The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-07-30

tired. What pity they can't afford to
have seats! know what Ill do
with sudden inspiration. There's a
seat down there at the end that be-
lieve I'll let 'em have Tor nothing, turn
about It's right in the sun, he added;
appeasing frugal conscience. land |
don't believe anybody'd hire u"
Sharp was a man of action, for his
generous impulse was soon an accom-
plisbed fact He even took the trouble
to see that each occupant held the place
but ten minutes. and that as many as
possible enjoyed its advantages. Then,
comfortably sitting down with sense
of perfect satisfaction at last, Mr.. Sharp
could give himself M with unmixei
pleasure to a well-earned repose and the
ENJOYMENT of the sweet strains from the
band,
| Among the occupants of some benches
not far away from Mr.. Sharp's square
of seats sat a young man with clear,
observant eyes, rather idly gazing about
at the scene before him. Suddenly
turning TO person sitting DIT his right,
he said: Look at all those people
standing over there. They look tagged
and warm; why don't they take seats9'
Looking cafelessly In the direction indi'
Gated, the man, one of years and expe-
rience, answered, "Why, there are not
enough seats for them"
eyes, there are said the youth.
"Look, there are plenty of them right
there next to us-plenty of them Why
| AZ. Al,
ono, there are not" said the man OF
experience, ''you are mistaken, there
are not half enough. The seats will
never go round The trouble is there
are too many peor;c; they should not
let so many in; the pal K Ia overcrowded.'
But" persisted the boy, ''there are
lots of seats at all events, and most OF
the people could sit down
why. so they could, if they had the
money to pay for them," said the elder,
"but they haven't"
''Pay," returned the other, ''why have
they got to pay?"
The man of experience began to wax
impatient. "Oh, because they are pci
theirs-because they belong to Nh.
Sharp; they're his property; That II
why!''
''Mr. Sharp, who is hep" said the youth
THAT fine-looking man in the front
row, that's Mr. Sharp, the owner of ths
seats"
For moment the youth was silent
but almost Immediately a returning
light came upon him, and he continued
well. if he does own them he can
possibly use them all, and he might lie
those people have them, if they haven
the money"
L A look of intenss disgust appeare.
upon the countenance of the man of eS
perience ''Oh, see," said he, II Sc
3 what you are driving at. You're on
of those communist fellows, that's wha
YOU are. You'd like to take all prop
o erty and divide it up in equal bits an
hand it around. But | can tell you thi
: mnch. You'd no sooner get it divide
and parceled out than it would be bac
again, unequal as ever, and we'd be jus
where we were"
Il .'No. I'm not cried the youth wit
s. emphasis, I'm not communist at al
II and don't believe in anything of tn
VI kind. But do think it is pretty sting
of that Sharp to keep all those seats
. himself and let those tired people stan'
It's mean and grasping; that's what
- is"
- "Now. see here" and the tone of II
indignant elder grew sharper, that's
little too much. It's outrageous. NJ
Sharp. can tell you, is highly b
nevulent, philanthropic man. He's d
= ing what he can all the time for Il
. good of other people. Do you see til;
= seat at the end of the second row, wit
- a ragged little boy sitting in it, we
- Mr.. Sharp gives that seat for nothin
!. for nothing, sir, to any one who nee
3, it. 1t is perpetual benefaction. VIII
"a is more, he gives it his own person
~ supervision, and administers its affai
- in the most just and impartial mann
opening it to every one who com
y. along without exception, and makil
no distinction as to age, sex or colo
II And this man is called stingy, gras
"A ing and mean. It's shameful, shocking
The ardent youth felt subdued Il
he convincing nature of these remarks le
~, him no arguments to offer, and, thoul
4 still inwardly unconvinced, he cou
=. only say helplessly and with an air
IS depression: rs that so? All the san
cv it does seem pity that those poor, tir
vn people have to stand, when the rest
nm us have good seats"
.w THAT is very true," said the man
N. experience, lit is pity, but that's t
,;s way it goes. Some have more tn
a. others. 1t always was so since
he world began, and it always will be.
n. the natural order, and it can be helpe'
Meanwhile the selections by
ad band had all been played, the shade
= grew long upon the grass, and
masses of people were separating
so moving towards the gates. Mr.. Sh;
OIL was one of the first to rise. and will
lb- comfortable sense of duty done a
pockets well filled, he left the scene
he his labors and was soon lost to view