The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
TOMMY SMITH. LEDGE CLIMBER
Perilous Trip OF six-Year-Old Across the
Front of u Tall Building.

va" ~ 'hD"S
Perilous Trip OF n Six-Year-Old Across the
Front of u Tall Building.
Thomas Smith lives with his father and mother
on the sixth floor Of large apartment house near
| Tooth street and West End avenue and what
| follows concerning him is strictly true with the
exception that his last name is not Smith and
| that If you called him Thomas he probably would
| not respond. To his friends he is Tommy and
during the six years Of his life he has made friends
with every one who has met him. except his nurse
! and the colored hall boy. The former calls him
baby sometimes and the latter invariably refers
to him as little boy" and no fellow of his years
| likes TO be belittlcd in that fashion Tommy
| is one of two six year Odds who have the proud
| distinction OF travelling with the older gang
| when they can escape from their nurses. In
Tommy's case this is due TO the fact that he has
| big brother two years older who can turn hand
springs and do other useful things which are
| as yet beyond Tommy's strength Tommy
| is usually selected TO play the part OF the kick
| ing broncho when the gang" is out on the avenue
| with its lassos and every fellow knows how much
| grit that takes. The lasso is very likely 10 get
around his neck. and when the cowboy rides away
| suddenly on his velocpede the broncho gets
| choked
| Cant you let fellow have any fun" said
| Tommy reproachfully to his nurse the first time
she rescued him from lasso which was choking
him so that he gasped, and since then Tommy has
| sneaked around the corner to play broncho where
his nurse couldn't humiliate him before the
| other fellows"
The Wild West business was dull one bright
day notlong ago, and Tommy was sitting gloomily
| with the gang on the curbstone across the street
| from his house None Of the gang" would tell
| later who suggested the feat which accounts for
Tommys appearance in THE Sun. but Tommy
himself is inclined TO give his big brother the credit
| for il. and he says that he wants to do IL again
The gang" noticed for the first time that the win
| dow ledge outside the apartment where Tommy
lives ran straight across the width Of the houses
| The window Lodges on the other apartment houses
extended only a few inches on each side Of win
| dow A consultation was held and the nurse
| pricked up her cars when she heard Tommy say
Sure ] dast"
You amt big enough" said the leader OF the
gang"
Il am. too"
"Tommys got sand" said his big brother.
Sure have and I'll Just show you said Tom
my and across the road he
Tommy, where are you going?" asked the
nurse
Nowhere Going up to sec mamma" and
ran upstairs The nurse continued her con.
versaton with the feeling that Tommy of
her hands until he choss TO come down again.
The gang sat patiently looking up ct Tommy $
fiat six floors above the street Five minutes
later their patience was rewarded by the sigh,
Of Tommy at the open window, The Hat had
omy mads hs exit on from , Snes seuhern
one The window ledge was about foot broad
ESm% " Es %nGHw MS hands and knees on "
Gee" said the leader Of the gang" admiringly.
ie you as oekd a
small boy clinging TO the narrow ledge way above
them. Tommy gave them one glance and then
| began ~ crawl along tho window ledge. AZ
he left the open window behind he had a blank
wall on one side Of him and drop down six floors
Jus, room enough on the ledge for his small hands
and knees He passed the second window, which
IDENTIFY the boy had no fear OF what he was doing.
though the slightest swaying would have tGmblsa
the third window he caught sight of the nursc
down In The M 6sSy h b,
he shouted, Rubber" What the Nurse said does
not matter. but the hall boy said she looked like
had frightened her The intent gaze of the gang,
later that he didn't breathe Tor five minutes but
probably he did and forge, it. Tommy was now
past the last window and he had reached the end
, Of his ledge He hesita ted for moment The
gang looked very small 10 him on the curb below
Of 0 sense ss Of achievement He debated how he
could get back 10 the open window lie coudn I
stand up u turn around and as he felt the width II
could not turn around as he was Obviously
the only thing 70 do was 70 go backward II
sion Of the difficulties Of the backward trip and
the penalty that he would have 70 pay for the the
stree, in despair With the eyes Of The gang
hxed op him Tommy could not be foolish cnough
no would be degraded 10 playing with the boys
OF his own age, Pushing back one knee after
the other with caution and repeating the action
with hia ham ret a.
era people had stopped in the street Tommy
saw that they were standing motionlcss, watching
the hall boy seyes TWAS great day for Tommy
His backward progress was SLOW, and when the
gang" saw the nurses face in the open window
before Tommy reached it the leader remarked
sadly:
Hell catch it when he gets in, See how angry
As Tommy approached the window the nurse
drew back bit The people in the street below
was standing in front OF the house with the mar mar
Looking up with widc-open, staring Eyes Wher
Tommy feet reached the window an arm cam
him firmly The next second Tommy was yanke,
, into the room. AS If his disappearance wa
tn flor for "9n S.H %6%y % aTSm efTP h
gang said "ahh-h" Tommy's big brother said
Gee, guess Tommy'll catch 1t now In
lie couldn't understand it when he found I ON
my in his mothers arms His mother vas ~
ever do it," The nurse looked queer about tn
face. Tommys big brother concluded that sh
had run up the stairs TOO fast
, Pooh" said Tommy. "''lwasnt much TO do
Come out and sec me do IL again"
Many things have been said W Tommy sine
then and IL is probable that he wont repeat hi
feat The gang" say he's all right and they
allowed him TO play cowboy on his big brother.
velocpede the next afternoon
Found Buried Glacier.
From The Chtc11o Tribune.