The times., 1898-09-26
THINGS SEEN AND HEARD.

| exchanging "reminiscences in front of one
OF the downtown local telegraph offices
last evening when this story was told by
Martin Kane, the oId-tme wieIder of the
electric key. from New York State:
'At the Democratic national conven-
ton in Chicago two years ago I was
sent on by my company to handle some
of the newspaper copy which was turned
into the Office by the Washington corres-
pondents who went masse TO the big
political gathering. I was stationed at
the Palmer House, and while standing
in front of the Office there one night, /
was accosted by man whom I had met
in Washington some time before, but
whose name 1 could not recall for my
life. He was a newspaper man, and had
done some work in Washington, and as
he was filing his stuff in Chicago with
our company / thought 1t best, in the in
terest OF our business. to Introduce him
to our Chicago manager, who treated all
the local boys royalty. For fifteen or
twenty minutes / stood talking to him,
trying to recall his name, but without
success Finally l remembered that L
erIy of Washington, but then engaged in
the telegraph room of one of the big New
York dailies, who also knew the man,
and who no doubt, could recall his name.
By a lucky coincidence the Chicago head
quarters of this office were located right
next to the Palmer House. L recalled the
fact that one day just a few weeks prior
TO the time when / had left Washington
and when my New York friend, George
restaurant here and had dined to-
gether. An idea struck me- and excus-
ing myself TO the newspaper man, asking
him If he wouldn't wait a moment /
rushed into the Chicago headquarters of
the New York newspaper office next door
and asked the head operator:
Which wire is Hardy working on in
New York?
g That one he replied, pointing to a
certain desk In the office.
'Going over to the desk I grabbed the
key and sent this message TO the New
York office: Hardy. what Is the name of
that fellow who dined with US a few
weeks ago In Washington naming the
date, of course, and noting an incident or
two that had happened and what we had
talked about
. That was Smith, he replied.
g" Thanks. / answered
Il ran back into the Palmer House. and.
grasping my friend by the arm. led him
into the manager and introduced him.
The incident never occurred 10 me as re-
markabie at the time but | thought of II
afterward and 1t struck me as being a
trifie odd. At any rate, III bet a hat that
Smith never knew that 1 telegraphed 10
New York from Chicago that night in
less than five minutes TO learn his name
while he was waiting for me next door"
A ragged red-faced individual who had
evidently seen better days shambIed up
10 the prescription desk of a drug store
in one of the downtown hotels last night
and, drawing pint flask from his coat
pocket. asked in a husky voice for five
cents worth of alcohol
What do you want IL for?'' asked the
clerk. eyeing him carefully.
Il want it to mix some paint with" re-
piled the man of the stuffed voice and un-
steady gait.
ITO mix some paint with. Ell" replied
the clerk. ''and Sunday night, too.
Old man, I guess you had better get out
OF this shop and get your psint-mixing
ingredients somewhere else
The man resignedly pocketed his flask
and scent piece and wandered out of the
place
''They try all sorts of lodges to evade
the Sunday liquor law" said the clerk.
after the tattered individual had left the
store. That man wanted the alcohol TO
drink. and / don't believe he ever saw a
bucket of paint excepting nose paint,
perhaps. That class of drinkers can't /
get quick enough action out of the ordi-
nary liquor and they drink the pure al
cohoI. During the other six days of the
week we are obliged 10 sell il TO them
when they ask for il. but Sunday.
knowing that they drink the stuff. it Is
a violation OF the law. This morning a
drunken old fellow came into the place
here and asked for some of the stun, and
when l asked him what he proposed do
ing with IT, he replied that he wanted to
use IL in a chafng dish. Others want Ii
for medicinal purposes We have any
where from a dozen 10 twenty-five or
thirty OF these fellows in here every Sun
day OF course there are some legitimate
calls for alcohol on Sunday, but We use
our Judgment in all cases and can easily
distinguish the drinkers from the other
class
There are some mighty queer people
among the enlisted men in the United
States navy said an old retired naval
officer in the lobby of one of the hotels
last night in discussing some of the re-
markable characteristics of the bone and
sinew of the American army and navy.
II remember one fellow in particular in
the forecastle of one of our old-time
warships who distinguished himself
among the officers and men the boat
ina way which, considering the circum-
stances, was quite odd This fellow came
originally from New York, and. as /
afterwards learned, belonged to one of
the best old families in the State. He
was a wayward sort of an individual,
however. and it seems that his father,
who was plentifuily supplied with this
ed his son literally, had finally become
tired of his pranks and had turned him
out of the house without enough money
to buy a days rationS for a soldier in
Cuba The young fellow was stumped
when he found himself out into the cold
and marble hearted world, and the idea
struck him TO enlist in the navy. When
he applied for enlistment the officers saw
by his dress and manners that he was no
ordinary fellow. and upon questioning
him they found that he was a graduate
of one of the big Northern colleges, and
further, that he had studied music
abroad. The young sailor never at
tracted much further attention until
after we had reached an European sta
ton. One day he was given shore leave
and when he returned to duty he was
visibly laboring under heavy sea-, but
well able to walk straight and talk in
telligibly. Under his arm. as he came