Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-06
HE KEPT TT CLEAN.

ILL 1Al<A Il SAA4I4AANs
None of us associated with him in the
office felt that we had any right to say
anything to him about it. 1t was his
right and privilege to wear what he
pleased As long as it suited him, why
should we concern ourselves in the mat
ter?
Truth is he was becoming more and
more genteelly shabby every day, but
the careful way in which his shiny coat
and frayed trousers We're brushed and
cared for was evidence that it was not
wanton carelessness of his appearance
that made him go so shabby. It occurred
one day that the weather was exceedingly
cold. A regular blizzard was raging,
and only those whose business compelled
them to be out ventured Oh the street at
all. It was one of Jacks duties as cash
Ter to go to the bank each day, and
when the time came for him to make
his regular trip and he slipped Oh his
light overcoat and started out the head
bookkeeper interrupted him:
II say, Jack, you are not going out
in that light coat? Why, man, the very
marrow in your bones will freeze. -
ooh, nonsense, old man. l always &c
this way-dressed warm inside, you
know-prefer it that way-not so bulky
and clumsy, you know I"
And out he went. That night after
most of the office force had gone Mike,
the office boy, had to relieve his mind.
II don It think Mr.. Jack is dressed warm
inside at all. / saw him roll up his
sleeves to wash his hands today, and he
only had Oh thin cotton undershirt.
think he's dead close wild his money,
and some day he will be ownin this in
stitootion.
But we all knew better than this.
Jack was in trouble. Why didn't he let
us know what it was? Not man in the
office from the manager down to the
office boy that would not have extended
a helping hand to him, for we all loved
him. He was a sterling fellow, always
ready to divide on the thirds principle
you take two thirds and he one. He had
formerly been the Beau Brummel Of the
office, and what the change was that
had come over him was worrying us all.
1t was finally decided that we would
breach the matter to him in a delicate
manner. The head bookkeeper being a
man Of great tact and delicate percep-
ton, to him was delegated the task. II
was some time before the opportunity
presented itself. Spring had even open
ed, and Jacks shiny coat and frayed
trousers looked the more shabby in com.
parison with the bright new spring suits
around him. II never saw clothes sc
cheap" said one of the Junior clerks.
"My tailor put this up for $40, and
declare it's quite respectable looking
quite the same thing that used to pay
$35 for. " 1t was just here that some
thing peculiar happened. A big bottle
of red ink standing on the desk near the
register had evidently become overhead
ed, and, being corked tight, there was
nothing for it to do but explode, which
it did with loud report. Unfortunate
ly, just behind it OIL the wall were hang
ing all our coats and hats Poor Jack s
shiny coat was despatched from collar
to tail. Poor fellow! He looked dismay-
ed
We felt sure that next morning we
would SEQ Jack again dressed as beftted
man Of his position. But we were dis
appointed. The next morning he came
down with the same old coat. The spots
gave evidence Of having been carefully
scrubbed, leaving dirty white spots on
the shiny black cloth
IT say, jack" said the head book
keeper, "really, you are growing care
less of your personal appearance.
"Why, he " SO, old man? I shave my
self with scrupulous regularity every
morning. I really didn't know l was
looking so unfit. /"
It's not that, Jack. I-er-oh, hang
it, don't you see that your clothes are
kinder runnin to seed? You need a new
outfit, old man. Your tailor will
starve.' y
IT believe you are right, Harry. Fact
is, an old suit is 50 comfortable, you
know; kinder conforms to ones curves
and angles Really, I feel like am dis.
carding an old friend when / give up an
old suit; but I must see my tailor. Il
will never do to offend the artistic eye
Of my friends. thank you, old man,
for calling my attention to it. Really,
fellow can't see how his own clothes
hang"
Mike the office boy had great story
to tell the next morning "What wuz
Mr.. Jack doin up in the secondhand
district last night? He's out O. place
up dere. Me an Skinny Walsh was goi1
along, an sees Mr. Jack goin into one
O. dem secondhand Sheeney stores
'Geminy, says to Skinny, 'dat's oul
cashier. He makes more as 200 cases {
mont. What's he doin in that j'int?
peeks tru' de window, an see him bar
Gain wi de Shylock for a cheap suit o
store clothes. I cud see him hand ovel
y $40 bill, an he got change back
Christmas, I says to Skinny, but dat 4
funny. He cud buy hull tailor shop il
he wanted to. guess OATS de way desc
gesers gets rich. Let's begin, Skinny.
A few mornings after Jack came down
with his new suit on. The trousers were
carefully creased, and the coat was worn
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