The sun., 1894-10-28
pheo rrrH ~ kcrroH.
TAs Asts-,sA,-s 90 s-sss--rsi e-ts-e-n
81 Le,we~-eerang 49,


ere Ls-~-s-gsrt-~ Hs--
Peanut row Il what the nevsboys csii ths line
| Of push carts that occupy the curbstons of Park
row Just east Of City Hall PARK. IL would Be
more properly called Chestnut row nov, fOr
nearly all Of the Italians who form II deal In the
succulent chestnut roasted OF raw. - the Gus
toner desires. OF all the meek Italians who
make mp this line Dago Mike sis the meekest-
The giving Of this name to him is the least OF
the indignities which the street urchins have
hesped upon him. They poster him day and
night, they throw pebbles and bits Of stick at
him, they sneak mp behind him. snatch HIS cap
on and throw II into the gutter; in short, they
exhaust every device known 10 their ingenious
minds 10 make his life miserable. but beyond .
word Of expostulation now and then and .
hunted expression in his handsome brown eyes,
the chestnut vender gives no evidence Of feel
ing. He seems . veritable Stole.
It happened that one day last week Daeo Mike
had had very bad luck. A small dog. orns-
mented rearward with tin pan, carefully at
tached by the City Hall boys, had upon being set
free tackled the Italian. who happened to be in
his path, and had left teeth marks on his leg.
The boys, too, had been more troublesome than
usual, and, worst Of all, some one had passed
bad quarter on him. II was . very black day for
Dago Mike.
After his torch was lighted At night matters
weren't quite 80 bad. For one thing most Of his
boyish tormentors had gone home, and those
who remained were too busy selling OF the last
Of their papes" or begging from the passers By
sufficient pennies for shake down" TO pay
any attention to him. Still, his natural meek
ness Of spirit was tinged with . feeling Of III
humor. and he brooded. While he was brood
ing. hulking young fellow. nsshily dressed.
slouched up 20 the chestnut stand with that ag-
gressiye swing of the shoulders peculiar TO tn
What "a you got there, Daeo 2" he demand
ed, thrusting his hand in among the chestnuts.
Buy "a da chestnut" :" said the Italian uneas-
ny. II was his stock remark in English: He
wished that he knew more 10 say. for he knew
by instinct that this broad -shouldered young
was going to make game OF him. and he wasn't
In the mood for IL that night. All he wanted
home. " 80 % he looked I % appeaiinsy % at THE the Youth.
and repeated in his most pacific tones: Buy-s
"Nc. 1 don't buy-a no chestnut" Knocked the
young man. IL don't have to buy-a da chestnut. |
getta da chestnut without buving EN-"
spat 1t out with oath. Then raising the cover |
Of the rUaster, he selected one from there, which
intended To irritate the owner of the edibles. |
But the meek Italian only looked at his tor |
then The % buliy TWAS was NOT M CONTENT. seiainsa hand
ful OF the nuts. he thrust them into his pocket |
" Five-a cent small cup. Dees-a one ten-a |
cent renturtd the Italian,
With an oath and a loud laugh the young man |
grabbed the Italians cap. and flung IL In his
face. Just what happened thereafter 1t would |
be very difficult to descr be. The Italian and the
bully came together: that is certain. Things |
were all mixed up for u minute, and the air
seemed to be- full OF heels and heads and things
in rotary motion. Somebody was getting very
much twisted about but 50 quick was the proc
ess that the few onlookers couldn't determine
which IL was. They supposed probably IL was
the Italian. But when after q few seconds
was on, his feet and his opponent was on
he all NHQF i'm lnr hat
His red necktie shone brilliantly against
the black background Of the gutter. His clothes
expression Of utter amazement and chagrin
could be seen struggling to manifest itself amid
the bruises which somewhat impaired its ex-
pressiveness. He looked stupidity about him
and cast a glance at the Registrars Office. It
was still there. Evidently that wasn't what
had fallen on him. Turning again. he saw the
little Italian standing over him. A sudden in
Illuminating his cOuntenance shone
among the bumps and bruises. He stiffiy arose
TO his feet.
Quick as fash the Italian whipped up the
fallen's youths hat from the sidewalk, placed IL
upon its owners head. and. swinging back both
hands, palms open. brought them down directly
on top Of it. As the e1tinguisher snuffs out
candle. so were the features of the young man
pbliterated by the hat A muffied howl came
from beneath. But not yet was vengeance COM
pete. The Italian stepped back, swung his foot,
and. with accurate aim, landed a kick that fair
y lifted the bully on his feet. Once more he
kicked, and then a third time. This was too
much. The young man. still blinded by his hat,
broke into run and bundered across the street,
where policeman extricated him and advised
him to go back to Brooklyn.
He went. Next day the boys around Peanut
row were pestering Dago Nike as usual.