The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-09-07
What a Drummer
Saw and Thought

COMING on the train from Bone
vile yesterday | sat behind two
BOYS who were trying TO impress me
and everyone else in the smoking car
with the fact that they were men OF
the world and fairly desperate char
acters.
They were between IS and 20, should
Judge, and this age, under proper con-
ditions, represents the full bloom OF
amateur deviltry and foolishness. These
bows were not from the country. They |
were from Bonneville, and they affected
that superior manner and easy knowl-
edge of the world which come from a
| long residence in town.
From the moment they came into the
car and fell into their seats with smll- |
ing abandon they were acting. They
wanted everyone to know that they
were experienced and reckless young
men to whom journey by railroad was
an everyday incident. Perhaps they
deceived each other, but they didn't de-
ceive anyone else. Their acting was
too labored.
''Say, Ed, have you another cigar
there in your pocket"
whats the diff if l have?"
"Ain't you goin' to set 'em up to
smoke?"
"Why the dickens didn't you buy
some cigars before we started? You
might know we can't get 10 good cigars
over at Ransom. They don't keep any
kind over there but them regular
stogies.'
"Oh, rats! BE a sport and set 'em
up"
These Introductory remarks were
made in tones which aroused everyone
> in the car. An old-time travelling man
; across the aisle from me had his head
down on his grip and was trying to
catch a little sleep when the two be-
gan. He opened his eyes slowly and
> shook his head.
Two more of those train-robbers,
he murmured.
4 Before the train started the two des-
. peradoes made several illusions to some
Z experience of the night before. They
e made frequent use of the word beer
e in order TO let it be known that they
= were confirmed drinkers, and, also, they
!, garnished their loud talk with clumsy
Il swearing.
y There are several kinds of profanity
/, and some of il is not only endurable,
but actually enjoyable, if you can dis
regard the question of morality. a
commander urging his soldiers in the
madness Of battle is not generally
blamed if he swears little. y cowboy
hrannhn N hnCC
directing a circus gang" an impatient
man milking a cow in tiytime, freight
brakeman who misses n coupling or g
bike rider who smashes his wheel tel
IL miles from a repair shop may let out
string of explosives that are simply pic
7. turesque in variety and intensity.
don't say that these men are justified il
w giving vent TO their feelings, but l dc
say that sometimes it is worth goint
g miles TO hear them.
- But abhor the swearing of the young
man who does not know how TO swear
ot He does not swear by impulse or from
d. habit. He has TO struggle 10 accom-
is plish anything, and he is half ASHAMED
es of himself at the time. Under such cir
cumstances profanity becomes an ap
palling wickedness, even TO the mos
hardened "rounder.'
AS | sat behind those two boys an
in listened TO their noisy discussion of tn
nv late orgies and their painful efforts I
he impress US with their worldliness it oc
k; CURED TO me that it would be goo
a idea to take those two boys out an
IL have them photographed in their sun
| IL ~ D, 60
NJ, hats and rainbow cravats, and afte
on that let them talk for about 30 minute
les into photograph.
nd Twenty years from now, after the
ry have become seedy and hard-heade
ell married men, with growing children {
ID their own, il would give them cause fo
reflection if they could take out thes
photographs and study them and the
listen TO their own conversation in III
monograph. No doubt they would e.
ep claim: "What spectacular bladders W
must have been!"
MS The two boys on the train were faii
ly good types. l have seen the san
az kind of young man in every small tow
=" Sometimes my sense of humanit
moves me TO appeal to the young ma
ms / feel as if ought to 60 up to him an
say: "My dear boy, don't be so despe
ing ate. Don't think because you worn
ses your mother that you are really ba
There are thousands of young men
me this country who wear their hats pulle
rial forward and their cigars pointed up Il
ice. same rs you have them, and they ha'
the same kind of toothpick shoes ar