Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-06

children for these hundred years w IL" l.
And the red-hot poker that you stroke my
calves with and the leg OF mutton you
put into your pocket and the string OF
sausage YOU pull out ike so many yards
of tape. the perambulator you run OH VITA
while / chatted with the nursemaid. the
baby YOU sat upon. the poiiceman-
At this las. word Joey's countenarce
was screwed up with pain. sammy he
said. with broken voice. the kids were
on the side OF the copper This fairly
took my breath away, and it was minute
or TWO before could say anything.
Think what you're saying, old man, 1
went on. after a while. The Kids sided
with the copper.
They did" said Joey solomnly. There
Is not the slightest doubt OF it,.
What? Even when you knocked his
head of? Do you mean 10 say they could
resist Jhat?"
when I knocked his head off they
looked on with what you may call an ap-
ptarance Of serious displeasUre. and one
or TWO Of the very little 'uns began 10
cry. I tell you. my dear chap, | might
have been the tire king or the demons OF
discord for all the fun they saw in me.
Bowed if l didn't think they expected one
OF the traps 10 open and swallow me up
for my sins
There was no mistakins the reality OF
Jocy's belief in what he had or thought
he had. seen; and I must say that this last
thing that he had tod me dashed my
spirits dreadfIlly and seemed 70 cast a
gloom over my professional projects. For
If. 1 SAYS 10 myself, the kids are not going
10 laugh any more az seeing the police
mans head roI across the stage ike 4
plum pudding and hearing joey say oh
my" as he knows how 10 say ii. pretend
in- TO be much concerned al the accident
well. ] says 10 myself. if that BIZ OF bust
ness don't tickle the children any longer
what's the world a-coming 20? We
clowns and parta,oons may just as well
shut up shop altogether at Christmas ti@e.
wash the vermillion of our checks. dab
It on our noses and Try 10 get engage
ments as "a teetotal lecturers awful
example" 1 was awakened from my
melancholy reverie by the voice Of Joey.
The worst OF i; is" my poor Cd pal
said. in voice that went TO my heart:
The worst of il is. Sammy. that the nip
pors are right. Yes. I've come 10 the con-
clusion that they are quite right. Why
should they laugh At my knocking off a
poiicemar's bead? II it We're real de-
capi,atiou il would be a truly shocking in
ciJent. especially II the unhappy man had
a Wife and children dependent upon him;
while, on the other hand. being only a
sham decapitation. I says ditto 10 the gen
tlemau who gave Us the lecture the other
day, that it is beneath the dignity OF an
art whose highest function is 10 hold the
mirror up 10 nature. The head that a re>i
copper looks at In the lcoking-glaSS won
unscrcw. Will IL? Well, then, il amt
worthy of art 10 make it take of and put
on again. And. anyway Joey went on.
in g grmer tone than l had ever heard
him use before. Il agree with the gentle
man that il is a demoraNzing exhibition.
and I amt going TO lend myself 10 il.
Who wants YOU 20 lend yourself TO it,
I said jumping down his throat bit, for
/ was getting Just trihe tired OF Joey =
Jaw. Who wants you 10 lend yourself
10 il? The governor has always paid up
regular. I Will say that Tor him.
You know what I mean says joey.
i amt going 10 take any part in corrupt
ing the children Of ms own native land.
I Amt going 10 take part in q perform
ance in which brutality and dishonesty
perpetuauy triumph over respectable citi-
zenship."
why. joey" I said. You TAX ike 4
book. Its q liberal education 10 listen 10
YOU.
OF course. I was only pulling his leg. for
l knew pretty we'll that he was not 80
much talking Ike book as talking out OF
@ book: the one in which the cove we had
been talking Of had printed his lecture on
Elevation of Pantomime.' which l had
caught joey reading on the sly.
DO YOU mean TO chuck it up?' asked
after bit. because II you break your en-
cagemeut the governor will pretty soon be
down upon you in the county court ike q
thousand of bricks"
NO. Sammy says my pal with a sort
Of Salvation Army air Oh him. 40. 1
don't mean 10 chuck it up. That would be
too serious step. but am going TO play
my part with a moral purpose
with WHAT" / said.
with moral purpose" says he. Its
all there. If you study il properly.
What's all there. ! says. ior ne was
now getting fairly beyond me.
The pantomime. says joey. is sym
sym. what DO YOU call it? Symbolic.
There 81 TO doubt Of that. You read this
book here, and you Will see it. am 60
Ing 10 restore its proper meaning by play
ing it in "a serious spirit"
"What?" / says. The baby and the po-
Mceman and the red-hot-'
Everything. says joey. confidently.
You'll see how its done. old man. the
very first time I trip YOU up.
We'll" says I, alter few moments. to
get over this surprising news, you may
make big hit with it. joey, and ! hope
You will: but my belief is. and l may as
well tell you at once. that the day after
boxing night the governor viii give you
the sack. London Telegraph.