St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1894-01-13
SICKIM'S REFORM.
BY MCPHERSON FRASER.

The police force is not the place for a
man with much physical strength and
little moral principle. His impulses will
run riot and some time or other cause
him to overstep his official authority, and
commit perhaps, murder. That is rule
Here is the exception to prove it,
jim Sickim was heavily built young
fellow and possessed vast amount Of
hidden genial blackguardism, and he
dwelt in section of the city which con-
tanned the concentrated essence of all the
iniquity and all the vice in the universe
One day-it was long before African
geese were deposited in Back Bay Park
one day this fellow Sickim was slouchine
up an alley in his nciyhborhood, swing
ing big stone jug, which was to be
charged, along with Mr.. Sickim, at the
handicst saloon. Suddenly there was q
great hullabaloo in the street on which
the alley opened. Sickin scented trouble
and made tracks, but was Disguised to
discover only hot headed horse trying
to turn back somcrsault over on top of
little fat man in q buggy. The little
man was scared to death, aud shouted
and yanked at the reins hard enough to
twist the beasts head off, but it was of
no use. The horse had evidently made
up his mind to Stay him. Siclim enjoyed
the fun for while, then set his Jug on
the sidewalk and went over and pulled
the horse back to earth again. For which
he expected quarter, but when the lit
tie man got his breath he simply thanked
Sickim profusely, and asked him to call
rext day at the office of the park COM
missioners.
care you one O. them?" asked Sickim.
Il am. My name is Smythc," said he
who had becu scared, and drove away
Sickim picked up his jug and went ON
his way, deep in thought. He was
thinking so hard that only the jug was
filled at the saloon.
Now, it had often been truthfully said
that Sckim liked many things better
than he liked work, and, moreover, he
was President of the Sons of Rest, a
local society distinguished for its phil
harmonic principles. So he wondered
whether the possible reward for saving
the commissioner life would pay f9r
extreme trouble of going -assttrf It. A
happy thought sesa+1fcd the whole argu-
ment. It eerGrred to Mr.. Sickim that
the street railroads granted on the quiet
free passes over the city to all Sons Of
Rest. He decided to go.
Next morning Sickim increased his
apparel by white shirt and a collar
and presented himself before the com
missioner. Who promptly rewarded
him with five-dollar bill.
"Now," said Mr.. Smythe, as he looked
his rescuer over, ''what is your occupa-
toni"
Sickim was dazed, for beyond an &C.
casional impulse to get drunk he had but
one view in life-he wanted to be
policeman. He said: II am not dom
anything now, sir, but I'm goin' to try.
for the police some day."
The commissioner put up his eyebrows.
How would you like to trypow? We
require q good solid man like YOU for
Back Bay Park. l thipk I can secure
sonf aPp11h In early date You
will be given nice gray suit with brass
buttons, and you will get invigorating,
wholesome employment at good wages.
w nat 40 you say!
8 Pm agreed, sir,n Sickim answered,
insanely, and it was all over.
The commissioner complimented him
self for his usefulness to the park depart
ment, and then pulled the string which
woke up the other commissioners and
the police department.. Whereupon
Sickim underwent mental and physical
examination" and "qualifed." The
machine moved very smoothly, you see,
and made the man who was being run
through it feel that the softest job Of
his life was before him. That was-as
it is to- day--a big illusion, and Sickim
found it out in less than week-to his
sorrow. But it made man of him.
He was put into a uniform that might
have fitted an elephant, given little I'D
vice on matters of courtesy and great
deal on matters of discipline, and then
he was turned over to the policeman at
the Stonybrook Bridge. From that
time on he got a taste of sort of life
that did not at all agree with him. On
the first day-a beastly hot one-he had
to tramp all over the park dozen times
so that he might know his bearings.
On the second day-also very hot-he
had to repeat the rules and regulations