St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-05
REFORM OF BILLY GREGG.

Reginald Babbington TompkinS lives
down Crystal Palace way in the great
metropolis of London. Thore is no
harm in that, for many good and esti-
mable people live within sight of the
great glass hOuse-the proximity of
which seems to make them chary about
throwing stones. Consequently, Tomp-
kins was 10th 10 tell Billy Gregg just
what he thought of him.
Billy looked upon the wine when it
was red Gn a Burgundy bOttle) and
white Gn bottle of champagne). The
color did not matter to Billy as long as
the wine was sound and old. Youth
and age never get along so hilariOusly
as when the young man about town
and old wine from the cellars meet.
SO the wicked Billy Gregg went on
his way rejoicing. aided by the lamp
posts and cautioned by the police, until,
one night, a new world burst upon him.
The new world was peOpled principally
by animated nature-mOnkeys and ba-
boons, such as were never captured by
the Zoo: but the chief inhabitants, be-
sides Billy himself, were snakes.
When Billy emerged from this ZOO
logical horror. he determined to reform.
He resolved to proceed with caution.
He did not go so far as to abjure liquor
aItogether-he felt that was asking too
much Of his system-but he resolved to
drink methodcallv. and lie began 10
drink secretly, which is a dangerous
thing for man.
Tompkins called upon him in his
chambers one day and saw at glance
how things were going. So he invited
Billy to come down and visit him from
Saturday to Monday in the vlrtuOuS pre-
cincts of the Crystal Palace.
Tompkins was wise and said nothing
of reform to Gregg, but he prepared
little surprise for him.
Billy said that his nerves had some
how gone wrong, and that he would be
glad of a day or two of quiet with the
grateful and comforting sight Of the
Crystal Palace before his eyes.
Now, it happens that in the grounds
of the Crystal Palace. and i'll all unfre-
Quented part of them, for the crowd as
general thing haunts the immediate
vicinity of the huge building itself,
there is a lake with numerous islands,
and a quiet, shady walk around its bOr-
ders. This lake is situated in a wooded
dell in the low grounds, as far as posi-
ul, from the big building. 1t Is quiet
spot of soothing natural beauty, out art
has added a peculiar horror to it.
On the islands and by the margin of
the lake, and here and there in the
water. have been placed huge prOduc
tions in some waterproof material of
the antediluvian animals which scien-
lists, doubtless suffering from the
strong drinks of former days, have i'm
agined the earth to have been populated
with. No sane man believes that such
creatures ever existed on any planet
called into being by an all wise Provi-
dence.
The punishment fits the crime, and
the names are as horrible as the animals
themselves. There is the anOplotherium,
the iguanadon, the palaeotheriun, and
other uncanny appellations.
Long, giraffe-like neckS project up
into the air from great bloated EodieS
Winged sea serpents stand erect i'm the
water. Huge elephant-like creatures,
the wings of Satan, Chamber up ovir the
islands. CHASTITY Nightmares meet one
at every turn along the walk that
fringes the margin of the lake. A
ghost haunted graveyard at midnight is
a cheerful, eniivening spot, compared
with that lake at any time In the twenty
four hours.
Saturday afternoon Tompkins wlrmly
welcomed his friend Gregg, andI took
him down the shady paths that led to
he margin of the lake.
Gregg did not care much for country
walks. They were not in his lint, but
he accompanied his friend uncomplain-
ingly.
kins, sis the refreshing quiet and rest.
Five days out of six in these parts of the
grounds you meet nobody; nothing
meets the eye but the sylyan--"
Gregg nervOusly clutched his arm.
For mercy's sake" he cried, whats
that?"
whats what?" asked Tompkins,
looking calmly at his friend.
''What is coming out Of the water?"
Tompkins gaZed serenely around, and
looked at his friend with a certain sur
prise upon bis brew.
~ see nothing" he said. "What was
it? A rat, perhaps"
NO, no." gasped Gregg. drawing his
hand across his eyes. "IJ was not a
rat. 1t was nothing. My Imagination,
perhaps"
IOul IlCl fCO arc ONCIOlld dlIItu, Sdlu
the innocent TOmpkins. You have
been working too hard"
That's it, that's It." assented Gregg,
with tremor in his voice.
"Well, as 1 was SAYING" continued
Tompkins, 1.-THE sylvan beauty OF this
spot makes it tavOrite ramble of mine.
especially i'll the evening 1t has
soothing and calming effect, especially
after man has put in hard dave
work, a restful scene like this-the
smooth water in the evening light, the
twitter of the birds, the sight of some
gentle hare or pretty squirrel OH the
Billy Gregg suddenly put his hands
on the shoulders of his friend, and his
body sWayed to and fro.
For Heavens sake" he cried, look
at that island and tell me what you see.
What is that creature with a body like
Somerset House and ears like Battersea
Park. climbing up out of the water?
You don't mean to tell me there is moth
ing there!'
Fompkins looked at his friend with
well-assumed amazement on his face.
Gregg" he said, ''there is something
the matter with you. You are not in
the usual state of health. Does not
your own go0d sense snow you that
there can be no such animal as you
Il know it. Tompkins," he cried.
clinging to his friend, II have
lied to you. [ admit it. Fve had 'em
before, but never in this shape. Tomp-
kins. have been drinking too much.
Take me home with you and write out
cast iron pledge, and I'll sign it sixteen
times. Call in all your friends to wit
ness it, but for Gods sake let us get out
of this quiet, peaceful. sylvan retreat"
Gregg'S reform has been so complete
that he now lives at BriXtoD, but he
breatheS hard when anybody mentions
the Crystal Palace III his hearing.
Assignment of School.
IEpANON n NIavA Tho NotionoI