The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-20

a Harmless idewnIk Encounter Tn Front or n
CiEar Store.

Standing in front OF a cigar store in a busy
city street was the wooden figure of an Indian
holding out 10 the passerby a bunch of wooden
cigars. This figure was about three feet in
height. and stood upon a pedestal two and a hall
feet high. which was supported upon low wheels,
by means Of which it was rolled in and out o!
the store. to and from a low platform resting
upon the sidewalk. With all It's supports the
figure rose about six feet above the walk.
Coming along the sidewalk was a man with a
jag, which, however. might not have been no.
ticed BY the casual observer. He was of
grave demeanor. and he walked. for the most
the figure of the Indian standing on the side
walk holding out the bunch OF wooden cigars he
lurched heavily TO starboard. coIlided with the
Indian and knocked it over, and then went
down himself. and there they lay. the white
man and the Indian. side by side, on the walk. IA
The Indian lay perfectly quiet; the white man
struggled TO get up. Hearing the crash the pro-
walk. When he saw the Indian down his face
was sober; bur when he saw that the figure was
gnin1ured his face was smiling. He riShted the
ngnre up and stood II once more upon its plat
form. i. was quite unmoved by the encounter,
and il held ont the bunch OF wooden cigars just
as Before. while the white man still lay upon the
sidewalk struggling to rise.
He got 10 his feet finally. bur minus his hat.
This was back on the sidewalk. eight or ten
feet from where he had risen. and he came back
10 get IL. Half a dozen people or more had
gathered, attracted by the crash ana by the
sight OF the two figures on the sidewalk, and
these now stood around and watched the man
Try TO pick M his hat. They all smiled as they
looked on. they couldn't helm it..
lie was n weil'tressed. good. looking man. and
ne stu preserved the same unbroken gravity of
deIneanor: the encounter with the Indian had
not disturbed him in the least. But he had a
ditilcuit JOB on hand now. 10 pick up his hat
without going down again himself. ANYBODY
might have picked IL up for him and put II on
his head, but everybody wanted to see him do
II. II he could. And 80 the people stood and
watched, and smiled. and saw him try; bending
slowly down, down. Gown-ah! all but reaching
II. all but losing his balance and then partly
Strengthening up TO try again. $500
Then a small and friendly newsboy who had
been standing by with a bundle of newspapers
under his arm. smiling with the rest, inter
Nened., When the man went down for his hat
again the small newsboy set his shoulder under
the mans shoulder and so supported him and
steadied him down. smiling all the lime as he
ald So lie might have picked up the mans hat
IN an instant, but he didn't want TO do thai: he
was IKE all the rest; he wanted 10 see the man
And with this help the mar did pick IL I'm. and.
standing upright, he placed il on his head once
more and faced about in his original direction
and started OH. This time he walked straight
pas: the wooden Indian and on, TO all nppear.
ances sober as a Judge; the knot OF oniookers
melted away, and the incident was closed.