The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-03
STORIES FROM THE STREET
Ola POdrida of Local Gossip, Criticism
and Incidents.
Had Plenty of Time and MOney-An Influ-
entail Witness-Bad Typography and the
0~pticisns-At the Fountain.

cheerful, ~good-natured president of the
Western Paving Company, is ever taken
captive by the adversary in a fencing bout
with words. The other day he met a foe
man worthy of his steel. and it was Josh
Zimmerman, n local contractor. 10 was at
the Office of the Board of Public Works,
n Mr.. Zimmerman was there. as
the representative of Macarthur Brothers,
of Chicago, who bad made o bid on
the asphalt streets. with the condition
attached that they should have all or none
of the contracts The figures OF this Chi
cago firm were rather low and caused not Q
little surprise. Mr.. Zimmerman at the end
of the confab announced that if his people
got the contract they would use Lake
pitch" asphalt.
After the meeting broke up Messrs. Zim-
norman and Foster found themselves face
TO face.
you aren't in it." remarked Mr.. Foster.
smiling.
"Oh, yes Pm in It," said Mr.. zimmerman.
softly.
\ you're not" persisted Mr.. Foster.
Because your bid is informal and the
board can't consider it. L tell you this so
you may save your time"
Mr.. Zimmerman took this sad news with
out tiincnlng. In fact, he smiled as sweetly
as before and quietly remarked. We'll. L
have plenty of time and there's no use saw
ingit.
by telling you" said the amiable Mr.. Eos
ter.
mo. 1 have plenty of money, and have
no need to save it,"
"Yon have! Well. then. give nae fifty
cents" said MIR. Foster. suddenly.
"All right" responded Mr.. H., here it
H." and slipped the coin into MIR. Fosters
hand.
I-.-- - --Ia ----: <----
and received it. yet he didn't look alto
gether happy. Mr.. Zimmerman withdrew,
leaving the coin In Mr.. Fosters fingers,
who. turning it over half q dozen times
and finding no one to relieve him of the
burden, finally put 1t in his pocket.
The coin was afterwards handed over to
the city editor of the Journal. and Mr..
zimmerman can enjoy his W again By
calling for it at this office.
Within q radius of two miles of German
town. o.. there were five old fashioned cop
per dIstilleries, each of which turned out
two or three barrels o day of Bourbon or
rye w~hIsky-an article. too. which is not
to be found in these degenerate days.
There was no "rectifyIng." but it was put
away and not disturbed until it became
old and oily. Ben Christine kept one of
the hotels in the village. Among his
customers at the bar was an old
German farmer named AXE Boom
ershine. Before the war whisky was
not taxed. and was very cheap. Three
cents a glass-and a big glass at that-was
some reason, had become a little Short"
and, for a short time. contracted q running
account with Ben. Christine didn't keep
books. but TO accommodate his old Gus
toner. he took q piece of chalk. and every
time BOOmershine took a drink, he charged
on the wall behind the bar. Finally, the
latter made q raise. and came In TO settle.
Ben took him around and showed him the
account. The first Item read: Jake Boom
ershlne, whisky. 3 cents" Then followed
ditto, 3 cents; ditto, 8 cents" and SO on
down. The old man viewed tho account a
moment, and then slowly fishing from his
wallet a scent piece. he handed il 10 Rem
with the remark: There's 3 cents. Ditto,
Ditto! Who in the devil is Ditto? DIN
Ditto: let hIm pay his W debts" n he
Indignantly walked out.
1T isn't always the greater number of
witnesses that wins in q lawsuit, even in 3
question of veracity." remarked Henry
Clay Allen. II remember q case 1 once
had out in Kansas. My client had sent q
large quantity of butter to a dealer-abou
five hundred dollars worth-and the latter,
after keeping it com time. the market
meanwhile declining. refused to pay for it.
tn6O LIZ aOb bOuBhb " VI tnnb
1T had been sent him on commission. He
swore to this. and four or five persons in
bis employ swore to the same thing.
There were two hotels in the coun-
ty-seat where the trial came of.
At one of these the Judge, and law
jury was quartered at the other house. My
client. who was q modest. gentlemanly sort
of person. was advised to put mp at the lat
ter house. The jury saw him there before
NEA N A. aaDro - e. ,t H. Ala
anything about his business. Nobody
knew him. 1t was merely remarked that
he was a pleasant, agreeable gentleman.
They all knew the defendant. He had
made himself conspicuous. q clustering.
loud, self sufficient person. When tho trial
came on the jury was surprised to discover
this quiet gentleman had q suit In court. |
had no hope of gaining 1t. But when he
testified it was impressed upon every one
that he told the truth. and they found for
him In spite of the balf-dozenw witnesses on
the other side" +
Said o prominent merchant on Meridian
street: Consistency and fair play are both
said to be jewels. The News wears neither
OF these sparklers. A short time ago. prior
TO the adoption of the present city charter.
the News was constantly calling upon the
Mayor to enforce the laws. This was at q
time when the police force was under the
control of a board appointed by the State
officials. over whom the Mayor had no
more control than he had over theimove-
ments of the planets. To-day we have n
police force under the direct control of the
Mayor. through q board of his own selec-
ton. This board can be removed at the
pleasure of the Mayor. and If the laws are
not enforced he has the remedy in his own
hands. The pulpit and o portion of tho
press now unite in declaring that the gam
blers are bold In the prosecution
of their business and that saloons
are open on Sunday and during
the prohibited hour at night. The News,
however. is not at all excited at this time
over the existing conditions. Being large
ly responsible for the election of the pres
ent administration. it does not care TO
speak of its shortcomings. The News
claims that this is q business administra-
tion.' Would it be treason to suggest that
the condition OF affairs spoken of by Rev.
Milburn as now existing in this city may
possibly be closely connected with some
business arrangement"
+ s
There's a good time coming for ocuiists
and opticians remarked an eye specialist
to the reporter. "a while ago the black
boards in the public schools aided MS great
IL in sending to Us round-eyed children for
treatment for near-sIghtedness. The press
oil over the country called attention to
this fact, and the method of instruction in