The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-20
HE LOST HIS TEMPER.


Peel Ffend.
Justice Of tho poetic variety overlook
banana peel fiend on lower Broadway
vesterday afternoon. He was q puffy,
red faced. bloated looking man, with
bleary eyes, q pink necktie and other
evidences of total depravity. The bananas
which furnished him with ammunition
he had purchased OF perambulating
pedd,er at the corner Of Park place and
broadway at about a o'clock. Munching
them one by one he walked along by
CITY Hall parb and scattered destruction
as he went.
Just behind him walked a nervous
looking little man whose black hat and
white choker indicated that he was a
clergyman. an indication which was
borne out by subsequent events. Pres
emily the little man stepped on one Of
the fiend's banana peels His feet scared
heayenward, and he landed with force
that fairly shook the ground. With an
air of Christian resignation he arose and
made q feeble endeavor TO remove some
of the mud which he had collected in his
fall. Then he proceeded, with the ex-
preston of one who would rub himself
If there weren't a crowd around. He
had walked but few rods when another
banana peel loomed before him. The
little man picked it up gingerly and
looked about him. Just then the fiend
in front dropped third peel. Without
n moments hesitation the minister hur-
ried forward until he caught up with
him. Holding up the deadly skin before
him he said in q carefully modulated
tone:
II believe you dropped something. sir"
"Humph," replied the fend, "from the
way you look you dropped something
too"
The little mans face fairly bristled
with violently repressed profanity.
Look you, SIR" he cried. II am a
minister of the gospel, sir; clergyman,
sir, and don't want to say anything un-
BETTING one of my cloth, sir. But /
want to ask you, sir, what in darnation
you mean by throwing your confounded
banana peels under my feet, sir" He
waved the aforesaid peel violently about
his head as he spoke.
The red faced man glanced contemp-
tuously over the minister's slight figure.
"Wot you goin to do about itY' he
sneered. "P'r'aps you'd take a contract
to do mo ups"
BY this time few people had gathered
about. and the little man noting this
lowered his voice. but there was an omi
nously set expression about his face as
he said, II want you to make an apol
ogy, here and now."
Apology be ID" was the reply.
"Wel1, sir, / will not strike you," said
the clergyman, his voice unsteady will
| anger, because do
Because you amt man enough,
sneered the bigger man. Because yor
don't-Spt-t-t. Phe-e-e-e-w. Pr-r-r-r-
Phtr
With a rapid movement the little mar
had jammed the banana peel into the biz
mans mouth and rubbed it vigorously in
"How do you like that?" he inquired
with evident and unministerial satisfac
ton in the performance. The only an
swer was vicious lunge, which the lit
tie man lodged. Then and there his con
scientious scruples vanished, and h
struck out with the vigor and accurac.
of champion. The blow took the ba
mana peel fiend under the chin, and owe
he went as the minister had gone over
few moments before There was n
more fight left in him, and when h
arose it was only to sink around a col
ner.
The crowd, which was not large, 70
the whole affair had taken less than
minute, expressed emphatic approval
the clergyman's performance. He locke
rather shamefaced, however, as he pre-
ceeded up Broadway.
Really" said he in meditative tone
"really, I'm afraid lost my temper"
New York Sun.