Birmingham state herald., 1896-11-08
DUSTY RHODES STORY.
ONE WHO HOLDS WORLD OWES
 HIM LIVING.
Wood Yards and the Woes and Benefits of Compulsory Cleanliness Explained
 at Length.

New York Evening Sun.
 He sat alone, unwashed and drosily complacent, on one of the wooden benches in Washington Square. The band had just stopped playing and the music-lov- ing throng which had surrounded the band stand was rapidly dispensing and moving homeward The bright rays of the electric light, which every few mo- gents flashel through the gentle sway ing boughs of the trees around him, re- vealed the fair faces and gaudy apparel of young women who passed slowly by, leaning on the arms of their sweethearts If their lively chatter and merry laugh ter excited any sensations of human in? tereSt in the pariah'S breast he gave no sign. He puffed his blackened clay pipe in silence, and maintained an attitude of reminiscent indolence
 On the next bench a tenant of neigh boring lodging house also sat alone breathing the fresh air, admiring the pretty women and fhhaling the fumes of cigar. He was a very young man, rather ministerial in appearance. and when the pretty women failed to trip in his direction, his unsophisticated eyes had a tendency to raise themselves to- ward the illuminated cross which sur mounts the tower of the Judson memo rial. At length, after a prolonged pe- riod of profound meditation, he raised he miserable remnant of cigar to his lips. Two or three puffs, however gave him to understand that the term of service of that particular weed had expired, so with sigh of regret-for 1t was his last he suffered 1t to fall to the ground.
 For the first time in many minutes the pariah evinced signs of returning anima- tion He slowly strengthened himself. then stopped and raised the discarded cigar stump.
 After you, boss" he said, genially
 Help yourself" returned the young man, benevolently.
 Thanks" said the pariah, as he slipped the stump into the pocket of his capacious waistcoat and resumed his seat.
 MARRIED BUT NOT MATED.
 For several minutes both were silent It was apparent, however, that the va grant, now that the cigar stump had sue cessfully broken the ice, was disposed to wade in and be sociable. His eyes twin kled and his features wore the expression of man who gropes about In his inner consciousness for conversational matter An Italian woman passed with an in- fant in her arms and two youngsters clinging to her skirts The pariah chuckled. Queer critters-women." There was no reply. Hey? asked the pariah, drawing nearer and smiling mischievously The unsophistlcated young man sniffed contemptuously.
 q really know very little about them" he replied.
 Wal, they are," asserted the pariah convincingly. Queer crittersl But they can't do me-"
 Did they ever try?''
 Wal, reckon one did. but it want no go. That's right. She thought she had me--the old woman did, but fooled her fooled her bad"
 Mother" asked the unsophisticated young man.
 "Naw-wife," replied the other dis guestedly.
 The young man tried to look interested and the seedy individual went on. You see, 1t was this way: I ran across the old gal while I was firing on an l. en- zine way back in the sos. She was pretty decent sort those days, but bimeby she began to get a tongue which no civil
 zed man could stand anyhow, so I began to give her wide berth First I got tired of her. then she got tired of me. She told me she'd get divorce, and told her to blaze away. It was all in the papers a the time. Mebbe you read 1t. Her law yer said it was on statuary grounds, and 1t was sensation for fair. Wal, the judge gave her alimony, and told me if didn't pay he'd lock me up. I told him that would be all right then when he let mo go I skipped. That was six years ago. and I've been on the road ever since"
 "Tramping?" asked the unsophisticated young man.
 "Yes, or bummin' it. as they call 1t nowadays. But the old teddy never got a red cent out of me-"
 Pheasant life?" asked the young man.
 "Oh, 1t tain't always what you'd call agreeable" said the pariah, thoughtfully. Then again it aint bad"
 q presume you have seen good bit of the world"
 Wal rather a tidy bit, reckon. Young man. there aint a state or territory in this here union ain't seen, and I've been in Canada and Mexico.'
 An play into the old lady's hand, eh? Wal that aint my game. No, no, l know n thing or two, and the world owes me a. Twin, just as it owes the swallers a Twin if birds has a right to go from place to place and climate to climate and feed on the bread of the land, hasn't man a r fight to do it, too3s Ain't we men got just as good a right to live as swal- lers has? If 8 mans got ambition. why then, of course, it's different. That's his bttt nj n mine I aiD't