The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-13
Watch That Once Belonged
to Roger Williams.
Some White Posts That Need
a Fresh Coat of Paint.
"ChelSea Joe" and How He Appears
in the Eyes of a B0st0nian.

Here in Rhode Island every relic OF the
founder of the commonwealth is highly
priced and there exist come very valuable
collections of articles that nave come
down from colonial days the most
treasured OF which are those which are
known to have been owned and used by
Roger Williams. The Gossiper was
ktrongly reminded Of this wnen he read in
New York paper that "Ihe Misses Avis
and Mary Jenkins, two Quaker women,
who reside at COS Diamond street, Hud-
son, are the great granddaug hters of
Roger Williams, the founder OF Rhode
Island, and they have in their possession
a watch that is relic of their historic
ancestor. The timepiece is over ESQ years
old, and 1t has not been In running order
for long time. II is sn open-faced
silver watch with two disls on the face.
The hours ana minutes are recorded on
the smaller and the seconds on the
larger dial. Attached TO the watch Is a
brass chain with bunch of ola s,als
marked that the timepiece in question
woold make a very valuable addition to
any collection of relics of the founder of
Providence, although il is hardly prob
ahle that its present owners would part
with it.
The white post as a stopping station
for the trolley cars 10 becoming somc-
thing OF a delusion and a snare, espec-
tally at night. some OF these posts are
of open iron work, and when they were
first set up they were decked with
deep band OF vivid white. From exposure
to the weather this baud has become lit
tie more than patch of dirty yellow,
which cannot be discerned at night and
persons seeking cars at night have to
spend more time in searching for one OF
these aforetime ''white posts" from
which to signai a car than 1t would re-
quire for them to walk to their destina
tion. This Is the opinion of a man who
told the Gossiper that he spent more
than half an hour last night trying to To-
cate a white post on South Main street
from which he wanted to take car that
would carry him to Cathedral square.
Every one has heard of the discon-
tented man and the discomfort he causes
all so unfortunate as to come in contact
with him. Very few have met discon-
tented women, however, and II they are
tie sort of individuals one OF their sisters
says they are, fewer still will care to
make their acquaintance.
Disconnected women are always ego
lists, this authority ella inns. They view
everything with regard to themselves,
and have, therefore, the defective sympa-
thiss that belong to low organizations.
They never win confidence, for their
discomfort breeds oistrust and doubt,
aud. however clever they may naturally
be. an obtusive self, with its train OF
likings and dislikinRs. opscures their
judgment and they take false views OF
people aud things. For this reason IT Is
almost hopeless effort TO show them
how little people generally care about their
grievances, for they have thought about
themselves, SO long and so much that
they cannot conceive OF any other su bject
interesting the rest of the world.
"Chelsea Joe'' a decade ana a half ago
was one of the marked and remarkable
figures on the streets of Providence. To-
day it would appear he Is an equally
marked and remarkable figure in the
larger field of Boston. This at least APP
pears to be the case from remarks made
by an unusually acute observer. zap
pearnncs, after all. count for very little"
he declares. "and the man who fondly
believes that he can tell the occupation
or protest. on OF his fellow beings from
their faces and general style is moro
often than not doomed to aDject failure.
For instance, the most completely dis
tiDRuished looking figure in Boston today
Is a tall splendiuly made old man, with a
wealth OF snowy hair grown long and
wavy. He wears large dark blue felt
hat, with wide and picturesque brim.
and his white monstache, clear skin ard
handsc ms face make up picture OF great
sttrsctiveness. You would say at once,
IL you were addicted 10 character read
ing, that he was Sout hern statesman or
q retired romantic actor.
but you would De wrong In way
that you little dreamed, for this fine
specimen of manhood is none other than
"Chelsea Joe, +" the most famous deyotee
OF the goddess Fortune that New England
can boast. He is well educated, has "A
fluent and often brilliant knack OF con-
versation and is altogether an interesting
and maDgetic man. Though they term
him gam uler, IL Is never asserted that he
does not play square game, and he
takes luck as ne finds 1t, whether for or
against him. "Joe" is fond of the good
things OF life and be is familiar figure
In every good cafe IN Boston, especially
In the bohemian hours of night.