The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-18
TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
The Father of His Country Dis
courses on Many Current
Topics.

1t was just on the simmer between
moonlight and sunrise, just on the
shank of one of those delightfully."-
warm nights Of the past week, when on
my way homewsrd | stopped for few
last pulls on perfecto and rest on
seat in Court House Square before a
fatiguing climb up the hill. | chose
one of the benches beneath the statue
of George Washington, facing the
postoilice, and was in the midst Of 81
lent and agr, cable reverie and the
aroma of my cigar when the stiffness
was broken by deep voice, saying:
"Gi'me light please, young man."
Somewhat startled, Ipushed my hat
up from my brow and turned to the
right and left and looked before and
behind me without seeing the inter
locutor. The only sounds which re-
lieved me of q decidedly alarming feel
ing were the pounding Oft press in the
newspaper building across the street
and the monster grunts of the big hy-
draulic at the steel mill Attributing
the voice to q hallucination AMI my half
asleep meditations, | had settled my
self for a further enjoyment of solitude
when the same voice exclaimed in q
sharper and more authoritative tone:
"Say, hurry up, CLINE light; the sun
will be on us by half past three, and
that's all the time I've got"
This time the voice sounded from
the pedestal aud as glance upward
but what has come over. the statue?
The space it usually occupies is filled
with only vacant air, and, shades of
the departed, there sits General Wash
ington in an easy attitude looking
down on me with benign expression of
cOuntenance, one leg crossed and q
half burned cigar held between tightly
clenched teeth!
Startled beyond measure | hurriedly
arose and was on the point of cutting
the scene when the figure said, smiling
meanwhile:
"This Is the first time since three
nights ago that / could change my at
titude and enjoy much needed rest.
Thursday evening some black bearded
councilman tossed away his cigar butt
which landed at my feet; / slyly
pushed it back for future use and this
is the only opportunity I've had to
smoke it. Now that l've got my teeth
on 1t sneaking idea comes over me
that it was but scent purchase
however, the light please. Thanks.
81 was just-pufi- thinking-pufl
-puff-where the Sheridan Monu-
ment association puff, puff, pulf-is
going to locate in this plot Of green
sward the statue of General Phil. You
see, Colum and | by virtue of eminent
domain are entitled to figure as shin
ing lights on this side of the square and
there's going TO be trouble if-"Rut
Just then while the moon was hidden
behind cloud q policeman came
yawning and stretching from The cor.
ridor ofthe posloifl"e and after salts.
Whenre he came.
"That reminds me-" said the gen.
eral, "is the pOstOt1lce Il regularly
established headquarters for the officer
of this beat? No? Well appearances
1t don't matter; | suppose discipline
like other things has changed since
was president of the great republic.
"Now, zee here; Pm not disposed tC
talk unless you hurry that pencil anC
pad TO cover, Such gross imperti
nence when | was president of the
great republc-but how goes the tariff
"What! they're at 1t yet, you say
Shades of the Continental congress
Why, when | was president of-neve
mind; 1t gals me to recall it. Are Tx
bridges built yet?n
"You see, MIR. Wash"
"Eh?"
"Excuse men, General Washing
ton, there has been an unavoidable
delay
"Delay, flddlestlcks; now when
was president of the great republic w
could have bridged Long Island Sount
If 1t had been necessary. 1t makes m,
very tired to see such sluggishness in ;
day when the people have so man.
conveniences at their command.
II hear the Scrantons are playing
base ball. Now that's something lik,
it. If the public in matters nationa
and political would prof by that club
example and get a hustle My, bu
it makes the spirit of Lexington worl
out from my very finger tips. Wha
time Is it?n
"Half-past three, sir"
The once president of the great re
public swung around on his knees anC
clamored to his feet, when after a tina
pull at his reduced scent smoke and ,
quick glance toward Spruce street, h
, said;