The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-10
PERIPATETICVAR SHOW.
The Youn. Darby Who Comes AROUND
to Your Office TO Do Stunts.


at wonder ;f YOU know George Wash
ington?" said the young doctor' hieu'-
tative.y, to the druggist
I've heard of him. said the druggist,
sarcastically.
"Ch, l don't mean the father of MS
country, but the little 'Bluescure DOC
tors. I know of nothing or no one bet
ter for smoothing out marks OF nerve
weariness than George Washington.
Another ono of your proteses, sup
pose sneered the druggist
NO on the whole, think Georse
considers me one OF his said tho physl-
clan, good humoredly. He is ABOUT FOUR
feet high and has big white ivory TEEN
cleaning from a frontispiece as black
md as Shiny as a coal scam He has
mother, bed-ridden cripple. and Ut
tie brother and sister, four-yenr-od
twins, to take care of. He does not
look as if he had spark of humor in
his entire makeup md yet he can make
me laugh until the world looks quite
fresh and enjoyable once more
1T must be four months now since
George first called on me. 1t was dur
ing my regular office hours. | remem-
Der, when I was sitting with my feet
on the desk wondering if there were any
sick people anywhere. and if there were
how they were to begin to find out about
me- A young doctor hns to do a good
deal OIL patient waiting anu
The druggist laughed.
ooh, l was too serious to notice the
joke" smiled the other as he continued.
Its so hard not to wish for accid 2nts
and calamities to others when your LIES
success. if not your bread and butter,
seems to depend on just such happenings.
We'll. that was the mood l was in, as blue
as an indigo bag and the Danube COM
blned, when the door was pushed gently
open and a woody head appeared around
the post.
.HeIor said the head.
Hello" l answered
. Doctor, amt yer?'
II nodded.
:. Out OF a job?'
again l nodded.
Want er be tanned.
.What? I asked.
".Want ,er be- tanned? Cause I kin do
It, yo' bet, and the wooily head was fol-
lowed into the room by small body
neatly but poorly clad.
Il looked at the solemn face of the
little fellow for 4. minute before l said.
How much?' and began feeling in my
trousers pocket for a stray coin.
Only a nickel fust time. then two
fer. Give yo' whul 'tainment. orillistry,
bally v'riety-best yo' ever heard, all fer
nickel; diffunt evry time. Is it go,
boss?
Sure, said I. putting the nickel on
the table.
Then George started in. orikistry,'
SAID he, and played waltz on Jews
harp; played it we'll. too
iBally. boss and he danced a regu-
lar plantation double shuttle. 'Lea1in'
vr:ety feetyur,' and he began to initiate
a horse walking, trottins. cantering, gal
loDtns. and through it all, whether he
was announcing a change CT bill or was
performing the different feetyurs., never
once saw the ghost of a smile on his
dusky face. And by the time he had fin
ished. made low bow and gravslv
asked, 'Wuth the price, boss? 1 was
laughing SO hard I could not stop.
Cum agn, tomorrow, or mex day.?
asked George tentatively.
'.Then 1 questioned the little fellow and
found out all about the mother and the
twins ond how George was taking care
Of his family by going about to stores
and offices doing his turn, asking 4
nickel for the first performance and
coming twice a week thereafter for
nickel in advance from 'reg'lor Gust
mers.' He will come five times a week
for ten cents, and everybody makes
dates with him as regularly and in as
business-like fnshion as if he were
the manager of a big theatrical show
and we the proprietors of theatres.
Nights he goes to dime museums and
1ten-twenty-rilirts to see new things, his
version of which we get next day.
Altogether added the doctor, 81 con-
slider George one OF the greatest finds
and a real benefactor. 1t is comfort
to have q good laugh all to yourself
and in spite of yourelf once in a while
You can hugh so much more enjoyably
than when your laugh is more or less
hemmed in and cut down by your neigh