Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-11
POLITENESS IN TATTERS.
Not Easy to Judge Man by the Condi-
ton of the Clothes He Wears.

ton of the Clothes He wears
The Utah Northern train was disap-
pearing in the distance when Arch
Crldge, the storekeeper at Market Lake,
who had gone over to the station to as
certain if any oysters had come up from
Granger for him, saw badly battered
and tattered figure hobbling along the
ties coming from the direction of the
vanishing train. Cridge forgot his oys-
ters in wonderment at the outlandish
raggedness and general damage and dis
aster revealed in the person Of the on
conner.
He was tramp, and his face was
scratched and his eye was BACKED, as
Cridge saw when he drew near. But he
was polite tramp nevertheless.
Good morning, my friend" he
said, bowling courteously to the store
keeper. "Can you tell me the name OF
man who would care to share III the
benefits rising out of $50, O00?"
He did not appear to be crazy so
Cridge, who had once chased elusive
gold mines, gave him some attention.
Il don't just know, " he said Il
myself
Exactly so, and first class partner
you will makel twenty-five thousand
sounds nice, doesn't it, Let me have a
chew of tobacco, please.
Cridge gave him lump Of the desired
commodity and asked him to explain
what he meant.
"You observe the train now dimming
in the distance?" inquired the tramp.
Cridge did.
"You might not believe it, but l was
elected from that train for the vulgar
reason Of poverty"
But you haye-how about your fifty
thou"
lone momentl Wait was thrown
of like mere bag of rags. l rolled. l
scraped. skinned myself. | tore my
apparel cracked my kneepan. L dug
mp the soil and turned seven somer
saults.
Cridge nodded sympatheticaly.
In other words, l was treated vilely
BY a brakeman-a redheaded brakeman
who used profane language. l think he
also struck me, but there was some con-
fusion, and perhaps it was telegraph
pole. Receiving such indignity, you can
readily understand what must be the
prompt action of gentleman.
well, dunno" said Cridge guard
edly. "But man with money
Exactly. l see you perfectly under
stand. You appreciate the enormity Of
the offense shall sue for $50, 600
damages. You will pay the costs and
give me s. now as guarantee of good
faith. When l win, shall levy on the
road to pay my claim and you will be
made general manager with power to
issue passes. Please give me the 50 as
soon as possible. am aware that my
present guise and garb"-
"Well, l dunno" said Cridge, draw
ing back. "You see'-
"You surely don't doubt my word:
You surely don't question that l was
thrown off the train substantially as de-
scribed?"
"No. l should ruther guess there was
even more hustle to It than you've told.
But
"You don't deny that was damaged
seriously? This eyel This peeled arm
This earl
"No, that's all right, but l can't 60
into it. "
The tramp looked upon the storekeep'
err with great loftiness beaming from
his one good eye.
81 see. You are not in sympathy with
the poor and oppressed. You are allied
to the money power. You are subsidiz'
ed. Your finer feelings Of humanity
have been crushed out by your associa
ton with capital. Never mind. | am
used to disappointments. If you will
give me 10 cents, will dance three ex
tremely interesting jigs and will ther
by clever feat Of parlor magic swal
low knife and withdraw it from my
ear. "
But Mr.. Cridge said he had to go and
see about his oysters. Chicago Record