The morning call., 1893-03-19

Uncle Dick He is called lucky because
lie is a great finder Of things. What makes
him Cdder that others, and goodness knows
he Is odd enough in appearance and manner.
Is his peculiar occupation.
He's searcher for nickels and dimes
behind stTeetcars. He makes living at this
uncertain calling, and sometimes makes
enough IN last him for several days.
"Old Uncle Dick Will never start ont on
his peaTch except after the last car is gone
As soon as the owl cor hauls out the old
man is on hand with a lantern and follows
IT, though it soon leaves him in the back
ground. Come around almost any night
and you can catch giimpSes Of the old
COdEer"
Acting on the suggestion, a CALL man
several nights ago about the time the owl
car left took up his station at the Eddy
street terminus Of the electric railway
soon an old man came hobbling along, a
stick in one hand and lantern in the other.
Not only were his shoulders stOOped and
round, hunchbakc ike. but his head had an
inclination eartnward of its own, and the
lids Of his eyes seemed to lower over the
pupils from his perpetual habit Of looking
on the ground for money.
Button, the celebrated naturalist, was the
first who said that man is the only animal
that looks above at the stars, but Old
Uncle Dick would never have inspired he
epigram OF the French philosopher. Milton
must have seen man like Uncle Dick
NAGll ne W lOlt Llldl Mhulllou W ds LI6 OILY
one OF all the fallen angels who bent his
head always TO the pavements Of pande-
monlum because they were of gold.
When the bell Of the owl car rang out for
its departure The CALL man saw Uncle Dick
start from the eectrlc-light pole on the cor
ner for the track aud turn the slide of his
lantern 80 as to illuminate his pathway in
advance. AT a distance lie appeared very
much like an old decrepit tamale-peddler
who had not sold enough Of his wares to take
the ears.
Now on the right and now on the left of
him, on both sides Of the track, the nickel
hunter flashed his lantern, peering eagerly
on the ground. While thus moving onward
slowly The CALL man accosted him.
Hello! Lost something 2" was asked
"Eh? Lost something? Naw": and the
old man chuckled with a whiting, wills
ting exclamation.
We'll, you must be looking for some.
thing then, and l wanted 10 help YOU" was
SAID, in order TO induce him 10 talk.
la, ha! Eou help me? Why, l be a
woTkngman. This be my business. What
could you find? Ha, ha!
Find? Why. what is there to ind?"
He, hel Look here-see" said the old
man with an exclamation of delight as he
poked his stick into the mud, stopped and
picked up something. Rubbing the object
on his coat, he held it up 10 the light of his
lantern.
1t was nickel.
81 find these" he said, and he put it
You, must have known somebody
dropped it," was said.
"Ot course somebody dropped it." he re-
turned. 81 don't know who but i always
hnd EN-, People drop 'em from the cars
and pick 'em up. Ia, hal They don't
even know they drop nickels and dimes for
mew
why. you might as well hunt for n
needle IN bundle of straw" said his lis
tener.
My eyes are good, my eyes are good.
though am old. can see. tell you. i
don't need glasses, either"
But the coins are so scarce"
No they amt; no. no. Lots Of nsonIa
during the night drop 'em all along in pull
Ing out money. Sometimes | find baivas
and quarters, and even dollars. Once col
hve-dollar piece"
was asked.
Two years, sir. You see. it came ahou,
this way: One morning l went a-waIkinr
and took the car-ttack out Market stre+t
Soon saw nickel IN the road on the side
Of the car-tTack, and picked it mp. Then
saw dime, and continued out. 'no. no.
SAYS /; 1 know where they come from
FeOpe drop EN- from the cars in the night
time. And so l began to walk the tracks
IN the morning, but couldn't get up early
enough. So thought it best to 20 around
alter the last car"
How is it you did not keep on Market
sueet, where there are so many cars ?" asked
Well. you see. them traek-walkers with
ihelr lanterns got onto me and began Ia
LOOK loT nlckels too. Whenever they fonnd
what was doing took another route
as as thls road lucky one to find coins
"Yes. have been doing well. You see