The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-02-22
ONE NIGHT IN MANITowoC.

door of the private Office opened and
flock of various sized Apollos came forth.
| Led by flag and band Of stringed in
| struments, they marched up the street.
| My curiosity was aroused | followed to
see what light was attracting these gay
moths. They entered building on Sth
St. and climbed a long flight of stairs. l
saw that the upper story was brilliantly
lighted SO climbed up the fire escape and
peeped in. | held my breath when [ saw
the dazzling array of maidens and wine
| bottles.
AS l was gazing the gentlemen entered
and [ observed that they glanced at the
rosy cheeks of the wine bottles twice,-aJ
he maidens once. All, thought What
is life? Life is life.
Quitting my position, L had just regain
ed the street when hurrying footsteps at
tracted my attention. A man mutfied
| closely from head to foot shot past me.
| followed; up one street and down an
other he led me. At last he spoke to a
! policeman and being near enough | heard
him ask for receipt for cold feet. The
| policeman seemed bit startled as he re-
piled "Ah, my man you have escaped
| have you:" [ knew at once what the
trouble was. As [ left [ heard him sing
| ing, with your wife's cold feet in the
middle of your back, there's no place like
home"
| Passing book store d little later [ saw
a man on the corner leaning against a
telephone pole writing on a slip of paper.
| He finished, tackled the paper to d pole
and went his way. l looked at 1t and
found that 1t was poetry. At the next
corner he did the same thing. | looked
at the second paper and found that it
was also poetry. Making up my mind
that he was second Orlando in an imag-
| mary forest of Arden, left HIM and wan
| dered over Sth street bridge. | was as
tOnlshed to find here a gentleman rush
ing frantically about and wildly throwing
up his hands. Thinking 1t was a case of
contemplated suicide L hurried to him.
Imagine my chagrin when he said why,
don't you know | am member of the
Manitowoc Dramatic Club
passed on and suddenly sweet strains
of music were waited to my ears, music
that would make one think that all the
nightingales of the south were giving US
winter serenade. [ paused and listen
ed, 1.-The past came back to me" for they
were singing of ch1ldhood's happy days.
| turned to go back but had gone only
a short distance when a man passed me
mutterlng TO hImself"I played for hearts
and lost" L wondered what he meant
.and walked on.
Suddenly the screams of a woman made
me hasten to a house near by. | discov-
cred case of domestic infelicity. [
waited until peace was restored and then
went my way.
Inc next excitement was in a house
across the street. [ saw strange move
ments and suspected burglars. The front
door was open so [ walked bravely in.
was surprised:at the sudden stiffness and
looking about [ discovered the tea kettle
on the piano, wash tub in the middle of
the parlor floor and various other artl-
cles of furniture out of their proper place |
was trying to think what it all meant |
when man popped his head out of
tn hhar oh
joke"
1t was now nearing the early dawn of |
day ana from every nook and corner OF
the city the night stragglers were hurry
ing homeward.
There is nothing more interesting than
to stand on some street corner of city
IL these early hours and watch these
people who throng the streets at that
time. Here is a drunken man reeling
aud totter1ng along the street, There
are others being gently guided home.
Again we see real ministering angels re-
home after watching with the
sick and afflicted. Then there are the
night workers seeking their daylight
sleep.
Had you been with me you might have
heard a great noise and rafting of brok-
en- dishes across the way where the rem
nants of the various night gatherings
were singing their good morning song.
1agree with the poet who says:
The proper study of mankind is man."
- After dark.
L went to my hotel tired and wiser
man, As L was mounting the steps | no.
tlced slip of paper in corner evident
" blown there by the wind. STOPPING
to pick 1t up [ saw that it was leaf from
a young lady journal. On it were these
words.
TO MY FRIENDS"