The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-12
GOZZY RAYMOND'S FEAST
STORY OF A RAGGED TRAMP FOUND
INA NEWyYORK WINE CELLAR.
Dined on Dainties with Seven Bottles
of Champagne and Asked to BE
Sentenced for Life.

NEW YORK, July 11.-Joseph Raymond
got into the cellar of Joseph Gluckman' s
saloon, at No. 1928 Second avenue. When
and how he got there he does not remem-
Der, and nobody else knows. Joseph Ray
mond is a tramp, so dirty thai only his
raggedness furnishes an adequate superla-
tive for comparison. "GoZzy' is his nom de
bumme. 1t was a well-stocked cellar, in
which the hungry, thirsty, hot and tired
tramp found himself. A cellar floored with
beer kegs and whisky barrels, walled with
shelves full of wine and other bottled goods
and ceiled with pendant sausages hams
and other delicacies--a cellar? a paradise!
Raymond looks like figure from comic
paper tomato can and all. Used to drain
the dregs from hot, stale beer kegs standing
in the SUM- and counting himself bound
less success when he got a cold "handout'
from a housewives kitchen, conceive if you
can the situation of Joseph Raymond in
Joseph Gluckmans cellar.
There must have been a time when
"Gozzy' was not a tramp, though to look
at him suggests it must have been in some
previous stage of existence. The forty
years that have passed over his head do not
seem enough 10 have accomplished such an
exquisite completeness of dilapidation. Did
'Gozzy' fill his can at any of the spigots
so temptingly to hand and drown all his
sorrow and care in one deep draught
''Gozzy" did nothing of the kind. He barely
tasted the contents of one barrel after an
other until he found some twenty-eight-
year-old Kentucky rye, and he took one
drink of that. Then he prospected around
the shelves and spread his gleanings on a
hogshead top.
a of
Russian caviarc. imported. There was
plenty OF the domestic article about but
this was GCzzyS busy day and he had no
time to trlfie with domestic goods. Next
came 1ish-three tins of sardines; smoked
herring and salt mackerel he ignored. He
did not bother with joints, though there
hung handily near cold meats of various
sorts, but ne made an entree of pate de fois
gras. and for the cheese. There was linn
broad fat, fair round cheeses, but
they did not tempt him. Three little
wooden boxes he broke, and it was Camem-
bert that supplied his last course. AS for
wines, he had his pick, and his choice
stamps MIN as man of taste and special
knowledge.
man brought a hogshead of ale for Mr.
Gluckman. The bartender lighted jet in
the cellar SO that he could place, the cask.
The truckman went to the cellar to see
where the ale was to be placed, but re-
turned in moment, saying: What's the
matter with you? There's no light and it's
h.
and lit the gas, thinking that it had been
blown out by the wind Once again the
truckman went down, and once more he re-
turned.
You're crazy" said he; there's no light
there yet
Then the truckman and the bartender
went into the cellar and again lighted the
gas AS they did so a sound, low and
Iremuous at first, but swelling deep and
sonorous and then dying away in a bub-
bling sob, startled them. They stared and
they saw Gozzy. To him had come a peace
that passeth understanding With his head
pillowed on a cheese, he was sleeping after
his feast.
On the hogshead near him were the tins
that had contained sardines and patee and
caviare, and the boxes that had held the
chese-mute evidence of his taste-and be-
side them bottle still half full of sherry
sherry with the fish-an empty bottle of
Chambertin for the middle courses, and
seven champagne bottles-empty, with their
golden heads knocked off of them. All the
pity of it that there was no black coffee!
The rest of this story is coarse. vulgar,
commonplace; nothing more Lucullin and
exquisite. The last chapter deals with a
policeman, the Harlem Police Court and a
sentence of ten days on the island. But
Gozzy rose at the very last.
Judge" he said, sit was forty-eight
hours since / had had square meal, and
about forty-eight years since l had had a
feast. Can you blame me? l never expect
to have another like that. Now give me
lifer