The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-19
RUB|CUNDO HAS ANOTHER STORY
He Describes His Trying Expert
ence in Pittsburg.
How He Got Revenge for Tins Turn
Boys, Turn.
A Lodging House in which the sleepin e
Apartments We're Limited and
Where Unison in Action was
Essential.

ACROSS the street IN the not rays OF bn6
afternoon sun several men were digging
a hole for an electric light pole and as
they, inch by inch, descended through
the sun baked soil the beads of perspira-
ton stood thickly on their brows. 1t
was hard work and the little group OF
idlers who stood around watching their
efforts, exchanged opinions as to how
they would do it If they we're employed
in the same task. Rubicundo came
strolling up the street, his red face if
possible shade deeper from the exces-
sive heat and his usually stiff side
whiskers hanging Imply from his iowls
as if wishing for some friendly breeze to
agitste them. He stopped one moment
to inspect the operations of the men and
then struck out for the nearest saloon
Running across friend as he entered,
he said: "Come, let's irrigate; the
sight of those men parches my throat
and makes me want to drink the sea.
1t brings back to me the remem brance
of how / worked once, loading pig-iron
and handling castings. You don't think
l ever worked, hehl Well, my hands
don't show it now, that's fact, and it's
been many long year ago, but l tell
you | worked once as hard as any man
in that gang over there, and in a sun
just as hot. Gracious, how the thing
comes back to me. Pll tell you the
story; but, say, let's have one more to
clear my throat before | begin. Give
me cocktail with Big slice OF lemon
in it. Oil" said Rubicondo, as the
liquor went sizzling down his throat and
he commenced turning the lemon peel
over his tongue, "that's fine, how 1
wanted juet such poultice at
the time / refer to, but it
could not be. Now, I'll tell you.
1t was away back in 1866 l was only
a young fellow then and you wouldn't
believe it, but sspired to the stage, |
really did. / thought then it was only
a question of time beforeI would be q
full fedged star and pirouette in colored
lights and all that, but the pirouetting
/ did was under light of only one color
and it came straight from old father
Sol.
Well, jorned theatrical outfit in
Philadelphia. Forget just what did,
but 1 did no starring and only saw them
occasionally when fell over a piece of
scenery in the dark behind the stage.
The bills said we were playing to crowded
houses, but those in the ring knew that
10 BAKERS dozens were looked upon as
bonanza.
Naturally such a condition of things
could not last and one hot July
morning l woke up in Pittsburg with
my occupation gone, no money and
nothing in the world but very large
sized appetite, which was worrying me
like dun after bad debt. / had to
live, you know, fellow has to eat, 80 l
struck out to see if L couldn't earn the
"wherewith." All morning wandered
around the hot smoky streets of Pitts
burg but it was no go. About l o'clock
1 struck across the Monongsheia bridge
to the south sids and commenced agit-
ating the question of work with nearly
every one l met. A walking delegate
was not in it with me as far as persist
Rnce was concerned.
at last succeeded in getting job
and was made one of gang OF men,
transferring iron castings from one pile
to another. The boss was a short
stumpy Irishman, with a shock of fam
ing hair, which seemed never to have
known comb. He was bright, ener-
getic fellow, worked hard himself, and
took care that each man did likewise.
That first afternoon l shall never for
get. The sun came straight down and
as l struggled over the masses of iron l
thought L would several times have
fallen. Six o'clock came at last, but
still had the large hungry appetite, in
addition to considerable experience and
pair OF very sore hands. l was get
ting very weak and at last asked the
boss if he knew where. / could get bed
and meals ION tick" until my wages
we're due.
Tim Mealy at once told me be could
fix that all right, to come home with
him, az he was living with an aunt or
some relation. who made 1t pleasant and
homelike for several of the boys, and
that he'd square matters for me until
got my pay.
l found really good supper when 1
arrived, and you can believe | filled up
in great ehspe. The pangs OF hunger
having suhsided, my next thoughts in
clined toward bed, as l was aching in
every limb from the unusual exertion.
l spoke to Tim about it. and he said
that it was the rule for all hands to
retire at the came time, and he thought
the rest of the boys wouldn't be ready
Until dDOub D U ClUCkJ 81 VIC lay hIouuu
smoking and telling stories until that
hour arrived. Then there was a general
rush for bed. ALI deposited their hats
and coats down stairs, and, led by Tim,
commenced to climb q ladder over in
one corner of the room. We soon found
ourselves in an attic whose roof was 80
low we had to grope our way and guard
against collisions with the rafters.
There was only one bed in the room
but it was very large one. Tim sem
tentiously remarked that seven had
been sleeping in it, but that he thought
| could get in all right and that it would
only be a little crowded with eight. So
we all disrobed and got in one after an
other, Tim on the outside on one side.
while l, as the newest arrival, occupied
the same position on the other side.
Talked about being packed Ssrdines
weren't in it with US. All of the eight
faced one way and we we're jsmbed
together 80 closely that one could hardly
move without disturbing someone else.
Gradually we dropped off to sleep. 1
was the last, guess, because | was so
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