The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

WItH lips tuat uTop aS aI HOueN coilo
and with woMls smoother than oil, but
whose steps go down to death and whose
feet lay hold on hell, were as full as
usual, and from behind the blinds came
the customarvsounds of music and wordy
riot and maudlin. mirth.
What mattered it to them that
handful of gallant soldiers were strug-
Cling unto the death against an over
towering force for the honor Of the
country's flag?
Nothing.
What cared they that mems heart
strings were cracking, as they watched
the curtain roll up tor the terrible drama
Of civil war?
Nothing.
Suddenly the green screens of saloon
swung open to let out a half.dozen loud
talking, red-faced, flashiiy-dressed young
men--each one that compound of low
grade "sport," third-rate gambler and
would-be sharper and pugilist that
make up the "swell mob" in every
city.
Free drinking had loosened all their
tongues, and heightened their normal con-
dition of noisy insolence.
"Just been over on Madison and Dear
born Streets" said the burliest Of the
crowd, who seemed to be leader, and
was addressed by the Others as " Peory."
Devil of crowd over there. A
lot O news comm in. Fellers down at
Charleston knockin' the stufiin' out o
Fort Sumter. Got it al afire. Punchin'
the walls down like you'd smash winder
with bowlder Anderson an his men
hoppin' about like so many grains o pop
corn on hot stove. Devil to pay gen
orally, an no pitch hot. Sassy boys
them down at Charleston. Can't fool
with them forever, tell you"
"You're mighty right, there" said
another square jawed ballot-box stuiier,
alluded to as Mississippi =" There's
no gentlemen in this country like the
Southerners. They've got the blood, |
tell We. One of them thoroughbreds is
worth as many o these cantin' thin
nosed, penny-pinchin' Northerners as
would make palm fence round To-
acre lot They drink good whisky,
| know all the pints of q horse, play
mighty stiff games of poker, and when
things don't go to suit 'em they just out
with a bowie and revolver, and settle
things in gentlemanly way. | tell you
like 'em; | Know all about 'em; never
had so good 1t time in my life as when |
was in the South, running as third bar
keeper on the old Imperial in the ST.
Louis and New Orleans trade. Never
night but Someone flung me flyer
! and sail 'neter mind the change!'"
E" Haven't been so mad since the last
election said "Curly," the third to
sneak "was over there in front of the
Tribune office. bout 10000 counter
jumpers, preachers, spiudIe-shanked
clerks over there; all actin as if they
were goin' crazy over somethin'; all
screaming mad because them fellers at
Charleston want their. own property (;
Will I'bIb bOuilitcI, NifiCH - tiCiIS, anu
are making it hot for Maj. Anderson be-
cause he won't move out and give pos
session. What business is it of these
felers here, I'd like to know. None of
their moneys invested in Fort Sumter.
When they got to talkin' bout fightin'
/ could hardly hold in. Them dough-
faces talk about tightin'! | wanted to
wade in and mash few dozen that stool
near ME, but happened to look up and
| saw cops eye fixed on me, and |
thought it best to move off,
wish few of them would
saunter out this way" remarked
Peory." 1--WE need little exercise.
an | think we could make them feel
that they had got into worse scrape
than Maj. Anderson has"
The selfsufficient chuckle of the six
that followed Peory's" gasconade was
interrupted by a
Good awning, jintlemen /"
in a brogue as rich as the flavor of an
old Stilton.
ITO be continued