Democratic messenger., 1894-09-29
VICTIM OF His OWN JOKE

One of the oldest characters that
Chicago has known was blithe fellow
named Horn. They called him Pink"
Horn. lie boosted that he could not
keep money: he declared that rs he
was horn he must needs elbow"
himself 1t was this joke that allured
him from his trade, that of sign paint
ing. After this he lived on his wits.
He was not known To be dishonest, but
To the man who lives by his wits there
comes but few twinges of conscience
Once he made a reputation in a new
direction. One cold day he took of a
new overcoat and wrapped it about
the shoulders of a thinly clad negro
woman whom he met in the street.
Ills companions marvelled at this,
knowing that he had but little money.
and in reply 10 their expressions of
surprise, he remarked.
MY father was Il slave owner be-
fore the WAR, and an "ll black NANNY
brought me up
lie always wore flower on his
coat, and when the flower was wi!ted
one his acquaintances knew that he
was hungry. lie was man OF courage.
Once, in Il playful mood, he fought
BLACK Jack" the commander ot the
bumboat, and defeated him, and this
WAS no easy matter. His great fad
waS TO investigate everything, and in
Iliis respect he became strangely cur
ious toward the last. lie had 4 man:,
for gazing into the eyes of the dying
man, and often hung about the ho>pi-
tails. He used TO say that he intended
10 see himself die Some of his friends
said that he was losing his mind.
Well, hard luck came, and he drifted
away. lie went South un,l then into
the far West. But he found no place
to interest him. In Deadwood he
did all sorts of jobs, striving to get
back To Chicago. lie said that he had
but short while longer to live. and
that it would embarrass him to die
away from home. lie came back and
stood about the corners looking up for
his old friends. but found them moi
No one knew him.
"Why, you must have heard of me. '
he said to man. Il am Pink Horn.
"Never heard of you, SIR
! s.Nhv / ,.os bara hat...a tna fro y
THAT may be. but never heard OF
you
Didn't you hear of the sport who
took off his overcoat one blizzardly day
and gave it to a black woman?'
"Oh, yes. | believe l did hear oi
that. So you are the man! Well, Sc,
you again. so long"
No one cared to talk to him. He
strove TO joke. but his merriment wa;
ghastly.
One night last week they took hin
up and carried him to the hospital
And this is the story they tell. ii,
had been in bed two days when ply
| siCiuu tOil Iiiu ttIut Hc tstu uttt ~ lev
hours to live.
"Are you sure?' he asked.
Il am certain. II you have am
arrangements to nake you'd bette
make Them"
"My lungs are about gone, sur
pose?'
ayes. practically
"Will you do me me a favor"
Surely What is it?"
"Well. | want TO see myself die -
81 don't understand you"
81 simyly want TO see how lool
while dying. Prop ME up and put 1
mirror at the foot Of the bed"
.'Oh, that would be"
"lou said you would do me f,
vor."
"And will
The Doctor propped him up and
nurse brought a mirror and placed i
so that he could gaze into it. And =
they left him for time. lie sal,
that he desired to be alone. Whel
they came back he was dead; his gaz
was wide and hi, CLASSY eyes mirrore,
the mirror. Wanted to see himsel
die! He was an odd character.