The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-20
ROUGH RIDER BOSSES A STAGE.
Forces Military SchOOIbOys to Give
Up Their Seats to Women.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
A Rough Rider held up a Fifth-avenue
stage Wednesday morning and ran 1T to suit
himself. Between half past and O'Clock
the stages arc always full of school girls
dren an belong to the immaculate ana arts
tocrat1c set, who patronize Fifth-avenue
private schools. On Wednesday morning
the pouring rain made the stages more
boarded one down town and soon gave his
seat to a French maid. There were rows
seats and standing and the tall soldier
looked down at them occasionally with a
queer smile. More boys crowded in at each
street and the Rough Rider was damned
and jostled. He took it good naturedly, but
said with a Western drawl, to the only
other man in the stage:
This is New York. is it?''
The man smiled and shrugged his Shout
derg,
way commented the Rough Rider. Then
he stared out through the window at the
drivers glistening waterproof back. The
young woman got in. There was hardly
room for her to stand, but she swung her
self on a strap and leaned forward across
several small boys, to the Rough Rider,
whose back was turned toward her.
May | trouble you to put my fare in the
his trance and whirled around. Certainly
miss, I'll" he began. Then a wrinkle came
between his eyes and his expression of sur
prise turned to frowning wrath as he stared
at the rows of neat little boys sitting on
each side of the stage and talking about
football. The Rough Rider leaned toward
the exquisite little fellow nearest the stand
SGet up and give the lady seat, young
un,'' he said. The boy didn't stir.
Get up, | say" repeated the rough voice
A hush settled down upon the crowd. The
boys eyes grew bigger, but he didn't move.
The Rough Rider reached a long arm across
the boys between him and the boy to whom
he had spoken, seized the latter by the col
dropped him into the aisle
Take that seat, miss
The young woman dropped into the seat.
The little girls giggled, the little boys stared
at the soldier in an awe-struck way and he
resumed his contemplation of the drivers
back Another stop. Another young wom-
an The Rough Rider singled out another
GIVE the lady a seat, sonny
Sonny arose with alacrity, and the die
tator smiled at him. Then he looked down
at the sullen but subdued youngster who
had required forcible argument -
The boy stared at him in a scared way,
and evidently didn't understand.
when do you go to wOrk2"
mine o'clock, sir"
when do you go OFF,"
Two O'Clock, sir.
Same day."
Great Scotland too tired to get up and
give a lady a seat. You're pretty weak, and
l suppose these other little boys are all af-
flicted the same way?'
All the culprits listened and stared.
Most of you in military school?" con-
tinued the Rough Rider, looking at the caps
and uniforms worn by almost all of the
youngsters We'll, you'll make blooming
soldiers if you keep on as you've started
out. You'd better take to bookkeeping.
Could sit down all day at that"
Just then some girls left the stage. Every
one looked at the Rough Rider, but he made
no move toward sitting down.
''Plenty of room for yoI now, boys" he
said good naturedly pointing to the vacant
seats. The boys slipped into them without
a word, and no one said anything until after
the stage stopped at Forty-second street,
and the Rough Rider climbed out AS he
boys, whose eyes still looked preternatural-
ly big.
refused to get up and give a lady seat"
he said. But this is New York;
For a moment after he disappeared there
was hush. Then a babble of tongues be-
been hoisted out of his seat was louder than
any of the others.
II tell you, if I'd had pistol in my
pocket he couldn't have ordered me about
that way he said. wagging his head in
most belicose fashion. Drunk! That's
what he was but If I'd had a pistol Id
have showed. him l wasn't afraid of any
drunk cowboy.
The older women in the stage smiled. The
little girls looked impressed, but the other
boy, who had given his seat to lady,
We'll" he said, cheerfully, ''he may have
been drunk, but when man as big as that
and with a voice like that says to me- Get
up, sonny I'm pretty likely to do it. You
couldn't have fired a pistol If you'd had one,
and anyway, we ought to have given the
lady a seat without waiting for the cow
boy to tell US to do it. l think he was
That boy. in spite of his kid gloves, will
make New York man like those who went
up San Juan hill with the cowboys.