The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-04
vANlTAS vANITATuM.
Two Newsboys Toss Up a Coin and
Mourn Their Loss.

Last evening. two small newsboys met
on Washington street, near the corner OF
| York.
Lets go to the baseball game. satur-
| day." quoth the first newsboy, I've got
fifty cents.
mot on your tintype,'' returned his
| companion, half O that fifty is mine, and
/ want to go to the theayter, next week.
and see Fanny Rice. She's the funniest
in the whole bunch
IT know dat agreed the first speaker.
sebut dis is de first game of de season; de
joints play de Senator'S and it'll be hot
stuff"
what do I care for de Joints dey're
dead ones and we can see dem any old
time; but We can only see Fanny Rice
once a year. She gives yer a run for yer
money and dat piece she plays, some
thin bout the French Ball is a la Ia
sIll tell yer what let's do said Miss
Rice's admirer, Lets toss up de half
bone. If it comes down heads, we go to
de baseball; if it comes down tails, it's
Fanny Rice and the ~theayter. OATS de
way de big big blokes do. Dey arby-
trates."
"All right" said the baseball enthusiast,
who by the way was the custodian of the
half dollar which was their Joint property.
Down went their bundles of Jersey City
News" and the baseball advocate there
upon disclosing the coin, tossed 1t UP with
d here goes" 1t fell with a Jingle. and
after numerous evolution and gyrations
settled itself face ~downwards.
Its fails,'' gleefully shouted the Rice
contingent. .and we goes TO see de
French Ball."
"Ah, wot TELL" interrupted the apostle
Of the diamond, It's de best two out of
three losses. You just got "a horse on
me-"
A spirited discussion ensued in which
ordinations and recriminations were I'M
dulged, but which resulted in the holder
of the coin, gaining his point principally
on account Of the fact that he held the
money and therefore rendered his adver-
sary's arguments futile.
Up went the coin again, and this time it
came down heads" The tension was
now at fever heat. Hope deferred
maketh the heart sick" Each contest
ant was now greatly excited, the differ
enc between them having intensified the
situation from a friendly matter to some
thing akin to a personal encounter. Each
longed for conquest, and the final toss of
the coin which was to decide the issue
was looked pom as little less than a ma
tional affair. After much discussion and
p-reliminaries a protocol was agreed
and the coin was finally cast up
wards for the third time. With feverish
expectancy two glittering pairs of eyes
followed its every movement. 1t turned
and returned in mid air and finally fell
striking on its miIled edge Upon the curb.
1t rolled for several feet and the two
rivals followed it on hands and knees.
their faces lowered nearly to the street
level, SO as to admit of no discussion as
to the final outcome. 1t rolled, and rolled
would it v stop-and finally striking
a ridge in the stone pavement,
a few niche Ind fell-oh tickle
fortune-into the sewer catch basin. Two
pairs of anxious eyes were glued to the
grated covering Of the sewer drain, but
the conference was closed-all was over.
A dark cloud obscured the sun as two
figures slowly marched up York street,
and stationed themselves at the stage
door Of the theatre. where one was heard
to remark in an undertone to his COM
panion: We'll. Gull, we'll come here Mon
day night TO see Fanny Rice go into the
even if we can't see her act
French Ball."