The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-06
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

'"Well," exclaimed FRANKLIN K. Lane, the at
torney. as he dropped into the bay-window
of the Occidental Hotel yesterday, Il nave
landed on the other side OF the Fourth OF July
without getting killed. There has hardly peen
an Independence day celebration since my
childhood that I have not been injured III
some way. My faith in the justice OF reverlng
George Washington has been trembling IN the
balance for the last few days, but now that
have come out of the hurrah and patriotic JOY
unscathed and unstained l have been IN a
mood to receive him once more as the Father
OF his country
$50 you were regular victim on the Fourth,
Lane. Is that what l understands" asked
friend
That's about the size of it. My star OF Ill
luck appeared when was years OF age. re-
member its arrival very well. got up on the
morning of the Fourth long before daybreak,
and by sunrise all my frecrackers were gone.
l borrowed all the available ammunition from
the neighbors' boys, but by o'clock there
wasn't even a parlor match in the DOCK
Well" and Mr.. Lane scratched his head mo-
ment, "of course, had to do something 10 NJ
tlngly usher in such an occasion as the one
which was engaging my attention, so con-
cluded to spend the rest of the day, assisted by
several other youngsters stealing apples.
eve went over q series of fences TO one or
was tall, lean, rakish-looking craft, with
stride like the man of seven-league-boot fame.
was short modest youth, only able to move
along under great pressure, and then not TOO
rapidly. You will please observe the rlsk
ran. My clothing consisted OF pair OF loose
knickerbockers buttoned on Bingham shirt,
the whole affair worth probably 80 cents.
was barefooted. When we struck the orchard
where the apples grew / was appointed by a
most overwhelming vote to go in and tackle 1t
first. / had smelled powder that day and was
ready for anything, so l tied the knees OF my
trousers tightly and crawled under the fence
When reached the tree containing the best
apples unbuttoned the front of my gingham
shirt and began to STOW away fruit. In lew
moments, greatly to the admiration OF my
several witnesses, had filed my trouser legs
and was bullying out with plumber on all sides.
Finally 1 was loaded to my own satisfaction
and started back, but moved with great effort.
Just as l got through the fence some OF the
boys yelled Cheese for Gillett,' and in a few
seconds was alone with my booty. Horrifed
and motionless, stood waiting to receive the
shock of the invincible Gillett, who was very
prompt in arriving.
~ will never forget the scene. He grabbed
me by the back of large apple which bulged
out in the region Of my neck and proceeded to
move me along with violent kicks, each one OF
which brought out an apple or two. He
boosted me along nearly half mile, kicking
apples out of me at each step. and occasionally
commenting on my cleverness as q daylight
robber After he had cleaned me out and left
me for almost dead got myself together and
arrived at my fathers house just in time to
get mixed up in the evening display of powder
and became the central figure I'm premature
explosion of Roman candles and skyrockets,
which accidentally became ignited and spent
themselves against my bare legs and feet. In
my haste to escape l fell off the porch and
broke my collar-bone, besides tearing the skin
off my forehead. See, the scar is there yet.
ever since that eventful year 1 have met
with some misfortune on the Fourth of July.
This is the one occasion wherein escaped, and
I feel thankful to providence for this my first
yaar of DeAcev