New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-24
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.

Scene one OF the elevators In The Tribune BulN.
ing Dramatis personae. the elevator attendant aad
several passengers. Time the present Just as The
door is closing enters district telegraph messenger
with his ticket In his hand. Il want Nassau q
Spruce, remarks the latest conner TO the attendant
What IN is the impetuous answer "Nasssu O.
Spruce repeats the boy, with air Of eertalnt,
Let me see your ticket" says the other He glance,
at It and contemptuousy turns 10 the lad with Ninth
noor.' What ne had read upon the ucAet was -ns
Of the messenger boy Of these days
recent book describing the trials and triumph
u young reporter IN NewYork presents thirty true
picture OF life In metropolitan newspaper Office a.
might be expected from an old newspaper man. n
Is all the more surprising therefore, to lind in u soma
plumbers that would BE- inexcusablc IN any one poa
sessing even a moderate amount OF familiarity vita
the metropolitan district. For instance. the hero ID
depicted as going TO Brooklyn on his first assignment
work In connection with general tieup the street
car lines ovor there lie Is 10 report 10 another man
at Police Headquarters. Whether he crossed tho
Bridge or tho ferry is not stated but in either case
no could not have had long walk 10 Police Iieadquar
ters-not much over half mile at the furthest Tho
author tells us that all the horsecars IDLE but fo
tunateIy the young reporter the elevated road
In operation that ne reached his destination without
trouble The inference which stranger would draw
from this Is that Police Headquarters in Brooklyn ae
several miles from the point where one would arrive
in that city on crossing the river by the shortest way
from New York. Another violation OF the unties'
appears In the statement in the last chapter Of the book
that all that is recorded Heretofore happened many
years ago. or words TO that effect the author evidently
forgetting that the Oldest elevated road In Brooklyn has
been in operation less than six years. IL Is singular,
too, that an EXPERIENCED newspaper man c0uia nave
way centre during a general strike on the railroads
the country and that this young should have been
H. thA lu NJ a
pear In that region. In spite OF these minor defecu
and discrepancies, however the story Is wen conceived
and well told, and the readers interest Is malnana
at high point throughout
Speaking Of pocket pieces reminds the writer Of one
that friend OF his has carried for number Of years.
1t is Greek coln a fve-drachmse piece, Of valus
exactly corresponding TO the fvefranc coin Of France,
that is, it is worth few cents less than Sl 1t
a handsome, clear-cut coin, with medallion OF King
George on one side, and a shield, crown and scroll ~
the other The diverse bears the lettering, GeorA
Basileus ton Helsnon," and the date, 1870 On
the the words, Basileion tas HellAdos'
and also drachma.' In connection with the scroll
is Greek motto in fine letters that can only be nA
with difficulty 1T is great novelty, OF course ~
the owner but think highly of it because 1t cone
into my possession in such unlookcd-for way Sew
eral years ago had occasion to get either % s
BILL don't remember yhch-changed at station 90
the New-York elevated road. In the change got,
/ supposed, three silver dollars did not examns
them closely at the time. That evening went into
drug store and made a small purchase. took coin
out of my pocket and was on the point OF tendennsn
TO the clerk or cashier, when / noticed something
peculiar about 1t. I guess won't give you That
remarked as drew back my hand. then saw that
had something unusual, and glance showed NE tha'
1t was 5-drachmee piece. have kept 1t ever since
and always carry it with me. Whenever have coca
sion to match or spin coin. use this. though an
not sure yet that it brings me good luck one NINA
is certain about t-nonc OF my friends has similar
pocket piece. and always take pleasure IN tenlhg s
one who shows interest in II about the way NJ Why
II came into my hands. ] have sometimes wonuev
how the ticketseler at the elevated road ever caho
tape il and whether he ever tried TO pass ~ on sV
holy before me aud hac II refused. AZ all events,
am r,ad that IL was my turn 10 set large Dill oroSss
and 10 receive this novel coin hidden away am'as
United states dollars"