Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-17

a special celestial dlspensation allowing
them 10 behave just as they please during
services. and the fun they have Is sum-
cent to inspire US to make application 10
Join their number. There's one choir In
particular leach one In the city Will think
this article is specially aimed at theHD
who really enjoy themselves extrava-
gantly, and the talking OF the parson
doesn't seem to bother them In the least.
This choir has a nice. little secluded gal
lery. invisible to the brethren and SIS
tcren in the auditorium below, and pos
sibly also to the preacher. Here they revel
in peace and comfort, and have their
il.$te drawing room coteries just like we
do In high life. for as I've said before.
the talking OF the parson doesn't bother
them in the least. Occasionally the tenor
Will hand around bag OF candy, and
ever and anon the basso winks his eye
at the contralto. and brisk, long-meter
Irritation In G-minor ensues. Those sepa-
rated by some distance exchange notes,
and the quartette hold consultations about
the music they are going 10 produce
while the organist does pretty much any
thing he likes, provided he displays sufii-
Client eccentricity OF movement His mir
ror, through which he sees when the
minister finishes his sermon. is a source
of unending comfort TO the ladies' In the
chosen, special-dispensatiou gallery. and
the feminine soloists lose no opportunities
TO artistically arrange their bangs before
il. The hour devoted to the sermon passes
merrily with the exclusive little coteries,
and. as / steal one look at them through
the corner OF my eye Uhe other being
concentrated on the parson). ] sigh 20 be
n singer, and a choir-singer at that. or
course | don't mean to Imply that all
church-choirs are frivolous or that all
OF them really have n good time during
services, but, Notwithstanding. when
see the basso wink his eye at the con-
tralto l long TO be one Of the chosen
number.
There IS one convict, at least. In the
penitentiary who has a sense OF the hu-
morous, and who knows how TO crack
a joke even at his own expense. He Is
a "cullud pusson," and used TO do odd
work around the Capitol Square. one
beautiful spring day, as Mr.. $. ". Travers
was walking through the park, con-
graduating himself that he was living
and silently admiring the beauties OF the
place, he saw this fellow running lawn
mower over the grass. IL was a pretty
sight, for the green blades flew back from
the machine like Clipped emeralds, while
the sunbeams glistened on the yerdant
rain like the beam of an Irishman,s eye
on ST. Patrck's-day rosette. Mr..
Travers paused 10 admire, and the darky
paused. too.-possibly 10 take rest, but
more probably because he was a darky
and knew 1t was against the principles OF
his race to labor over three minutes at
time. won't you run that mower once
again, my friend politely said tho
courteous dispenser OF fertilizers; "it looks
so pretty" The convict turned around,
eyed Mr.. Travers without cracking
smile. and then said. BOSS, I've got nine
years to do this In And he didn't pre-
tend 10 accede 10 the request. He knew
he had plenty Of time 10 finish the JOB.
Mr. Travers appreciated the joke-yes.
even 10 greater extent than the convict.
and the mower and mower he thought
about Il the funner II seemed TO him.
THE IDLE REPORTER.