Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-12
PETE AND HIS HATS
The Nondeseript Frequenter Of
the Morton
TALKS GLIBLY IN ODD RHYMES
his Ready Via and Independence Of
CaIe-A Psithetlc side 10 HIS
Demeated cageer.

SAAtAClcr DsSt mas become con-
spscuous about town Is the queer LOOK
Ing individual who may be seen on the
streets and IN the hotels, with ms arm
tul OF hats. They ali know him as
Pete, and he is not without history.
lie scarcely ever speaks 10 anyone ex-
eept IN rhyme, aud Il is rhyme OF the
erudest and toughest KIM too. Ask
him his name and he will reply.
MY name Is Peter prandsr.
Most OF the time ! wander.
| came from Holland.
Noi tfon Poisndi
III 20 10 Fort Wayne
IN have gold headed cane"
Pete Will get this OFT with smile that
Is irresistible aud As funny IS Sol smith
Russell rs Moan Vale IN ga Poor Re
lauon." After be smiles he may say:
tn give youanother rhyme
Zoe dime
Just At dinner time
Pete's mania is collecting old hats
and he may be seen some times with a
dozen or more under his arm-ot
course many have remarked that he
does so because he is continually talk
ing through his hat. He 10 demented
but harmless, and there is Just enough
Ingenuity aud cunning left IN his dis
traeted glole to prompt him to work
the crowds which assemble about him,
for their dimes and nickels. Pete at
tracts attention for his makeup. He
may be seen with Il different style hat
He smokes Cigarettes
His overcoat is heavy and bulky and
decidedly at variance with anything
that fashion has decresd within late
years. His necktie is more modern and
sometimes quite fiashy. tie carries
either a cane or an umbrella, some
times only the frame of the latter.
What figure he would cut IN farce
comedy. His movement, his glance,
and shift of the head are highly laugh
provoking. Pete smokes cigarettes,
TIN pipes and loaded cigars, though
he Will not touch the latter after they
have exploded. The boys up at the
Morton gave HIM a cheroot with powder
in few evenings since, and were given
a glorious laugh for their mischief.
His face was picture of contentment
"a he lit II and began to inhale the
smoke. When the explosion came his
countenaDce was for an instant IN 4
cloud and his ante-bellunl plug hat was
jostled to the floor. When he recov-
cred his face was wreathed IN smiles
and he exclaimed:
This I'll remember.
Until next December"
He Has History
Pete furnishes any amount of amuse-
ment. but like all eccentrlcs he has his
history and there is a sad side to IL
which II is said accounts for his being
demented. He was years ago doing a
prosperous tailoring business IN Mus
kegon. Fire wrecked his establishment
and upon top of this misfortune. death
came into his home and snatcned his
wife and children. The grief of this
blow unbalanced his mind and since
then he has been an aimless wanderer
on the face of the earth, his strollings
being between this city and Muskegon.
To him life has no purpose and there IS
enough discerned IN MS mutterIngs to
show that his heart is IN the right
place, that he mas been possessed of q
good education and has been versed in
the languages and in religion. He has
not forgot his teachings IN the latter
and IS scrupulouslv plous. Many are
touched at his condition and fire.
quently tip him with com while
thoughtless persons jeer him. These
should remember that 1t !sa fool:
wisdom to laugh at the unfortunate,