The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-04-23
The Ubiquitous Manikin.
BY FRANK BRANDRAM.


TOU would not have dignified him
Y with the description of little
man. Little is no word TO convey an
idea OF the lack of size. He was ride
ulouslv. foolishly small-diminutive,
fral and utterly insignificant in APP
pearance. lie could not have stood
more than four feet six; and he was
slight in proportion. But his face
wore a look of prcternatural gravity.
You might have imagined that upon his
shoulders -had he any shoulders to
speak of-rested the cares of an EN-
pire. He looked like boy masqerad-
inc with the head and face of man re-
duced in size so as to suit his juvenile
body. And the solemnity of his fea-
lures was intensified by his clothing,
which was of the most funeral type.
He was dressed in suit of black, with
black hat, black tie, and even black cuff
buttons; and he carried "A blaclkthorn
stick. almost as big as himself
In most people you can trace a re-
semblance to some animal, or bird, or
fish. if you are gifted with any magma
ton at all: and this man reminded me
very forcibly of a jackdaw. He had
retreating chin and prominent nose,
which, in profile, looked very much like
bill. Then he had a peculiar way of
cccking up one of his little, ferrety eyes
and looking at you out of the corner
Of il. just as a jackdaw does.
When heard him speak found that
his voice was as weak and insignificant
as his general appearance. 1t was q
mean kind of voice. don't know how
otherwise to describe it.
! suppose if had met the little man
en- the street | might have turned round
for second to look after him, and then
gone on about my business, without
troubling my head any more about him.
Tut | was so placed that had nothing
to do for some minutes but watch the
manikin; and the consequence was that
did trouble my head about him. He
seemed to fascinate me. [ could not
take my eyes of him. And after | had
looked al MIN for some time feeling OF
irrtabity seemed to come over me.
felt "A curious longing to pick him up
between my finger and thumb and drop
him overheard into the dock.
For it was on board an ocean liner
that ! met this miniature piece of human
iN. ! was waiting for the vessel to
Sail. on her voyage to New York. My
dminutive friend was on the deck, APP
parcntly taking leave of lady pas
scnger. While he was, perhaps, 40
Years Of age. | judged her to be about
-, and She was woman of normal
SIZE and pleasant appearance-so differ
ent from her companion.
He looked so little. SO utterly inn
racticablc, that there seemed to be nc
reason, no necessity, nor any excuse for
ms existence at all. And he had, with
al his portentuous solemnity, n certain
deprccating expressions; his lips were
continually twitching with nervou.
KIND of movement. as though he were
framing an apology for being alive al
all.
At last came the signal for al
strangers to 90 ashore.
Well, good-by. my dear" said the lit
We man, standing on tiptoe to kiss tn,
lady, and speaking in that irritatingly
piping voice of his. "Give my lov,
10 but the finish of the sentence was
lost to me as he was hustled off tn,
boat.
! watched him go down the gangway
and then stand at the dockside.
At last the vessel swung loose from
her mornings: and as she moved slowl,
out into the Mersey the last saw of m,
little friend with his black suit. blacl
nat, black tie, black cuff buttons an,
general undertaker's air was his way
ing farewell salute to the lady pas
senger with n black bordered handlxer
chief.
When | turned back to look at the lad,
saw there were tears in her ewes; an,
then il occurred to me that the frail
understood fellow was better off than
ior there was no eye to moisten at m,
departure from Livcrpool; there woul,
be none to tighten on my return to New
York.
found that the lady's name was Mrs
oohnson--a common enough name
out, had i been inclined, had no oppor
unity Of learning anything from he
concerning her microscopical friend