The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-10
SPEARING ROBINS.
A Peculiar Occupation Followed bv a
Coony Cove at Fifth Avenue Hotel.

New York Sun.
The sedate and almost solemn afternoon
quiet OF the Fifth avenue bar room was
disturbed when one of the barkeepers.
whose eyes had seemed TO be fixed on
Africa, suddenly said: did he spear II -
The row OF men who were indulging
in the curious. but highly cher
ished, free American privilege OF
bending In their ribs against the
bar rail regarded the barkeeper' with
silent interest. as IL by listening they
might intercept communication from his
Nahatma. What was heard was oracular
rather than mystic. II was: He did
Then the row OF men turned their backs
to the bar so strong was the suddenly
aroused interest, and discovered that the
oracle was the man behind the cigar stand
He was observing with a look in which
admiration was not altogether absent,
man disappear into the hobby.
To say that he was disappearing" may
give the impression that he was hurrying
He was not. though. He was a man of
portly figure. above the medium height. and
erect: his movements were deliberate ana
dignffed and his apparel was of a fashion
becoming his 50 years, his gray beard and
white hair. and was In good condition and
keeping.
The row Of citizens again faced the bar.
resumed the construction of their ribs. and
asked one man:
what did ne spear77'
"A robin" answered the barkeeper Wis
ibly moved 20 pride by the Interest GEN.
tered upon his potency for enlightenment.
The citizens regarded one another with
grave. questioning looks. and then all
showed eager satisfaction when one, bolfer
than the others. asked:
"What-that is 70 say-what kind OF a
robin did that old gentleman spear7'
The barkeeper compressed two halves OF
lime into glass. threw one in after the
juice showed some gltttering Ice into the
g.ass made n amber-coiored with a por-
ton OF whisky, filled II with seething
siphon water, and pushed the completed
rickey toward a citizen whose clay lacked
moisture. and then answered:
"Ie speared the only kind OF a robin
that nests around here-a cigar stump
The citizens looked fncaeiulous and
leaned over the bar rail until their torsos
bulgad Ike cadets One he who had been
refreshed with the rickey, at last said:
Really
That's straight" said the harkeeper.
replying 20 the accent rather than 10 the
word Of the speaker. TITS right. He's
the coorieSt robin hunter on this beat.
You saw that cane he carried? That
crook-handie care he can hang on his arm
and have both hands free when he takes
a chase rast the free lunch. There Is
needle in the feruse end ~ II Thats what
he spears the rossns with. Say, he never
m sses lab No, we don't bother him.
He foes no harm. He hooks respectable.
He ius; comes IN. takes a scat. watches
smoker who throws away long robin -
light a fresh cigar. and then he sfroils
over and ougesiy spears II. No; I don't
kr.ov- what re does with them. II they
are very good and hons No smokes them
himself bot II he was an ocean steamer
he couldn't smoke them all himself. He's
a nrettv ccony cove. and the porieFs kke
him because he saves them so much
nfcking up. The Sanl~. gentsg