The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-04
YOUNG FRED'S DEN.
A Youth who Keeps Abreast with
the Times.

In a house not over two miles from the
monument there lives a boy. He has not
touched the teens in years yet, but he has
had experiences among people of many ma
tionalities. His limit of travel has been
within the boundaries of the mountains of
either coast of his native land. Fred is a
boy who loves stories Of travel and IN this
he is like most other boys, but he has
put TO a practical Illustration some of his
knowledge Of other lands. He has a fancy
for dressing III in costumes of different
kinds and the costumes he manufactures
himself. The most original one is the es-
kimo, made out of a discarded white fur
rug. The whole garment was designed by
him. There are the long trousers, TO be
fastened. when worn. by stout gray cord.
The piece for the shoulders and the cap
are made of the same rug and to COM
plete the dress there is a white beard
fashioned from a scrap. When the costume
is donned the real eskimo might be filed
with envy. This suit, with others, one a
Chinese dress made of pink paper muslin.
and old suits that have been discarded
by the family have. been placed in his
treasure house Of costumes. These adorn-
ments for private theatricaIs are kept in
a long box snugly out Of the dust and COW
cred by u heavy rug.
Fred 5 entire room is a study. There are
q nan dozen raise faces, which he puts on
and clothes himself to match the face:
there are strings of fresh and discarded
fshhooks, whole armies OF tin soldiers, sew
eral thousand IN camp under the bed. some
DOING duty on the shelves of the closet
and others in active SkirmiS on the table.
Toys that have furnished many a rainy
days pleasure are piled in the closet. which
Fred made himself, for them. The dresser
drawer contains a medley OF things that
would delight the soul of any boy, and
T1lXah IN nnnfnEfnnN mil IL
brush, comb and collars are pieces of burnt
CORK, a bag or marbles, some red paint
pipes and a score of things that are more
precious than bank stock to the owner. A
pistol that is never loaded rests securely
unGer Fred's pillow every night and he has
been known to awaken in the dead of
night. feel under his pillow and if the mis-
tol was not there he would get right up
and get II. Fred Is somewhat of an artist
and a portfolio OF his studies of casts is
one OF the priced objects in the room. while
on the wall are numerous drawings and
valentines. from the sentimental ones with
lace paper and cupids 10 the comics.
y boys room is always a study of char
acter and Fred's is unmolested by any
roommate. on the outside of the door is
your things on the floor by the door
printed in bold strokes OF a very black
pencil. Fred's mother tries to inculcate
a small basket tied with a prettv n,nE
ribboi., and in this basket Fred finds a
penny every day that he has left his room
Last week there were great goings on I'm
the room. There was pounding and mailing
boys who are particular chums of Tred's
were invited In and they stood In admira-
ton while Fred showed them the galIows
he had made. News OF the hanging had
been hard 10 keep and there was the gal
lows. trap door. rope and moose. all In min
iature. Whatever is OF general interest i'm
the world, whether it is the Chinese,Japa-
nese war, the war In Cuba, the Corbett-
Fftzsimmons fight. an execution or any,
thing else. Fred and his friends reproduce
IL and the penny shows" in the BARN
keep the whole nefghborhood Interested.
During vacations and after school hours.
and Saturdays the boys Of the neighbour