Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-11


something like so. Ann kept COW and
boarded several goats, and passed a
rather rural existence, although her hori-
ton was barred with the iron lines OF
m elevated road two blocks distant. and
her farmyard rcvefberated with the
rumblings and ratings OF a cobble pave
ment and echoed with all the steam and
electric voices OF that part OF the town.
Her shanty was perched with a sort of
Swiss rccklossness on the apex Of great
old rock. and was approached in cir
cuitous fashion by a rickety wooden
staircase that led where II could itself
best climb up the broken surface OF the
boulder The rock was tufted here and
there with coarse growth Of grass that
gave It the unkemnt appearance OF an III
shaven face To the rear Of the shanty
IL sank away more evenly into miry
yard. where the heritage was stamped
into paste by the cows hoofs.
There was a shed in the backyard
and a genuine bit of country fence
stretched across the rear. In the morn
Ing the bars were let down and Ann
Moynihan's cow passed through them into
a vast vacant lot beyond. where mulleins
lourished. and where, here and there,
among heaps OF rubbish. broken glass.
twisted. rusted tin. and tatters Of an
cient bill posters. there were yet TO be
found sweet little Gases OF grass. In the
evening the gentle creature returned
sometimes In a big red sunset glow that
had a rare chance TO spread itself In
this open spot Some of the neighboring
rock formation I'm this locality was being
blasted away. In the side street, big
ierricks swung their black frames~idle-
AGAINST the sunset at night and by day
steam drills and pickaXes added their
din TO the street sounds. But AIMS cow
had the gaze Of the country in her eyes,
and her outward and homeward tread
showed a dignity about the trivial acct
dents Of environment.
Ann herself appeared Indifferent to the
fact that she and her shanty were
erotesque and extraneOus In this decorous
nuarter of the town. She lived her own
lie in her own way. and she made the
way az easy as possible. a curl OF smoke
issued from the chimney OF her small es-
tablishment like its life's breath-a
modest am ouncement Of soul within she
generally had q pot Of some rank vege-
tables hummlng and stedming on the
stove and this and an ever-present supply
Of cheap LIQUOR kept "the atmosphere con-
Fpicuous." Once week, out OF deierehce
FOR the popular fashion. she pinned lew
wet tapping rags 10 the clothes stIlhss
which she zigzagged from tree 10 post in
the yard. There was just one thing That
she stood IN awe Of and that compelled
her 10 a certain pretence Of decency' ana
this controlling influence she alluded 10
(as II il were a pOeD as "Ihe Sara OF
Huth." But she reduced her housekeep-
ing labors to minimum and had an
ample leisure. She was generally 10 be
seen folded in an old shawl and hugglng
herself UP IN the front doorway OF the
shanty. Mere she sat by the hour ana
smoked a short clay pipe, and looked
down with her little narrow RED eyes
from her rocky fortress upon the happen-
ings OF the avenue below.
The Madison-avenue cars logged by at
an old-tine pace; ladies i'm marketing or
calling costume got on and off. Ann pos
siblv was fairly we'll posted as 10 the
modern fashions of feminine garb Al an
events. she took in the most starving
exhibitions Of mOdishness with no other
comment than a stronger pun al her pipe
Half way down the next block there was
a giant fat-house. Ann was ianllilar win
lis great honeycomb face and knew by
distant sight many of the inmates. some
of them occasionally came and went IN
carriages. and the hall-boy was proper
bau-bov I'm broadcloth and brass buttons
All of which Ann saw unmoVed.
But there was something that made Ann
swell with metropolitan pride-try as sue
would TO pun evenly as II passed-ahu
hat was Dennis Moynihan, her only son,
IN his new ash-cart. Ann had H'eu
THROUGH the old regime Of what was
nlainlv termed "the swillman." and Den
n :. With his new cart. fat horse. and neat
mr.. 49,. was something see had never
exn.cted to see-one OF those modern
evolutions that fairly take your breath
away.
There had been great '----lde OF the
street cleaning and street iml rONliB
forces. and Ann on the occasion had over
come her usual aversion to society, ana
had stepped across TO convenient cor
ner on Fifth avenue. where she haa
seen it all pass. and Dennis in II. All
the street-sweepers in White DUCK I'M
maculate and jolly. shoulderng thelr
brushes and presenting arms; the sprlnk-
ung-cart men with their big beetle-like
wagons in grand hle the STRENGTHENING
INSPECTORS on their bicycles, with their
fore-and-aft caps like so many Stanleys
going after Livingston. and the garbage
carts ike Roman ChariOts Jolting IN the
show-and Dennis In II. And there were
elegant speeches. and gentlemen making
bows. and there was parading. and there
were manOeuVres. and the whole town 10
watch-and Dennis in IL. Ann Moyninan
didn't see II all, but she saw more imam
she could bear, and then she went back
and rolled herself up tighter than ever
IL. ND Nrh
an especially grand lady passed in the
afternoon. and glanced up at the shanty
with gentle, patronizlng inquisitiveness,
Ann looked dreamily the other way. re-
moved her pipe. and sDat with the negli-
gent aim and the raised eyebrow of
Indifference
Dennis Moynihan did not live with his
mother: he boarded with the jaRitor ard
'anitress OF a decent tenement farther
,ast. Dennis had lived in New YORK
ong enough 10 be a naturalized citizens
ma ne had taken out his papers-Whicn
might go without saying. for. otherwise,
row could he have Joined the force OF the
.. $. CO
His position. though it might seem
humble to some implied political pre-
,errnent. and the successful unwinding or
,yer so many yards Of red tape. and, IN
he eyes Of Ann Moyn han, at least, his
,fice conferred a distinction above its
monuments.
Ann was not without other family con-
iections; her niece, Mary Mccarthy.
lived I'm the rear tenement Of big, ola
house In a SUNNY east-side region down
own, and kept boarders' servants
,ut OF place-such servants (IcaVen,
aolp usD as were likely 10 remain out OF
place; or else-Iieayen. help the places
old
rom the bogs-old frog-faced witcnes.
ready 10 swear that they could make all
Kinds Of pies and puddings, but looking
IL. IL 10 cir n camllrOn I'm a "a w.