Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-10-21
A HARMONlCON T-iEND.
How lie Flcurished for Season but WI
SilencCd by u Girl.

How He Flcurished for Season but Was
SilencCd by Girl.
This is the season when the young
man with the harmonicon is ripe, lie
is now largely engaged in going to and
returning from picnics, and incidentally
nuruling profanity en- route by tortur-
ing elevated and surface car passengers,
1t is popularity of the harmonicon
habit that it deadens its victims to the
rights of others 1t is estimated that
only one person in every million, out
side Of the victim of. the disease enjoys
the alleged Emusic" of the harmoncon.
Yet it may be noticed by an observ-
ant person that harmonicon fiend
will throw all the force. of his in
variably robust nature into playing
''chunes" every time he gets into a
street car.
One of the outlaws boarded Third
avenue elevated train one evening re-
Gently and promptly began entertain
ing" the other passengers. An elderly
man, after enduring the evident agony
for awhile, remarked: Young man,
will you please desist? That noise is
very annoying"
"Noise!" roared the fcnd. "You
don't know any thing about music.
Well, amt 'er goin' ter stop, Sce?"
The elderly man evidently realized
that further remonstrance was vain
and said nothing. At the next station
a well-dressed young man, accompan-
led by lady, boarded the train, and at
once both of the new passengers began
showing annoyance at the noise, which
prevented the continuance of their con-
versation. The young man finally APP
pealed to the train guard to stop the
racket made by the harmonicon, and
called attention to the fact that several
passengers had been driven from the
car. The guard cast seven-pound
look of scorn upon the complaining pas
senger and remarked: "Why he amt
doing no harm. He only wants to be a
little sociable like"
Other passengers also appealed to the
guard, but with no better result. AT
last the young man approached the
fiend and said: "My friend, that may
be very sweet music to you, but the
other passengers prefer less noise
Won't you please stop it?" The fiend
grew as angry as though one of his con-
stitutional privileges was attacked, and
addressed profane language to the
man, loud enough for all the passengers
to hear, and then resumed his campaign
of torture. The passengers were very
angry but did not care to get into what
promised to be fight with the fend.
Over in the corner of the car sat girl
about sixteen years old and by no
means robust. She seemed to pay but
| little attention to the controversy.
When the other passengers settled
| themselves down to endure the torture
as best they could the girl got up and
walked over to the harmonicon iiend.
81 can lick any man myself who has
no more sense than to try to drive peo-
pie crazy with such racket as you
make" she said to the fiend, and before
he had recovered from his establishment
| she grabbed the harm onicon and hurl-
ed it through an open window and then
resumed her seat in the corner. And
that young, would-be 'bully" shriveled
up in his seat until he was scarcely Wis
ibIe and did not utter word of protest
even When the girl left the train ev-
cry passenger applauded her with their
hands and some cheered in addition.
| She evidently knows what harmOnicon
| fiends are made OF. N y. Herald.