The Washington times., 1894-08-05
CURB AND CORRIDOR.

"Not less than SO. 900 pounds OF ice are daily
converted into snow balls in this city, said a
dealer in ice cream whose trade has fallen oil
| on account of the Introduction of the new fad,
| to TIMES representative, land the craze for
il appears to be on the increase Go where
you will almost, in the fashionable quarters.
along the avenues, among the residences OF
what may be termed the middle classes so far
as the possession of money is concerned, or
in the streets where the very poor live, and
you will end that the mania has taken pos
session OF the people in the neighborhood,
and the proprietor of the SNOWFALL stand or
store is doing rushing business.
Some enterprising fellows have gone so
far as to g-t n horse and wagon and drive
from place TO place vending the pala able
stun. The Italians who keep frlit stands
have nearly all purchased SNOWFALL plant,
and il is not uncommon for one of these. who
is fortunate enough to be on public street,
to easily dispose of 100 pounds OF ice day.
''At the lowest calculation one pound of ice
will make ten snoypalls. while the aggregate
cost for the hundred pounds of ice and the
flavor used TO make them attractive to the
customer, is not more than 50. A profit of
IS a day these times isn't So bad, in my opin-
ion, and yet this is what is being accumulated
IN hundreds Of little places throughout Wash
inSton."
Many funny things are said by people who
60 to the city hall to get marriage licenses
Recently" said one OF he clerks who is
sues the important paper. "a middle-aged
man asked for Il license. Can you keep this
from those newspaper fellows. he inquired.
l told him couldn't promise. You must, he
calculated. with emphasis. Why? / asked,
bluntly. We'll. you see my wife died only six
weeks ago. and l didn't want it known In ad-
vance that l am going to get married
'Ihunderation, / said to him, won't it get
out anyway What's the difference whether
it is known now or hereafter, you have got to
face the music anyway 'Mau, that's just it.
Ny wife's mother is living, and she is Just
hi. Don't you see.'"
"Rich men," said Washington builder yes
terday. 'are full of superstition. 1t is a
hard matter to coax them to build themselves
fine homes found after much inquiry that
old men who grow rich build fine houses for
their own funerals.
The women, too, are averse to putting in
new windows in an oid house. They believe
that it is simply an invitation for death to
visit the family. There are lots OF things in
building houses that people have queer ideas
about. and / find intelligent people just as
superstitious as the uneducated."
Betting on horse racing is pretty risky
business often times" said a man wfo visits
the track occasionally, but think struck a
class OF betting a day or two since which is
more uncertain than placing sum on an
outsider.
at happened in front Of now brick house
being erected on Q street northwest / was
talking with a friend of the boss bricklayer
when we noticed two hodcarriers vieing with
one another to see who could fill his hod
first. 1t was close and exciting race and
resulted in tie.
Il offered to bet my friend to that the
larger negro could fill his hod first In
moment they were down again and were told
of our bet. My man laughed heartily, and
thought If he won he would receive some of
the spoils. so agreed. as did my friend
with his man. But the little man was pain
fully silent They got to work, and I'll
venture to say hods never were filled with
bricks faster in tho history of hodcarrying.
'Just fifteen seconds had elapsed when the
little man was ready to ascend the ladder,
but my horse hadn't reached the stretch
lost and the winning carrier got half the bet
or $3.50 You won't catch me placing quite
SO fast next time. I'll know my man."
1--WE hear great deal from time to time
about the strange actions of Texas magis-
trates in the courtroom" said & Washing
tonian to TINES representative. "but can
tell you of an actual occurrence last week in
Virginia which is the equal think Of any
thing yet reported from the Lone Star State.
81 own a farm in Orange county, where my
father, who WAS an Army physician during the
war. and my mother reside. They have for a
neighbor one of the most spiteful men, one of
those fellows who likes to be contrary for the
sake Of it, and he is always trying to make
trouble. Last week my father made bar
gain with four colored men to cut bark for
him. The men had hardly gotren to work
before Mr.. Neighbor spied them, and arming
himself with big revolver rushed down and
ordered them to clear out. No reason was
given as to why this peremptory order should
be obeyed, but finding the man disposed to
enforce his command with his revolver they
complied with great alacrity.
my father then went to the only magis-
traits in the county, Rev. DR.. Kemper, an old
Methodist preacher, and relative of the late
Gov. James L. Kemper. Heswore out a war
trespass.
1.-THE warrant was duly served, and the
man was arrested and arraigned before
Justice Kemper. After the trial had pro-
ceeded for a little time the man began to OBJ
ject to the course Of the magistrate to the wit
nesses and every one present; in fact, he said
he did not want to be tried at all.
This was too much for the good old
preacher magistrate, and, probably recol-
lecting the sort of language he used before he
was conv vsrted, said to the defendant: You
are the - fool and liar ever saw in
my life, except one old crazy Niger, and he |
had bushel OF sense compared with you.'
'Well,' replied the prisoner, ANY magistrate |
who will not decide as want him to Is an |
other - fool |
''This angered the magistrate more than |
ever, and he thnndered, 4 will not permit |
you to treat this court with contempt, and II |
you speak another word I'll take you as soon |
rs we get outside OF the building and mash |
that nose of yours until the blood pours out |
Of it like water out Of a pitcher This phil |
Iipic had the effect OF quietinr the prisoner, |
and there was no further interfering with the |
dignity Of the court"