The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-06

state.
MOSAICS OF THE CITY.
Among the many human oddities who occa-
sionaily visit the ONCE OF the PosT-lNTILIIGBN-
GER, Is a veritable tramp-not hobo nor appar.
entity petty thief, - many OF the tribe are,
but q man who scarcely conceals the fact that
his one ambition 10 TO live, somehow or Other
he is not particular-at other peoples expense
He came in . few nights ago carrying An
amiable jag of whisky in smiling. jaunty way
which disarmed sarcasm except on tho part OF
the Prohibitionist Of the ONCE, who sum-
marily ordered him out He did not demur, b.
ing evidently accustomed to such unceremoni.
Gus farewells, but went, still smiling under the
liquid load and looking a. happy a. though he
had been offered another drink. He has not been
In since, evidently thinking he Is not welcome
He is q big Scotchman with his bones we'll
covered with desh and big long curly brown
hair and bushy whiskers tinged with grey
which gives him highly respectable appear
ance: In fact he might be taken for Presby-
terrain preacher, II he were put through the
de-alcoholixing mill of Kelley institute, 90
that the bleared look might be taken out OF his
eyes and the boozy tint out OF his cheeks, II also
he were dressed In the canonical broadcloth
coat and white tie in place of the odds and ends
of clothes which show signs OF too close contact
with the trucks Of railroad cars; if more than
all else he were to have the accumulations Of
dirt boiled out of him In Turkish oath.
He hfst came two or three months. looking
sad. travel-worn and disgusted with the world.
he said his name was James Hall and that he
had been . wheat buyer In San Francisco. but
was brought to ruin BY fascally partner to
whom he trusted his oil and who robbed him
He varies the continuation Of his story accord
ing to the occupation of his intended victim.
a - g. a. A>1A %
man, whose heart 70 OVERLOOKING with the milk
OF human kindness and who has . fellow.
feeling for tramps ever since he had to walk
home during the snoWstorm, he told how he
was once Newspaper man and then said with
simulated sob:
"what . pity that man who can write and
speak seven languages should b reduced to
begging for charityl"
Judging by the readiness with which that
newspaper man forked over q dollar, one lam
guage and powerful imagination were quite
adequate to provide for his needs, and the other
six languages were mere surplusage.
He would 60 on to tell how. after disaster had
rewarded his misplaced trust, he had sent his
wife and family to Scotland and was then seek
ing employment in tho hope OF getting ahead
again and then being reunited to his dear ones.
At this point he would just bubble over with
conjugal and paternal love, and talk OF the
beauties OF bonnie Scotland, singing in few
quotations from "Bobbie Burns (as he famil-
iarIy called the hardy, just a. q sort of mayor.
naise dressing to lard his thoughts wishal
II he Is seeking aid from . banker, he 10 .
busted bank president, whom run caused by
q lying rumor has brought to ruin: IL he appeals
to the sympathies OF a real estate man, he clings
to the Tag end OF . dying boom and hath nothing
left OF . magnificent fortune except the plenti.
full covering of dirt he carries about his person.
SO he goes about, obeying the apostles injunc-
ton to be all things to all men. and gathering
treasures thereby, only to scatter 1t again among
the saloonkeepers, thus performing his Chris
tian duty in another particular BY doing good
to them which despitefully use you.'
Alter lapse OF several weeks he came to the
POSr-lNrELLIGENCERa again furnished with evil
dence that his claim that he had been q news
paper man was well founded. The city editor
was busy at the time, and, taking the man uscript
from him, dismissed him without . blessing.
On looking IL over he found il to b . rambling
account OF Q tramp through British Columbia,
where bits OF description Of the country were
sandwiched in among philosophical reflections,
such % might DO expected to be evolved from
tramp's mind, with here and there
note OF how he had been given
asupper and a nights lodging at some farm
house. and had paid his host with some OF his
wel-learned lies about his past greatness. Oc-
casionally be would try to make good his claim
to be gentleman OF education by misQuoting
scraps OF poetry. The handwriting and the
language were good and the sentences gram.
NAUTICAL, but the whole was the disjointed effu-
sion OF brain seasoned with plentiful draughts
OF bad whisky. 1t was apparent that Mr. Hall
was man with the instincts of tramp, ON
whom a fair education had been wasted.
One OF those to whom he went was County
Treasurer Byron Phelps aud his tale of woe 90
moved that kind-hesrted gentlemsn's COM
passion that he was given an order on . res
taurant for q meal. The next day Mr. Phelps
called to pay the bill and found written on The
back OF his note the wandering epcure's bill of
fare, which clearly showed him to be q lover of
the good things. 1t read thus:
Cents.
CocKtalI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Is
Steak Ia GOOD one) ............,..... a
cigar ditto OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Is