The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01

uas kent busy putting on new hooks.
IrraIIv cot a noble bite anu Jerked
for dear life. I noticed the nsn WASH
inclined to struggle much, anu 4 uecided
m take my time. Easy. sara charlie.
as I drew in gradually, ana 'he JOKE
was on me. For half day had been
furnishing amusement 10 moss-b back
mud turtle about the size y. "inner
plate. When / got him within, loot
of the bank he decided TO snap inc nook
and down he went. ca-cnu'A' ouch
luck / never had before.
Perhaps no man In Richmohu mas mad
so many varied experiences as justice
Crutchfield, of the Police 'ou,.' ana
when it comes to April Fooi le0oi'eeu'ohs
he hasn't his equal. Every SPECIMEN OF
humanity appears before Jus'i0e Johi'
and his knowledge Of human Nature en-
ables him to size up the Victims as soon
as they come out of the pen. IL was on
All Fools day. and the docket was
daisy" said the Jovial Mogul. when /
asked him 10 tell me about one or his
unioue experiences Yesterday. why. We
had all the law-breakers up Tor correc-
tion. and n young coon about eleven
years OF age was presented to pay the
UtldilS ASt i'hbig
gerous crap. He trumpet up the usual
song not guilty An officer was put on
the witness stand, and identiiied the prls-
oner as the offender
II was just about 10 assign him TO
quarters in the jug when another coon
entered the courtroom, and everybody
began TO laugh. The COMPOUNDED little
devils were the exact image OF each 9TH
CT. You couldn't tell the difference Tor
the life Of you. The officers eyes as
sumed the dimensions OF saucers, and
merriment ran high.
IF that's the offender said l. point
ing to the accused, who the deuce is
that other nigger?'
1.-THE policeman stared around with
look Of helpless appeal. j can't swear to
it. your Honor said be.
ut would have taken an expert 10 dis
tinguish the 'coons Everything was UNI
certain. Both little negroes appreciated
the situation. and grinned from ear 10
ear. You couldn't get a word out Of Ell
Their one of them. There was nothing
left for me. so | dismissed the case. As
they left the courtroom each broke out
with an audible giggle, and l heard one
Of them say April Fool"
"a congeniai crowd Of the boys were
talking about April Fool experiences the
other night up at the club said we'll
known club-nan. Everyone had told
some laughable anecdotes and finally
It came TO my turn. In the response 10 a
chorus Of 'let her go. old man." ! re-
lated the following truthful incident.
Several years ago when l was foolish
enough TO fall in love, l was so carried
away by the novelty IF the game that
1 thought | had might as well go into it
for all IL was worth. and consequently
/. determined TO marry if ! could per-
suade my little turtle dove TO see It
In that light.
I had been doing the thing up brown
for about six months, had made great
Roadway, and felt sure of my game.
One night. with the avowed intention OF
ascertaining my fate l went TO see her.
Well, she was simply too. too. for any
thing. Just before leaving. when the con-
versation had assumed a serio-sentimen-
tai turn, l took her hand in mine; her
shapely fingers returned my fervent
grasp: grew reckless, rushed blindly on,
and asked her to be my wife.
At first she did not reply. Finally she
raised her head. a blush sunused her
face. Dearest she said, II can't
"Why?" l exclaimed Because it is
April Fools night" she answered; land
you may be foolilg me-"
No amount Of persuasion could alter
her, SO l left. Now, to save my life
/ never could tel whether the girl
thought I was really joking. or whether
she was giving ne the go" II has al
ways been an ursolved problem. How
ever. boys" / sid. as l left the club.
'be careful how you propose on April
Fools day"