Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-06
A JUDGE OF HUMAN NATURE.

F'rom the New York Commercial Ad-
tiser)
He was poorly and thinly clad and
looked cold and hungry, yet on the
three occasions on the same day that
I passed the art store, he was standing
outside at the window, his nose glued
to the pane and seemingly staring in
tently at a large engraving Of Michael
Angeles masterpiece, THE Last Judg-
ment." Perceiving him thus for the
third time rlveted to the spot, my curl
osity was so aroused that I approached
the window and, feigning shUrtsighted-
ness, asked:
"Win you kindly inform me of the
subject Of that large picture@'
THAT there is what they call Mackael
Angeles Last Judgment was the
reply.
"Oh, I thought it would prove some
such great work Of art" I remarked,
''for l have noticed you hanging over
it every time 1 went by today" This
was meant to draw the man out, but he
remained as mum as an oyster, then
went on: Il am an admirer of the fine
arts myself in my humble way, but you
must be an enthusiast"
Don't care a red for art said the
stranger.
Don't? Well, that's strange. Per-
haps you are attracted by the theology
of the production?
''Never took no stock in theology" he
rejoined.
''I'm sorry to hear that l said. May
be, then, you had fac-simile of Mich
ael Angeles great work in the home Of
your boyhood, and the sight of that
beautiful engraving recalls the old
happy days when you were your IA
ther's pride. your mothers joy-when,
bareheaded and barefooted. you chased
the butterfly ON the lea and"
"Fiddlesticks old gentleman! Fiddle
sticks! You're only wasting good wind"
the man of mystery interrupted. Never
had no home to speak on, and never
was no fathers or mothers pride, but
the contrairy; and as for hUstling after
butterflies, l never would crost the
street for bushel basket of them sort
of curios"
After cudgeling my brain a moment
or two for some other conceivable rea-
son for the strangers presence, / tried
again: We'll, in that case. it is just
possible that the proprietor Of this store
pays you to stand here as a decoy to
draw the attention of the public to the
Window"
"Once more on the wrong scent, boss, .
returned the man. He is more likely
to order me off as hurting his business -
My curiosity had now reached fever
heat, and / resolved to clinch matters
at once. Here is a dollar, my friend"
l said, producing bill of that denom-
nation THAT becomes your property if
you will explain the reason of your pro-
longed stay at this window
''Now you're talkingi That's what
call biz!' exclaimed the stranger, with
sudden animation. "Well, then, listen.
I'm here because know little human
natur'. I'm here to titifyc peoples Curl
BUSINESS, knowing that there's lots in
this world of ourn like you, boss able
and willing to pay handsome to have
that-annoyin' passion gratified. Today
! am at this winder, and tomorrer | will
be somewheres else. That's all there's
to it,"
"And you find 1t pays?" queried.
Purity fairly. Your dollar jest makes
my takes-in so far q and a quarter
all spot cash. But that's considerable
better than ord'nar, mind"
How do you account for today's
boom?' I asked
20, oLAS elderly gentleman who took me
for Royal Society president a little un-
der the weather, donated me $3.50, and
a lady what declared that my physiog
reminded her of some party called I'll
tian, she knuckled me down 81. So,
y see, that was big lift from only two
patrons.'
Don't the police trouble you at alp"
"But seldom" was the reply. "They
stare puzzled like, like most everybody
else, but it takes more gall than even
your average cop has about his person,
to crowd a great artist in hard
luck"
"And it's only art store windows, then,
that form your pasture ground?" 1 sug-
gested.
"Oh, by no manner of means" came
the response. 'Pn nearly as much to
home at book stores. Guess tomorrer,
for change, I'll locate at book store
winder. Then it'll be the great-author-
gone-to-seed dodge. Any mortal thing
you like to name for a straight-up-and-
down, clean, honest living. That's my
religion"