Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-11-12
oaAps nEEoRE Duly.
The Darky Thought That the New Yorker
was vcry Inconsideratc.

AmD UMNMI AnuUMMN AnMN INV NNW ANNANN
Was VERY Inconsiderate
A Wall street man tells this story,
IL was making the trip from New Or
leans to Memphis in Ap-il by a Missis-
sippi river steamboat. uu the first day
out from New Orleans l felt the need OF
the BARRIERS services and learning that
the Memphis Belle was tonsorially
equipped l sought out that Office. I
found a single barber In charge, a
rather pompous, tall person Of color
with flowing Dundreary whiskers. He
was engaged In doing nothing at all
with that grace Of execution peculiar 10
the southern darby. I seated myself
In his chair and was o o wrapped In
thought upon some business I had be-
gun in New Orleans. The barber began
his work leisurely, the while carrying
on a one-sided flow Of talk TO which I
replied in monosyllRbles.
The day was warm and I was almost
doing away under the soft splashes OF
his brush when another customer
entered. He was a nervous, hdgety sort
Of man and ms there were no newspa-
pers in the room he amused himself in
looking at a few prints hung on the
walls, the attraction OF which soon
palled upon him. Then he walked 70
the door and looked down the deck
where q group OF %roustabouts were en-
gagged In the game OF craps. Figaro
had by this time completed the lather-
ing Of one side of my face and reused me
by turning my head around. I inti-
mated that life was short and I didn't
care about passing too much OF II in be-
ing shaved. He was evidently disgusted
with my ta~citurnity and replied with
great dignity, but with no haste either
Of speech or action; 'Cert'nly, sab, GER
t'nly.'
"The strangers curiosity had been
aroused by the gambling going on out
side, which was as usual accompanied
by the come sevensl' and shrieks Of
craps which attend that game.
What game is that, barber2' he
demanded OF Dundreary. He Of the
whiskers made IA or two artistic plays
Of his brush over my chin and answered;
"'Lah, Gawd, mister, amt yer ever
seen that game? That's craps. Every
body plays II round this country
"The stranger admitted he had seen
Il played before in the whnrves and
streets, but said he had not discovered
any mental light from his observations.
A running exchange OF queries and ex-
plantations followed between barber and
stranger, during which n not over keen
razor had begun its course down my
right cheek. Both parties to the col
loquy were getting interested and l was
getting bored.
THE nervous stranger appeared
somewhat obtuse, or, perhaps, the YER
nacular OF the barber was-inadequate
TO convey the full meaning of the
technical details Of craps. At any rate,
he pressed for further information. My
face had by that time been cleared OF
beard as to my chin and part of my
cheek. Fifteen minutes had been SON
sumed in the process and my patience
was becoming ~threadbare.
THE barber had exhausted his powers
Of description and, turning TO the
stranger, he said:
"'Well. sab, ef you really wants TO
know how 10 shoot craps | kin show
you,' and placing the razor on the shelf
he opened a drawer and withdrew n
pair Of gr~easy-looking dice. Then he
stepped over to a table and began 20
give a practical exposition Of the mys-
teries of the game. This was too much.
'Herev l cried, raising myself in the
chair. Finish up this job before you
get to crap shooting
Certainly, sah,' he replied TO me
and turning to the stranger he added:
One minute an I'll show you
ut only took a few minutes 10 com
plete his work on me, and as l put on
my coat he and the stranger proceeded
with the game. As I left the /
could hear him muttering about the
hurry ZONE people Is in an IL Is still
fob days fore we get TO Memphis
N. Y. Sun.