St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-08
SIDESHOWS.

The venerable and beloved Judge Wilkin
made his appearance in the district court yes
terday. his first since his retirement from the
bench, which he graced so long and so hon.
orably. But it was not as judge that he
came, bnt as common everyday witness.
He had hoped, after quarter of a century
spent i'll administering justice, that when
he retired he would be permitted to spend
the remainder of his days i'll peace and quiet.
But alas, for the rarity of Christian charity.
The average attorney is nc respeeter of per-
sons and SO it came ,Hat bp9na was
issued for the elderly and courtly Judge, who,
with all his accustomed docility, responded
to the mandates of the law, nor stopped he
to question with why's or wherefores.
He was called in by the defendant in the
action E. r. Holcombe ct al against William
j. Godfrey, to give expert testimony as to
the value of the professional services of the
plaintiffs, who are attorneys in the old land
case of Godfrey VS.. Valentine. The judge
was duly sworn, took his seat on the witness
stand, but the court ruled that, under the ev-
idence as adduced, he doubted the material
lty OF evidence as to values. Judge Wilkin
was thereupon excnsed. This is the first
time in twenty-five years that the Judge has
appeared in the role of a witness, and the
fact was the subject of considerable COM
ment.
There is one man in town who knows how
to get enjoyment out of Mr.. Edisons musical
phonograph, and he gets it. He was to be
seen last evening at the Clifton buffet. He
stood leaning against the phonograph box.
On the top of the case to his right stood a
glass of lager, and on the other side plate
of ham sandwiches. He was entirely alb
sorbed in the music, and just as contented as
though seated in a S1.50 seat listening to the
original Of that boxed-up concert.
Bessie Howard, of the Park Opera COM
pany, is the daughter of Chester, Pa, hotel
heeper, who, if the story told is correct, can
easily enough sign his check for S100, ,0OO
This may or may not be the explanation of
Bessies extraordinary popularity with the
beaux; but at all events, she is quite the rage
with the theater-going youth of the locality.
All the tinkering and frescoing being done
in the interior of the capitol this spring only
serves to emphasize the fact that a more in
sanely designed Structure was never in ex-
istence. Some of the rooms are absolutely
beyond the possibility of ventilation, and as
dark as hospital reception room. The
boiler inspectors new quarters, formerly the
postotiice, are lighted through glass floor
from the passageway above, aud the only
chance for air is the door.
Although there is $500 in hanging a man
for the sheriff who does the work there are
few of the latter who banker after hangman's
pay. Sheriff Glenn, of Mankato, who ex-
pected he would have to hang Lenz, the Blue
Fo, ,Irl
ever since Lenz's sentence was commuted. 1t
is all very well to talk about duty and that
sort of thing, but when it becomes question
OF dropping man through a trap into eter-
nifty, the duty is one which most sheriffs
would give six months salary to get out of.
Clifton Holden has taken to smoking again
since he heard thet he was not to hang The
difference between execution and life I'M
prlsonment doesn't seem to be greatly in
favor of the latter to a man who never knew
what ii was to be under death sentence To
one who has, though, the prospect of life I'M
pr1sonment is one of paradise compared to
that of death by hanging. Holden, probably,
came as near being hanged as any man has in
recent years, and escaped. He SAYS that the
horror OF the situation had preyed on his
mind SO during the few weeks prior TO April
s, that on that date he was hardly sane, and
did not fully realize that there were only a
few hours left
''Hellol see you're back" With a hard
slap between the shoulders. accompanied by
the above salutstion, you are accosted on the
street nowadays by many of your friends
and the would-be practical joker. Of course,
you turn around with look of astonshment
on your face and inform your energetic
friend that you have not been away With a
broad grin he will answer, ''Wel, know.
but l see you're back" and with another tre-
mendous swipe of his wicked left he will
again smite you between neck and hip, turn
ing you completely round in order to make
you more clearly understand that he sees
your back If the friend be raw w-boned.
long-armed, broad-shouldered specimen
of about six foot three. you will have to
"fIa ha," just as though you en-
joyed it as much as he did; as in this case
discretion is the better part of valor. But you
have chance TO play even. Walk up the
street to the next corner and secure a base
bail catcher's glove. In it place a brick
Walk around the block to meet your funny
friend again, and as you come up behind
him, just see his back. go him one better and
then call him. He will not size up to YOUR
pile. He will not even deign to glance at
your hand, for the inward gulping feeling
which you have aroused within him will
keep him busy for the next half hour drink
ing salt and water, and when he meets the
next friend he will have lost all desire to