The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-11-09
A HUMAN WRECK
The F1otsam Which Drifts About
Great City When Night Falls.
BY Charles B. Lewis. copyrighted

By Charles B. Lewis.

Its this way" he began, as he
stepped out of the doorway in which he
had been lurking and barred my way
Its nickel for a drink,-a nickel for
a bite to eat-a nickel for the privilege
of sleeping on a plank under shelter.
Three nickels makes-makes Is cents.
Am | k'rect? Fourteen cents wouldn't
do, and 16 would be one over and use
less expenditure of wealth. VIII you
come DOWN."
l leaned against the lamp post and
looked him over. A man of Sold
before his time-weak and feeble-his
voice cracked and quavering-a human
wreck being driven in upon the beach
of the sea of life. Some of us pass such
flotsam by in brusque seltishness; some
of US care to pause for moment and
observe and consider.
These things they call fame and
wealth and position are queer things,
eh?" queried the man, as he came
nearer and reached out his hand to
brace himself against the post. WAS
it last week that l rode down this street
in my own carriage, with scores of
pedestrians eager to get bow from
me? Was it yesterday morning the pa
pers were saying l was the strongest
man in the party to be put up for gov
ernor? Say, it's queer, amt it?"
Then l remembered him-remem-
bered him as one whose wealth, intel
lect and position had made the average
man seem pigmy by contrast. There
were years when the earth was at his
feet.
perhaps you saw me in the olden
time?" he said, with sad smile. ''As
the chairman of the meeting was ready
to introduce me l stepped upon the
stage--so, and advanced-so, and as l
bowed right and left the audience
would cheer for five minutes. Then |
would hold up my hand-thus, and the
silence would be so deep that you could
hear your watch tick. They said L had
a magnetic presence and the gift of
oratory. 1t must have been so. could
make strong men choke up and the
tears come, and 1 could make men leap
from their chairs and cheer and yell
until they were hoarse. Queer, amt it?
Say do [ look like a Cicero tonight?
Would you take me for bondholder?
Am 1 carrying the politics of the state
in my vest pocket?"
looked at him without answering.
"a man who has distributed his tens
of thousands of dollars now begs for
pennies" he unused, as he walked to
and fro with his hands behind his back.
THAT is from the pinnacle to the
depths. Queer, queer. Just before you
came along policeman took me by the
neck and slammed me into the street.
Ten years ago | had but to wink an
eye to have a police captain bounced.
If | said the word even a commissioner
would have to go. Egad! but there's
humor here-grim humor. Let us rub
our hands and laugh together!"
His laugh was strange sound-so
strange that l held up my hand in pro-
test, and his skinny hands gave forth a
rasping sound as he rubbed them over
each other.
But why weep when we can laugh?"
he asked, as he looked away and in
dulged in many gestures. Say, my boy,
the only thing in riches is-riches. The
rich man is not the philosopher-not
humorist-not logician. He knows so
little of his fellow man that when he
sees a Min who toes in or toes out he
wonders how it came about. There
were years when my greatest trial was
the buying of $4,000 worth of wines per
year. | was afraid of false labels and
do 1a+
indulge in a jolly laugh-ha! ha! ha!
A drink at the fountain has taken the
place of rare old vintage. We were
speaking about humor in poverty. A
couple of hours ago, and block fur
Their up the street, pedestrian threw
away the stub of a cigar, and two of us
belonging to the depths jumped for it
at the same time. Result: Collision
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the stub.
Then we sat together on the curb and
laughed. There is a smile in the remem-
brance that my cheapest brand used to
cost so cents apiece. There is gurgle
in the idea that a pedestrian who would
have once licked my boots now turns
me down with a threat. There is a
hearty laugh in being sworn at by the
car driver employed on line you once,
owned to the last dollar. Verify, my
friend, it is not so bad-it is not so bad.
Only you know-you know"
And he stood with extended hands
and a helpless look on his face. He
was reaching for the past, but there
was no substance.
at won't come back!" he whispered,
as he let one of his hands fall upon my
arm. "Wher & man reaches the pin
nacle, then look out! | had taxed my
strength too much. Instead Of forcing
against the tide began to drift with it.
G1dl but you can't imagine the feeling
wren q man who has led a million peo-
pie fir lis himself hating and hesitating
and inclined to give place to some one