The record-union., 1892-04-21
SOME AFTER REFLECTIONS.
Squink's "reminiscences of the
Recent Shake-Up.
How it Disturbed High-Toned Society
Neighborhood, and Harmon
lied all Distinctions.

l haven't any sympathy with earth
quakes. l believe life is made ND of a
sufiiciency of miscellany, without sub
terranean and seismic phenomena. If I
may suggest a thing or two, would like
TO intimate that Sergeant Barwick ought
al least TO keep time-card and bring his
earthquakes around at the proper time,
after giving public notice. If he is going
TO manipulate the weather, he can't afford
10 RISK his reputation by throwing in
ms earthquakes whenever he hasn't any
ming else to offer. He ought to have
them at some more reputable hour than
A. NJ, when people who have reputa-
lions, and have them under control, are
in bed.
So far as I am concerned, if he will toot
his horn about earthquake time 1 viii
move outside the arena in dignified but
direct way. If l have time / will wear
something, if it is only an umbrella.
The scenes that ensued over our way,
at the uncivilized hour of O'Clock on
tuesday morning, were things that
should not occur within seventeen miles
of-of clothing store, and are only eX-
cusable at the expense of considerable
magnanimity.
would reiterate, in a casual way, that
Mr.. BaIwick must be a little more atten-
tive to business and keep in view the
motto that public office is a public
trust" and not merely a legitimized OPP
portunity to draw a salary.
OF course, If we must have shakes, give
us llberty-f we sink or swim, survive
or perish-but give them in smaller
doses, at proper time, or authorize us
to retire the evening before in some
anonymous neighborhood with the
a hot no lfc,
Of etiquette and fOrmality are suspended
until after the CONFUSION.
In our aristocratic neighborhood there
are people who have lived for years with
the object of building up a reputation of
classic beauty and Gothic architecture
We live to establish our credit at the
bank and sustain our responsibility. We
endeavor to be somewhat exclusive and
select, and we assume an air of virtuouS
propriety, sometimes uncomfortable, but
ii IS fashionable, and we stay by it under
ordinary circumstances. But when you
give US earthquakes at 3 o'clock A. NJ,
that recall to our classic minds the fate of
Pompeii, of Herculaneum and Milpitas,
what can you expect?
The strongest and most substantial
structures reared by man may be shat
tered by an earthquake, and the bulwarks
Of society shaken down.
Hence, when an earthquake strikes our
vicinity at o'clock A. NJ social circles 90
into the wild whirl of excitement, like
ether people, and become less reserved
and exclusive.
Everybody in our block came out to
the earthquake as soon as he land She
could, which was immediately and took
a wild-eyed view of the weather 1t was
the most sudden kind of a simultaneous
impulse, so to say, and it gave us birds
eye view OF the active confusion that
must have been noticeable for moment)
IN Pompell some years ago. Besides
giving US view Of variegated interest
and nightwear, a good deal of information
was turned loose in the street and ran
about wildly seeking recognition.
/ went out, together with some glass
from the window, but otherwise unen-
numbered. If | had taken fiash-light
camera along 1 would be wealthy now,
possessed Of a positively unique collec-
ton OF works OF art and studies in early
morning earthquake costume. [ could
have made "a collection before which the
Croker Art Gallery would pale into dis
appointment and envy.
As it was, and all owing to either the
carelessness or the inetticiency of the
" Weather Bureau, in not giving the ex-
pected notice, / went forth unprepared.
and everything got away.
However, we had a chance to observe
the leVeling effects of a Well-developed
earthquake and to see how easy society,
as Well as other Shaky structures, may
topple and fall.
People in attendance upon an earth
quake at 3 A, NJ. look and act considera-
bly, alike in a general way. When all
conditions OF society come out, bereft of
everything except excitement, all grades,
caste and official distinction are lost.
1T is difficult at such a time to distin-
guish banker from a baker, the land
lady from the cook, or to know how you
appear yourself. A Judge in front of our
block looked like ballet-dancer, and the
most dignitied and modest old maiden in
our vicinity assumed the abandon land
most of the costume) of a wild natural
born Zulu.
Ifthe quake had continued few mo-
ments longer the results can not be imag-
ined. AS it was. the blinds are all closed
tightly now-and people only appear in
the cleaning, and then go up town via
the back alley. SQUINK.