Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-22
WORK0P IDLE HOURS


city Sail last Sunday morning--oDe which
viii long be remembered by an unfortu-
nate negro who was the victim Of q practi-
cal Joke. Billy, the general waiting-boy
about the prison, entertaias morbid fear
of iunstics, consequently he steers clear OF
eli porsons having suspicious wars or man
ners. Appreciating this apprehension on
the part Of the darky, several young men
about the jail went into the SerRcants
Office Sunday morning, where IN
the presence OF Billy q commission
OF iunacy held mock examination into the
Of a' sugar BOTTOM The doctor 7" after
making careful investigations pronounced
most emphaticaliy that the Squire was IN.
sane. Billg shuddered As tho words passed
from tho ec-callcd doctors lips. Mr.: Clal-
borne Epps requested the boy 70. follow
him and help prepare. q cell for the
maniac. who was then becoming oostre-
porous. Whom the Sqrirs's temporary
apartments were in readiness. Billy was
the "iunatic" over. having explained
that he was perfectly harmless.
After considerable Persuasion the negro
crossed the piazza and entered the room
where sat the crazy man" alone, the
others having gone out. Approaching the
formidable-looking. Squire. Billy laia bis
hand up9n his arm and IN tremIplous tones
70 zee you" With ferocious gesture,
which made the darky jump several feet
backward over stove. the Squire cried
Stand back I'm dangerous man" But
even this did not tefror1ze the persistent
"kincky head, who again laid hands upon
his man as IL to pull him. Upon this
movement, Justice Jones drew his pistol
and stormed, II tell you I'm 2 bad man,
This was all Billy ever heard, tor az II
borne across the piazza upon the electro
wire that Is stretched there he returned TO
Mr.. Epps almost as white as were those
who had planned the Joke, and crted, u,
Lordy, Mr.. Claiborne, dat crazy mans got
. pistol an he tried ter shoot me.
"Now." said the deputy. you nave al
lowed him to get my pistol by your care
lessness. You will have 20, come ana neip
me take il away or no may kill somebody"
but these words bad no eject upon Billy,
nor did he again enter the office, where his
encounter with the "lunatiC" occurred.
until he had been doubly assured that
Squire Jones wasn't crazy.
A terrific howl has been raised recently
about Anglomsniaos and the introduction
of English manners and customs into
America. The fad. IL so il may be called.
IL undoubtedly ridiculous in some re-
spects and deserves the satire. which has
been heaped upon il. But after oil II mas
ITS merits as well as its dement's. lis true
tho red cravat might be dispensed WIFI ena
other hideous innovations banished, put
every man will admit that the brown suits
and sacQue coats, which the Je'n'esse
60re of the present DAY wear, ore
decidedly comfortable and hide dirt
in q remarkable manner, SO also tne
cigarette Is slowly losing headway, ana
fancy pipes are now the caper. IL 10 con
sidered perfectly Gu fat to march down
the streets with one in your mouth, ana IL
Won have a meerschaum you are decidedly
"in the push" For my part, never TOOK
20 the pipe fashion much, and as Tor Keep,
inp a meersehaum until II becomes colored
by age and use, that il altogether out OF
the question. If there Is anything In the
world which does command little respect
when it advances in age IT II pipe. lev
they increase in strength as their years IN.
crosse and make their presence known IL
not felt.
Several reporters here who generally at
tend weddings and vent their genius on
the bridal crepe de chine and Marco bal Neil
roses recently had en- animated discussion
over a delicate point about marriages
The question under dispute was whether
the groom could choose married
man TO be one of his attendants.
Certainly il Is hard matter some
times TO select six or eight OF your
best gentlemen friends and not bnd Two
or three Of them possessed OF wives. Inc
pencil-shoTer who had lived, North Tor
considerable while perslstontly maintained
that he had frequently seen instances
where henpecked husbands oficiated a.
oroomsmen, but the scribe who had spent
lis entire existence within the limits OF
Richmond and Manchester could recall
no such case and tenaciously held his
point. Ii NAV be remarked parenthetically
that the discussion was of a purely pro-
fessional nature, as one OF the reporters
abandoned ali hope of ever entering the
happy state.
Mr.. r. A. Dunlop. the popular secretary
of the Chamber Of Commerce, has FREE
ouently had sly jokes cast at him about
the oold-vaye flag which Is hoisted over
tbe rooms of tho organization when the
Weather is expected to get colder. Inc
Authorities at Washington, IL must be ad-
mitted. always give themselves wide lati-
tude In their prognostlcations, ana AZ
usual thing assert In the warning telegram
thnt the thermometer will fall In twenty:
sour hours. Sometimes the flag is unfurled
when the weather has already gotten cold,
and ON other occasions 1t fiutters its pratt
cal folds in vain, but when 1t does
rrophesy correctly Hawkins" comes
With terrlfc fury. Mr.. Dunlop certainly
had the laugh on his friends last tuesday
night, for when he first set hying the pan"
ner the temperature was decidedly warm,
hut by night there was many rudy nose
from the winter blasts. The nag told the
truth. and in less than forty~eiRht hours
there was, decline OF 40 degrees taren-
heit. -
In city of Richmonc's size itis plea
sant indeed to sec the wotkings'of Nature
aven within the very heart of progress and
civilization, asst we're. Nowhere are these
MYSTERIOUS workings more visible than IN
4ha Capitol Square, whore the leaves have
trynsd from crimson aud gold to the SOM
ire tipts of brown. They have faded here
1;ust As they did centuries ago, when viz
gin forests covered our present homes,
and even the sleek coats OF the squirrels
are changing from brown TO decided
gray. Tho melancholy days have come"
and with them Nature has wrought her
mysterious changes. Speaking OF our
souirrels. was somewhat surprised last
SUMMER To see the bushy-tailed little ro-
dents Jumping around in Central Park,
New YORK. Just the same lhS lucy w hVie.
fhad thought and hoped that they were
peculiarly inhabitants OF cur Virginia
parks -
The small boys in the neighborhood of
Gary and Pine streets were very much de-
lighted few days ago to discover fine,
large 'possum placidly pursuing his way
on back fcnce near an alley. Tho mar
suplal specimen seemed completely oblivi-
ous of his surroundings, and doubtless
had wandered from the country into this
city with the view Of seeing the objects OK
interest and then returning TO his rustic
rstYeat. He fell Ia bad hands, however,
and will mover live 10 see his. companions
and describe the wonders which met BIS
gaze ia Richmond. The animal retained q
strict retiosnce as TO his purpose, and did
mot take upon himself the responsibility
of Communicating his intentions TO any
enc. A lady fell heir 10 the captive,
: which will receive the attention and care
due its delicate position.
A few years ago there was naught which
10 appealed 10 tho sympathetic hearts OF