the larger bird began to show evil
dent signs of distress, but his courage not
allowing him to retreat, he manfuly stood
his ground, while his opponent encouraged
by the growing weakness of the defense,
strove TO deliver Knockout blow. In this
he was at last successful, and his game vie
tin fell to rise no more. He was still
breathing, however, and the little fellow
Immediately went In to finish him. With
few well-directed blows he dispatched him,
and proceeded to strut around the carcass of
his vanQulShed Zoe with the naughty mlen
of c0nqueror.
The struggle ended, the feathered specta-
tors at once surrounded the scene of the
conflict and noisy consultation enSued, in
which tine survivor theoretically joined.
The disposition of the dead body seems to
have been the subject of their deliberations,
for at the termination of the council the
task of removal began. All present went
to v DIRK with will, and In few moments
had succeeded in dragging the carcass to
the edge OF the roof, where with one mighty
effort it was precipitated into the street.
This done the party dispersed, a number
of them bearing the victor away with them
in evident triumph.
REPUBLICANS CONFIDENT.
General Eli Murray, the editor of the San
Diego Union, and Ex-Governor of Utah, has
Just returned from two months trip through
the Eas tern States, during which he has
had an opportunity to study the political sit
uatiOn.
Things are just now in confusion" he
said yesterday, but | find that tile leading
Republicans are inclined to view the future
hopefully. l found, as l had expected that
| would find, growing confidence in the
present Administration. In spite of the
bowls of unfriendly newspapers it is the
most vigorous we have had for years, and
is so impressing itself on the public mind.
With such a Cabinet as that surrounding
President Harrison it could not be other
wise, and the management of the State and
Naval departments in particular is winning
praise on every hand. l do not believe that
MI Harrison cares to succeed himself, and
l believe that the nomination will be ten
dered TO Mr.. Blaine in spite of the fact that
he insists on not being candidate"
AVOIDING TEMPTATION.
a secondhand botk-dealer sent word to
me few days ago." said Denis Spencer last
night, that he had bought book at sale
that had been presented By me to a lady
several years ago. 1t was copy Of Lord
Chestereeid's Letters, and on thinking it
over l remembered that | had given it to
my wlfes sister years before. She loaned
it to a friend, who had neglected to return
it, add o il mad drifted into the hands of a
dealer. My first Impulse was to go to the
store and buy it in, but on second thought
| concluded not to do so. The fact is tina |
am compelled to avoid bookstores as |
enter one am seized with mania to pur-
chase, and if L have any money about me it
is sure to so. Knowing my weakness |
have to guard against 1t, and will probably
as measure of safety let the book rest
where il Is.