The Critic and record., 1891-04-07
THE CRITIC ABROAD


un dog stealing in tins city brought TO
mind q visit a colored boy made me some
months ago, said Mr. Robert i. Wynnc
the wcl-kuown correspondents That
boy was tough-lOoking customer.
'Boss, said he, does yer vantcr buy
q dog"
What kind of a dog have you for sale
/ asked.
"'Anv kind Of a dog. kin give you q
Newfoundland, bull, a Scotch terrier or
any kinder dog; a.! OF 'em cheap. ]
asked the fellow if hc was u regular dealer
in dogs aud IL he kept u lot Of them In
stock He frankly told me he did not,
but that he could get any kind ] wishcdi it
would only give him day or twO's no.
tice. OF course IL is needless TO say that
this boy was dog thief and he made it q
business to go around spOtting valuable
dogs with avicw Of stealing thcm when
customers were secured. Judge Miller
should deal with dog stealcr, the same as
he does with other mean criminals"
An old gentleman with touch of
rhcumatics who frequently takes n genial
airing i'm the Smithsonian grounds, So
writes in commentator of a stray para
graph about iron park benches which re-
Gently appeared in TuE CHuc. lie is
thoroughly In sympathy with the idea
that an angular iron bench is not apt TO
lit the human form divine i'm manner
conducive to that sense of tranquility and
peace which Is the best part Of cOmmun-
ion with Nature I'm her gcntlcr moods.
In fact, he says he has sometimes given
mp contemplated sicsta when the iron
bench, cold as charity and grim and grue-
some. offered the only available seat.
And his has doubtless been the expert
encc of many an old gentleman with a
touch OF rheumatiCs, not to mention
other feeble persons who find IL physi-
cally beneficial as well rs rcstful 10 their
being to SIT outdoors and with the Good
Gray Poet, loaf and invite their souls.
Fortunately the wooden bench, which
comfortably fits the person like the paper
on the wall, has almost entirely taken the
place of the object of our friends com
plant, and the indications are that it will
not be long before the last vestge of the
Age of Iron Benches shall be rclegated to
the limbo of the dodo and the hard
lrowning and mcompromising park
fence of IRON.
dropped in to see Superintendent
Smith Of the botanical Gardens this morn
ing, and in the course of walk about
the grounds and talk about trees and
flowers, hepointed ont a curious fact tt
me. His dog was along with us and he
circlcd round and round while we sauu
tered along the shaded paths. suddenly
his short, sharp bark was heard and q
Thomas cat with q tail as big as q bologna
sausage dartcd across the grounds with
the dog in hot pursuit.
This is the greatest hunting ground In
IIp Of ~ 3
the Critic. "Ihc birds are the prey, and
it seems to me that every cat i'm the neigh
bOrhuod comes here To make its breakfas
ON the birds. The birds come to make
their breakfast, too, and rs they hol
around peckng insects from the shrub.
they do not know of the danger that lie,
awaiting them under many of these sam
bushes. Suddenly there is tger-lik,
spring, a pair Of sharp claws aud two row,
Of fierce teeth. They mingle with TIA,
iiutter of wings and one tiny chirp. Tht
cat has its breakfast aud there is one les
bird to sing"
Imagine a small room, badly lighted
window panCs crusted with the SCOT O
cigar smoke, on the walls various phat)
graphs of variety actresses in all degree
and stages of tight-cothcd anatomy, gath
cred around Il rickety wooden table cigh
men, all firm followers of Bohemia
paths of pleasure.
-Four Of them embryo doctors, thre
newspaper reporters, the remaining mas
culine, gildcd youth who loved tn
society of the dcyil-may-Care mcIiCa
students and newspaper men. Tie sub
ject under discussion was hypnotism. Al
Of the eight expressed different and varie
gated views ON the subject. One of tn
reporters, pale faced, long haired, fame
vest, young man, with nose oXtremel
Roman, and mouth intensely Milesiar
said in grave deep tones;
''lts all rot, my sweet gentlemen. y
| such power exists among men. | can moi
will not, be magneizCd by living man
| No physical power on earth can subdu
and discipline my great nerve"
The fashioner of great mems destiniC
arose abruptly and walked TO an adjoir
| ing room. 70 the other seven was waite
a sound of gurgling liquid flowing fror
| glassware
Somebody yelled; That's the limit,
| and uncOnsciously sober young ma
with massive pompadour bangs exclaime
| in an enigmatical style; "What 1t It's"
| These combined cXclamatOns brough
the concealed one back to his companions
with great delberation one of TN
medical people stood up. He addresse
the gentleman of the babblng broo
noises. In measured tones he exclaimed
My friend, 20 to sleep. A few passes {
his dcft left hand and the reporter fell int
an adjacent chair, wrnkled in deep slun
Der. lie is hypnotiZed," exclaimed I'll
doctor. Then turning to the subject i
said
80 What do you sce?'
In dreamy, far.away voice the man {
nerve exclaimed:
81 perceive hoop Of revolving drinks,
every man drew his chair nearer to Il
viewer of elysian dehghts) there
creJne de mint, absinthe chartreuse pons
cafe and whisky"
Drink" commanded the docto
Reaching up in the arr the subject too
down an imaginary glass.
What have you there"
Brandy"
| Drink"
The reporter drank, 4 sweet smi
flashed over his face,
How was u"
Excellent" Cdrowaly).
Fifteen cents, please"
Great heavens n' the quiet dream
shouted as he sprang to his feet. III
spell was broken,
"Hypnotism may cobweb the brai
bind with steel bands the physical bod
but control the finances, never ~
yelled.
At that juncture somebody said Il
patrol wagon had n case below, and ever
body fell down the dismantled stairs
the room below.
THE EAGLE SCREAMS.
am the American Eagle,
And my wings Hap together,
flsTW.H 1 d E.rL