Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-18

Scattered 10 the Win Is.
The dead leaves were drifting down
from the trees on the big Lookout hill
in Prospect Park Saturday afternoon
about . o'clock, and few small boys
and one or two men were hunting in
the rubbish on the ground for nuts
The attention of the boys was attracted
bv the queer actions Of a small group Of
men under wide-spreading chestnut
tree. The boys and then the men drew
near and watched the actions of the
strange group.
One OF the strangers, short, dark
compleXioned, biz moustached man,
carried a cylindrical object wrapped in
newspaper, and another held IN his
hand a long brownpaper parcel. When
the newspaper was torn away black
Tin box was disclosed. Placing the box
npon a great stone under the tree the
short man opened it, while his compan-
ions drew close about him. Then the
brown paper was removed and the as
tonished Youngsters saw a big bottle.
The men who were looking on knew at
glance that the bottle held Old Tom
Gin. for the label was bright and red,
and the seal was yet on the cork. The
black box was almost filled with gray
ISL white soft powder.
Each one Of the group took hand
full of the contents Of the black box and
tossed it as far rs he could among the
leaves and sticks on the hillside. Then
each man took Il small paper bag from
his pocket and placed some of the
white dust in it. The big bottle was
passed around. and us he took 1t each
member of the strange group drew out
a small Wine glass and filled 1t TO the
brim with the gin. The cover of the
black box was replaced, and then, re-
moving their soft felt hats, the men
stood bareheaded and drained their
glasses. Again the glasses were filled
and drained. and then the men made
their way down the hill, while the
small boys and the men who were
watching wondered what it was all
about.
Those men were throwing to the
winds the ashes of dead comrade.
whose body was cremated on October
5, and their strange actions were III ac-
cordance with compact which one OF
them had made with the deceased.
Perhaps half the members of the
socialistic societies III this city knew
personally or had heard of Johann
Linke, the eccentric old artist He was
noted, not alone for the strong views
he entertained. in company with the
followers of Marx and Lasalle, but be-
cause Of his romantic temperament and
kindness of heart. Linkc was born in
Berlin sixty-seven years ago, and was
educated as befittcd the son of q
wealthy land owner But early in life
he advocated the ideas ofthc socialstic
fraternity to so much purpose that he
was compelled to seek relief from un-
pleasantness in travel.
1t was his boast that after going
through all the principal cities OF the
world there was no spot so dear to him
as New York and the Bowery. Many
years ago Linke formed the acquaint-
ance of Sidney Fearn silver platter at
III Bowery, and there, in little room
on the third floor, he painted his pic
lures and lived his peculiar life.
Richard Gilhooly, an English sign
painter for the big dry goods houses,
had a room in the same building along
side of Linke, and as the two men
cooked their bit of bacon over tiny
oil stove and after the days work was
over sat in the dim light of Il small
lamp, they formed a friendship which
lasted until death separted them.
Linke was philosopher and scholar,
and with Dick for an audience, he would
nightly preach the fellowship of man
until Dick, Englishman to the backbone
though he is, came to believe with ms
tutor that there was good in even the
worst criminal.
There was merit in Linlle's paintings,
and he might have earned reputation
but for his eccentric beliefs. lie lived
in accordance with his preachlngs, and
to his mind the man who catches the
clories of the sunset on his canvas was
entitled to no more hire than he who
paints the house door. He painted
landscapes or made 4 portrait for his
friends. but when it came TO making 4
living he went to the sign painters
shops and worked for So day.
Once. when he needed money badly,
he agreed for 500 to paint landscape
] for Hebrew picture dealer The
81 painting was worth, perhaps, $500 when
s completed, but when the dealer came
ssior 1t he suggested that $50 ought to
compensate the painter. Linke picked
up u sponge, and, dipping itinto turpen-
@Stlne; wiped out the result of three
weeks hard work.
Inc old man had very prosaic lik-
lns Tor ola Tom gin, and one night as he
and Gilhooly We're enjoying an excep-
tlonal repaSt IN the shape Of half a duck
from = Bowery coffee and cake place
the old man said:
Dick, Y boy, want YOU to enter
into compact with me. Let us ro
into one of these cheap insurance con.
cerns and provide for the hereafter
know wont leave u cent when die
and then the kind and charitable com.
munity will put me with the worms in
Potter's Field.
..'I'll get insured, and l want YOU tC
agree now, on your oath, that when
die you'll have my body cremated
Then after paying the expenses tax,
the balance of the insurance money ant
buy enough old Tom to make the boy.
happy. But above all things l wish yol
to take nv ashes IN proSDeef parL-