The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-29
The sidewalk ssetcher.

The SIDE WHik Sketcher.
There being no fair 'uns present" be-
gan the fakir in the preliminary canter of
his tongue, according 10 the New York
Mail and Express. at amt necessary for
me TO say, Ladies and gents. I just want
your attention for a moment gents: just
one minute. I have mere piece of every
day chalk. and / want To show you what
a chunk of chalk can do. You can't forge
no bank check with it no more than 1
can. But l can draw some quick pic
lures with il on the sidewalk If you watch
me with one eye and keep the other on
the cop"
BY this time the crowd surrounded the
fakir five or six deep and the saloonkeeper
in front OF whose shop the gathering an
chOred 70 use a West street expression
came out OF the gangway of his deserted
saloon and shouted:
Clear out. youi I've got no water to
waste cleaning up your mess"
And some of the crowd began to move.
but were he'd back by the remark of the
cruising artist:
That's all right. shipmate, I'm an old
tar, and has had many a cargo of groe
a-ongshore. I'll knock off if you howl.
but l promise to swab of your deck il
you lets me fire ahead
Without waiting for the permission. the
1Niei4e+NL ann stopped over ana made
long mark on the sidewalk with the
chalk, standing in the gutter as he d'd
SO. He's a nasty shark" he remarked
IN confidence to his audience. Now.
gents, In draw a picture of my host.
the boss of the tavern" And he did. quick
iy and well There was the bloated owner
with his great beam and soiled white an
ron There was the open door. leading TO
the h.-smelliRg bar. showing a two-mast-
cd schooner sailing UP the East river IN
der the Brooklyn bridge. with an immense
glass of foaming lager RESTING. or. fine declT
between the fore and main nasts. The
crowd had swelled TO such proportions now
mat all gangway on the sidewalk was cut
OH, and the proprietor could not see what
the fakir was drawing, not even between
the legs of the big crowd
NOW, resumed the wielder of the
chalk, as he and the crowd shifted their
oerths to cleaner stretch Of Sidewalk
near by. now I'll draw you a picture Of
a school lad"
There he was. after a half-dozen or ner-
maps more strokes Of the chalk a lad fair
70 look up! Long. curly hair. sweet
open race, neat boots and trim rig a
bundles OF books under his arm. and the
reflection of innocent sunshine in his face
a Few more dashes of the chalk. with a
chdhse Oh moorings, and it was seen that
the hsure OF the saloonkeeper on the side
walk was offering the lad a glass of tina,
sauie Ioamlhg larger which the schooner
win all sheets lifted was rapidly carry.
ing up stream.
mats the schoolboy," announced the
off" N III
Another shift to a clean piece of side
walk, a hasty dash of the chalk and the
ngure of health-shattered. ragged nm
kempt thing doomed up on the sidewalk
bottle OF rum showed up from one of
the tattered pockets. the head was hatIess
ana the feet were partly concealed bv a
miserable pair of shoes that were torn and
cut IN dozen places Again the chalk
mashed on the sidewalk and il was seen
that the saloon keeper was driving the
emaciated creature from his door
mats the schoolboy again." said the
arust pointing at the miserable wretch on
the sidewalk. That's the schoolbov. but
ms DOCKS and brains is gone, and so is his
manhood. Don't be afraid to contribute
gents. This amt no temperance lecture
nor 1t amt no treat for me unless Won
pony up"
But it was both. The sidewalk is clean
now and to his dying day the thick-skin-
hed SAIGON keeper may never be able to
understand why that crowd looked at him
so hard as it moved away.
Il wouldn't mind" said he IN oron,-
that night. but that fellow promised 70
clean off the sidewalk and he didn't keen
MS word. Do you think he was making
1un OF me when he drew them pictures?'
Blamed If know" said the blearv-
| eyed man in front of the bar. give me
another drink, and don't bother me with
your troubles. I have some of nv own -
And he had.