The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-30

umbrella is at the office. If the the rain is
raining in torrents and the um-
brella is In the closet upstairs, and
q trip must be made to the drng store on
the double quick for baby's sake-where.
oh, where is the nm rellaf The hired girl
has it, of course. The other day an elderly
gentleman. with resolute feature. was seen
going about town with an armload of um-
brellas. 1t was raining 6; q stranger stepped
mp TO him and inquired. How much you
selling 'em att" The elderly gentleman
apologized, saying they were not for sale
that he was establishing coaling stations
around the city, where he could be supDlied
at a moments warning against the weather.
The um breila question Is no sooner settled
than the macintosh problem presents 1t
self. No man cares particularly how much
1t rains if he has an elegant macintosh. In
this habiliment he swings down street So
renely dignified. This commodity is some
times missing, and cannot so easily be sub
stituted. A good macintosh costs S25,
while some have been known to sell for S5.
A man of small means finds it rather en-
barrassing TO Try to keep this garment and
chases a soft, woolish SIS mackin-
tosh, and wears il. wet or cold,
until the winter season ID gone. 1t requires
a practical eye to tell the difference be-
tween a good Macintosh and y cape coat.
Overshoes are more accessible. and are
generally considered community property
If they tit you. One pair OF OvershOes are
known to have been stolen by thirteen diff
ferent people in two months during the re-
cent session of the Legislature, at the end
of which time they were put on the retired
list.
The rainy day In Indianapolis brings
with it an atmosphere peculiar to few
places. Early in the morning a swish of
cold water Is started along Washington
street with a dreary effect. An occasional
hack which rolls in about this time, with
its driver bumped mp and almost buried in
oil-cloth and rubber, receives the splash
with a shiver, and the horses quicken their
pace until the sound of their hoofs on the
asphalt Is beard for blocks. Now and then
a trio of tough-looking fellows. their hands
in their pockets and their heads drawn
down W their shoulders. pass by and
on. The night man in the restaurant.
in his apron and jacket. sitting upon
sheet iron. where hot cakes" are baked,
leans up against the wall asleep. Very
few bounds interrupt the monotonous
Later the courthouse doors are unlocked.
Express wagons arrive here aId here at
their stations for the day, famili AZ charac-
ters are hobn0bbing along Delaware street,
between Washington and Market. regard
less of the IDcessant drizzle, and q saloon
door occasionally spills q man.
People are now beginning to congregare on
the most elevated entrance TO the court
house. Shop hands. with all kinds OF
buckets, baskets and cans. hurry every
WoJs abup uithOueA Il OSu eAO"
heavier and the rain increases, everybody
seems to he busy, and, about 10 o'clock.
billiard balls begin to crash, carts
and wagons are making q terrible
the Police Court. the Mayor Is having a
cigar IN his private Office and now and
then, In spite of wind or weather. n fellow
steps up TO the county clerks counter fer
a pair o. marriage licenses."
All this Is simply the dark fly
leaf which bInde and protects the
bright. cheerful summer days await
ing on the pages beyond. The days
of sunshine, green grasses and songs of
b~irds-when streams are clear and the sky
is blue. and all of the drearinese, cold and
misery of this April has been forgotten by
nature.