The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-06
MEN ABOUT TOWN.
Short Stories Picked Up in the
Hotel Corridors.
hanged Him on General Principles He Lost
Ills Three-for-a-Dollar Cigar-wise
Beyond His Years.

Inc outcry that is being made by the
ne"spapers over the wholesale pardoning
VI criminals by Governor Waterman recalls
" my mind an incident that occurred in
..a In the days when telegraph sta
'.one were not so numerous as at present."
! .etneiAeo an old gentleman rs he sat by
'no hio III the Grand Hotel reading room,
80, 80 immediately fiicked the ashes from a
'aii-oohSumed cigar. In those days re-
piIeves were usually carried by special mes
sohsoi' ana 1t was not an uncommon thing
III q condemned man to be rescued from
uoa'n d. the last moment by the arrival of a
inoun'eu courier from the Governor. On
INC occasion | have referred to a noted
eiii,i'hai was to be hanged in one of the
p"uh counties, remote from telegraph or
railroad lines, and on the day set for the
eAecution great crowd had gathered to
wi'hess the melancholy operation. The
oooneu man had already mounted the
scahoid, and his arms and legs
nau Deen securely pinioned, the black
zap aulpSted, and the moose encircled
MS neck, when a hOrseman was seen
approaching at break-neck speed. In his
manu- manu- which he held aloft. he waved paper,
mhIcH was evidently reprieye. Sprlngng
ION stI MS horse when he reached the outskirts
VI tle crowd, he made his way TO the foot OF the
NJ paper W thC OuCllh5
Sasp'hg out that it was pardon from the
HoSefnor OF Alabama. The scene was
hIshly sensational. and murmur OF sup
pressed excitement ran through the expect
ant crowd. In the midst of it all the Sheriff
coolly tore the pardon in two, sprung the
Trap and remarked, He's a no-account
scoundfel, anyway, and I'll just hang him
on general principles
ne crowd, who knew the desperate
character Of the criminal, cheered the Sher-
laf iatis T,frt
no was dead"
IMAGINE HIS FEELINGS.
r A drummer who represents the great st.
LOUIS brewer, William j. Lemp, is in the
naolt oil visiting this city twice a year, and
among those who know him he is famous
i i' me excellent quality of the cigars which
ne carries Tor distribution among his init
mate friends. They are, in fact, the perfec-
lion OF the cgar-maker's art, and he has an
aohorrence Tor any of an inferior brand.
heceLtly while here he CHANGED across
friend on one of the morning ferry-boats,
anu, Offering the latter one of his famous
cigars, they proceeded to discuss them with
evident relish. In the midst OF their enjoy
hient neatly dressed man approached with
an unllShted cigar and requested light
ne drummer politely passed his cigar,
without interrupting the conversation, when
the stranger, after lighting the most villain
Gus OF cigars, quietly inspected the cigar
which had been handed him and tossed it
overheard. Then, with show OF courtesy,
lie drew from his pocket cigar similar 10
the one he had just lighted, and handed it
10 the other with pleasant "Ailow me-"
Ihe disgust of the other may be better i'm
aglned than described.
HE HAD IT RIGHT.
company of ladies and gentlemen were
seated at dinner at the table of a we'll
known man about town few evenings
ago. and with them sat the heir of the house,
boy OF not many years, who is of most
observing nature. The conversation turned
upon the old, old theme of love, and the con-
yersation grew spirited. The young hope
1ul, Mindful! OF the admonitlOn OF his mother
that boys should be seen and not heard, sat
silent listener to the various ideas set
1orth until some one asked, well, after
all, what is love?"
Unable to remain longer silent the little
fellow said, Il know what it is"
Let us know your opinion" responded
his father with a smile.
TT Is when two sensible persons get to-
gether and agree TO make fools of them
selves, was The grave reply.
AN INTERNAL MACHINE.
A suspicious looking ackage drfted into
the local postoffice yesterday with the over
land mail, and immediately attracted the
attention of the clerks. There was some
s.f1g in its appearance to arouse suspicion,
And after consulting the proper authorities
the wrapper was carefully removed. An
Immediate scene OF wild confusion ensued,
Anpd visions of Internal machines and dyna-
OF those who looked on. Before chem lay
metallic cylinder, from one end of which
ominously projected what was evidently a
percussion cap of the kind used to explode
dynamite bombs. A shudder went through
the knot OF curious spectators and bronzed
faces blanched with fear, while a whispered
rumor spread through the various depart
ments that an internal machine had been
discovered.
Superintendent Cox glanced narvonsly of
it, and suddenly remembered that his duty
required him elsewhere. Assistant Post
master Quinn glimpsed at it hurriedly and
went downtown in search of General
Barnes. Among all those who saw it, in
fact, there were but one or two who were
not needed at some remote point at that par
ticular moment.
One clerk, however, with more courage
than his companions, quietly opened it and
found-a new cosmetic sent as sample.
The cap was merely an arrangement to be
pressed upon by the finger In order to force
out the contents.