St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-29
"TWAs EVER THUS"
A Would-Be Public Benefactor
Who Was Not Appreciated.

Who Was Not Appreciated.
New York Herald.
please give me dime"
was seated in the Mall at Central
park looking at the statue of Robbie
Burns and thinking thoughts that many
man has thought before about his ill
starred life when my reyeries were thus
turned into another channel. | didn't
like it.
Why the devil should | give you a
diner L replied sharply, hoping there
by 10 get rid of him.
But 1T didn't have the desired effect.
He wasn't an every day sort of tramp,
although his apparel was shabby
enough. There was moldy air of
better days about him. He heaved a
wllsky-talnted sigh, and seated him
self alongside of mel couldn't resent
that, because he had just as much right
To seat as L lIad-he began 10 unfold
| his tale.
Il recognize in you" he began, ga
kindred spirit. |, TOO. am worshipper
| at the shrine of genius. Nothing de-
lights me so much as to see the memory
OF great men fittingly honored. Years
ago, IN fit Of generous enthusiasm, |
conceived a scheme which, had it been
favorabiy received, would have filled
this park and ali other parks and public
squares in the land with statues of
manklnd's greatest benefactors.
A GREAT SCHEME.
"But pardon me-" he added, inter
rupting his narrative, do you happen
to have the mate to that cigar about
you?"
told him that hadn't.
We'll. never mind. l amt particular I;
Pll take achew of tobacco if you happen
to have it,"
told him | had none
Another whiSky-tainted sigh impinged
Itself upon my oltactory organs, and
then he continued:
Nothing so helps a man to rise SUI
perior to the petty and soul-enthralling
concerns OF every day life as the con-
temptation and study of true greatness.
o assist in the attainment of that lofty
state of mind there is nothing so effect
I've as the presence of the counterfeit
presentmentS of men who have lowered
like sun-klssed mountain peaks above
their fellows. With that conviction
strong upon me abandoned the haunts
OF men and gave myself up to thought.
In due time the inspiration came. AT
the lowest estimate there are 100000
| men In this country who get shaved by
BARRIERS on an average three times a
week. AT an absurdly low estimate
that involves anexpendIture of 80 cents
week by each man. That, sir, as |
have proved over and over again,
amounts to 81, 100000 a week or 500, 400,
QUO year.
SOCIETY WOULDN'T HAVE 1T.
Just think of it? All that money
practically thrown away. l proposed
that these four millions should foIm a
vast 'anti-Shaye' or shave yourself as
ISOLATION, and that the money thus saved
should be put into a fund to purchase
statues for beautifying our parks and
places of public resort. All the reward
that asked was that should be made
treasurer of the fund. Had the scheme
been carried out the artistic beauties of
ancient Greece would be as nothing
compared with ours. But my scheme
fell unheeded on the miserable horde of
mercenary self-seeking men who libel
! this country by calling themselves
Americans. That was fifteen years ago.
AS you may perceive, if you observe
me closely, have not shaved from
that day to this. | tried 10 be public
benefactor. Society scornfully rejected
my Offering. Therefore, society owes
me living. Aud that, sir, is why |
ventured to ask you for a dime"
Hi, therel Get out of this !" harshly
exclaimed park policeman, who had
| stolen upon US unawares. Didn't |
tell you Pd give you taste of me club
If caught you around here again?"
Shades of Scott, Burns and Shake
! speareH' muttered the tramp as he
shuffied off, has it come TO this-that
your most ardent devotee should be the
| sport and jest of sparrow cop?"