The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-19
PRANKS OF THE Ice.
Tendency of the Pavements to Fly Up
and Hit the Pedestrian Was
TTuua41aI


Zip! Thud! Bump! A silk hat went to
the right, a bundle of papers to the left
and portly gentleman after beating a
tattoo on the stone steps from top to
bottom landed in a sitting posture right
in front of a passing lady. Yes, he was
a gentleman for he said Il beg your
pardon madam and started to get up.
He reached to the right for his silk hat
and to the left for the bundle of papers
and then he sprawled over the sidewalk
again.
Better sand de track, mister" yelled
a neWsboy. The gentleman finally got
started and slid away.
He had plenty Of reason for sliding
The payements and sidewalks of Tope-
ka were never so slippery before as
they were Friday afternoon from five
o'clock till eight. A drizzling rain COM
nenced falling about three o'clock and
at five the temperature had fallen be-
low freezing and the pavements were
coated an eighth of an inch thick With
ice. 1t was slippery until about eight
O. clock when a light snow commenced
F@'ling which served to roughen the
ice.
u was nearly impossible for horses
to keep their feet. A large gray horse
was standing near the curbing hitched
to a heavy delivery wagon. The driver
was Vainly endeaVOring to get the
horse started. He would slip, slide and
fall down. The horse and driver were
per and equilibrium A bystander who
had probably read What To Do In
Cases of Emergency" stepped up to the
driver and said, If you will drive on
the car tracks where the pavement is
rough the horse will not slip" The
driver looked at him with contempt.
"Well, carry the horse over there for
me will yOu?'' The wise pedestrian
never thought that the horse was try
ing to gain the tracks as best he
could.
Sidewalks were almost deserted. On
Kansas avenue people took to the mar
row gutter two feet wide which is paw
ed with stone and affords a foot hold.
On both sides of the wide thoroughfare
and in the center between the street
car tracks those hurrying home tried
to keep their footing. Some were not
plebian enough to take to the gutter on
the street and Vainly strived to keep
their dignified bearing on the sidewalk.
In front of a few places of business the
sidewalks were sprinkled with ashes or
sawdust but they were few and far be-
tween.
on the Sixth street hill the street
Arabs had a slide. From Kansas ave
nue. to jackson they could run and slide
to their hearts content and no one tried
to interrupt them. Every one took to
the center of the street and from the
top of the hill looking west on Sixth
street it looked like a mammoth min
strel parade. The small boys would
slide down the sidewalk and when half
way down the hill would turn half
around and slide the rest of the way
backward.
Those boys slide without falling; I
guess I can get to the bottom said a
lady as she stood at the top of the hill
and gazed wistfully toward Topeka av-
enue. She started. Half way down she
slipped and sat solidly down on the
sidewalk. Dat amt right, lady, you
must turn round fore yer sit down."
called one of the artists as he illustra-
ted to her how easy it was. Then some
one sprinkled ashes on the center of the
slide and the boys complained to the
nearest policeman.
One man went across the street for
bucket of water. He got it and was re-
turning. Suddenly he slid forward,
then he slid backward. but he held on
to the pail. Then he slid to the right,
then to the left and all the while a
crowd was watching him. Then zip,
and down he went, the contents of
the pail all over him. Slippery, isn't
it?'' remarked a bystander.
NO it's the motion of the EARTH,
said the man who was sitting beside
the bucket. with a look of scorn.
one young man stood in front of the
transfer station and laughed at the
people he saw falling and sliding
around. He remarked that if people
would be more careful they would not
fall and then without warning his heels
went into the air and down he came
right in front of the large crowd wait
ing for hOmeWard bound cars. There
was a roar of laughter from the Specta-
tors and the lecturer on How to Keep
Ones Balance" sneaked away.
Last night and this morning Kansas
avenue has been almost deserted. Only
the teams of the express companies and
others that have to make deliveries
have been out. But lit is an i'll wind
that blows nobody good" and the small
boy is having the best time of the win
ter with his skates. Skating on the
streets paved with asphalt is excellent
and then it is Saturday. too and no
school One man ventured down Kan
IL IL
trip from Tenth to Fourth without a
fall