Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-23
The Rnmblcr..s Vote Book:

week but there has been quite an I'M
provement in the management lately
or probably fresh supply OF carbons
has just been received. really don't
believe it is the fault of the men at the
motor-house at all, but rather lazlness
or q lack of carbons, | don't know
which, that prevents the men from Civ
ing some Of the most important lights
in the city proper attention. It looks
very much like culpable negligence
when, on a dark night, We fad here
and there all over the city lights that
are not lights andit makes one leei Very
''raspy." Let's give them another
chance for further improvement, Row
ever.
As yet have not had an opportunity
to get certain information III regard 10
the other city institution which prom
ised to write about this week, but look
out for it in my next. know a great
many facts in the case, but there are
several things | want to know yet and
/ don't want to 800 of halscoc..ed.
1t is not generally known among the
friends of a popular, but withal very
modest young society man, that he de
serves medal from the United States
lffe-saving service for bravery in rescu-
ing people from drowning am told
that he has saved the lives of no less
than five people, three boys and two
men, and in each case they were so 1ar
gone that he had to dive in order to
save them. On one occasion he broke
through quite thick skim OF ice about
where he thought the man had
gone down. His assistance has always
been voluntary, and Of course without
reward. Iwould like to give his name
but he does not court notor.ety. and
do not care to hold him up as an object
for public curiosity. Think OF the re-
nown that could be woven about this
young mans life if only young, beau
tiful and rich girl would flop over
board right under his nose Il bleak,
wintry day. | can almost see him
throw off his overcoat, coat and hat Che
always wears his watch on these sub
marine tours, believe, so he would
retain his waistcoa0 and plunge into
the icy waves. There would be few
silent moments of suspense and then he
would be seen to rise to the Surface.
holding firmly in his arms the. inani-
mate form OF the heroine and with q
few bold strokes he would land her
safely on the wharf. But now comes
the embarrassing question. Would he
proceed to resuscitato her by the same
means that he employed with those
men and boys? Poor modest fellow,
how could he surmount this difficulty
and preserve the romance intact.
witnessed very amusing incident
on Pennsylvania avenue a lew nights
ago. 4 we'll known young man from
this city had evidently gone TO Wash
ington to celebrate something and he
was doing it right royalty. When /
saw him he appeared to be very much
alarmed at the direction Mr. Ben.
Franklin, who can always be found in
front of tho Traders National Bank,
was painting. He had climbed as high
as his confused condition would allow
and was making frantic efforts to strike
the outstretched finger with bis cane.
An officer came up and asked what lie
was trying to do, at the same time as
sisting him to the ground. His reply
was "He'sh goin' to shoot right into
that housh an | wanter break his II
aim" The officer advised him not 10
do it as the penalty for breaking an
aim like that would be very severe. /
asked to be allowed to plot the unlort-
unate to the depot, saying he lived in
Alexandria. In the most eX2spcra,ing
tone he said '.Ah, that explains it, -
but he allowed my fellow-townsman TO
go with me, so | wisely kept my peace.
Since 1 have thought the matter over
coolly, think that policeman must be
woefully ignorant of the world and
particularly of the size and Importance
of some of the cities Of his own country
(strange to say, he appeared 10 be an
American).
had occasion to 90 to Remington.
Virginia, one day this week and
return on the first northbound
train. Having about fifteen min
utes to wait | thought | would
pass it by engaging in conversation
typical looking old Virginia darkey,
who was standing on the platform. |
asked something about the train, and
was never so completely sawed OIL
in my life. | was so sure that he was
the very old negro that we read about
in so many books and stories that his
answer nearly took my breath away.
1t was very sruly snarl, which in
terpreted as Il dunno, and he moved
offa few steps and looked the other
way. L thought | would try the efficacy
of a few small coins, and following him
up told him to get cocktail. He
looked at me in dazed sort of way,
but instantly became the most COM
municative person it has even been my
misfortune to run across. have no
idea what he was saying, but think in
that short while he must have told me
every thing that had happened III Fau-
quier county since the war
l hope that Thomas Nelson Page viii
never ''sprainn his intellect by trying 10
reproduce on paper the Language ofthis
old ''coon." 1t was far beyond me and
was thankful when the train came to
bear me away.
noticed that the darkies of the
present generation talk as little like