Evening journal., 1893-03-27
The YOUNG NAN ON THE TRAIN.

THE YOUNG MAN ON THE TRAIN.
He Sang and Sold His Song Book at a
Good Advance.
As the elevated train puffed slowly out
from the Congress street station the
guard slammed the door on six passeng
ers. r
In the crosswise seats at the centre
were two girls with pearl button sacques,
an old gentleman Of sedate bearing and
white beard, and young man. This
young man wore a striped suit, a fawn-
coored spring overcoat, short in the
sleeves. low standing collar with white
satin tie, and other things sold at stores
where the customers are ierked in off the
street The young mans hat had very
narrow rim and some dents in the top.
Toward the front OF the car were two
workingtnen with dinner pals
As soon as the young man fell into his
seat be allowed himself to slide dowa
until the bump on the back Of his heal
hooked over the top of the seat ana
steadied him in comfortable position
After that he took off bis gloves which
we're baggy around the knuckies aud had
the figures II stamped on the back Of
each This being done he produced
yellow pamphlet which, on being M
folded, proved to be the Worlds Fair
Songster," for IL said 80 In letters biz
enough for danger placard.
Opening the book, the young man
looked intently at page 1 for moment
and said, "Oh h-h b, in strained con
tralto. THIS did not satisfy him, and he
tried the "Oh h.h-h, In very rasping
bass, after which he shook his head A
third effort, accompanied by a violent
elevator motion of his Adams apple
brought forth nasal tenor "Oh h h. ="
which caused the old gentleman to turn
sharply in his seat and set the girls to
giggling.
II was not exactly singing. IL was
the one two three la-la-la chant found in
easy lsssons for beginners It was the
tune played by the man who fixes pianos
But the young man made 1t ft.
Oh.h-h-h thu Boworee.
Tnu-u Bowe-e,
They sa-a-y such things und
They do such things,
La Ia la, Ia la Ia
And-nd III never 20 there any more.
The old gentleman idgeted in his seat
and the girls across the aisle had hand
kerchiefs up to their faces.
He found Page Once more applied
the one two o'three air
0h-h-h, way, way over yunder,
| Whur they make the thunder.
| Shine on, shi-i-ne on.
Ting Ia &c ting ting ting
1t seemed as though the "oh h h" was
a necessary part Of every number. He
said IL, or sung 10, in the tone Of the mai
IN the operating chair just as the
forceps began to clinch. Without
noticing the distressed glances from in
front or the smothered giggles to the
right, the young man pulled ont his cuffs
a little further and tried the tune on the
verses Of Page 3.
Oh-h-h, he never cared to wander
From his own hreside,
| He never cafeu 20 ramble or TO roam,
| With his children on his kuee
He wuz happy AS could b-e-e-e,
Ia Ia "a, Ia ia Ia, sweet home.
The old gentleman leaned over the
back Of the seat at Twenty second street
and asked: 'Are you going farT
yep; Forty seventh.
At this the girls made a noise, and tn,
young man glanced at them with
gratified smile and began a study of No
4. After brief rehearsal under hi
breath, accompanied by the tapping o
his feet, he began another recitative il
the same old key:
Oh-h-h, It's in a sweet little cottage.
All covered with vines,
Dweis oily, and Me and the Baby.
This did not appear TO suit him, an,
he changed off without losing the mo
notonous theme or the explosive intro
duction:
Oh-hhl I'm the man that wrote Ta-ra-ra- Boom
decay;
I'm the man that rad ada de da de ay;
Shakespeare could write a play-ay
But he neve, saw tie dav nv
When he could write Ta-ra-ra- Boom-de-ay
After this there was "A pause of ful
minute, during which the young ma
turned the leaves slowly. Suddenly
smile lighted his face Oace more d
rehearsed In stage whisper aud ppt
with bis heel Then he hegan:
0h-h-h, the locked-out men at Homestead
They
The old gentleman had risen an
moved back one seat. BY that time a.
train was grinding up to the Twentl
ninth street station. The old gentlena
laid his hand kindly on the sleeve of u
tawn colored overcoat.
How are all the folks out in III
couutry2' he asked.
"l amt from the country"
"NOG
mo. I've lived in Chicago all m
life.
TIE two girls got off at Twentynint
street, smiling back at the young ma
with the songster, who watched the
through the window. Then he turne
again to the old gentleman, who still ha
him by the sleeve.
How much did your book cost 2" l
asked.
Fifteen cents"
I'm give you fifty"
"But | want to keep It. b"
"You can get another one some tim
You Just now sung a song that like. 4"
(Which one
"Never mind. Here's your fifty"
The old gentleman reached eager
for the book and put it deep into h
inside pocket After that the youu
man with the satin tie had to contei
himself with looking out of the windo
and humming softly few songs withol
3 words, but the same old tune - Chica,