The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-05
TOSSED THEIR COIN TO
ACROWD OF NEWSB0YS.
TWO YOUNG MEN HAD LOTS
OF Fun.
Gamins Furnished Them .Amuse-
ment-Scramble in Downtown
Streets for Dimes.

Instead Of spending their money on fra
crackers and fireworks on the Fourth Ct
July. two young men decided that they
could have more fun for their money and
also give pleasure to others. by throwing Il
away on the street In sight of a crowd Of
street arabs. and watching them scramble
TO recover it,
Ihese two young fellows carried out their
idea and they had barrel of fun doing So
a large crowd o. spectators lined both sides
OF seventh. between Olive ard Pine streets
ana evidently enjoyed the unique spectacle
OF a roush-and-tumble scramble I'm which
aoout twenty boys of all sizes participat ID.
as much as the two fellows that were nav.
Ing for IL.
Inc young men in question were walk
ing south on Seventh street. and when they
reacned Olive one Of them noticed n little
chap sitting on the curb trying in vain to
make package of wet firecrackers ex-
piode- The fellow was greatly disappoint,d
az the failure Of the crackers to explode and
MS disappointment was so plainly picturei
on his face that young man attired In a
blue serge suit and pink and white shirt
and straw hat called the little fellow .o
MIN and gave him dime saying: &c, and
buy some good shooters" A group OF box.
on the opposite corner observed this action
and in an instant they were swarrning about
.he pniianthropisf. inportuning him I,
gimme one mister"
Where did you kids spring from -. ,st.5
the young man as soon as he recovered
from the surprise given him by the advent
OF the crowd. As he spoke he took a dime
from MS pocket and threw il into the air
and 1t fell in the middle Of the street With
one accord the crowd started after ths.
% had rrair-
granite street before the spot on which IL
ieIi was covered by a mass of scratching
hands. kicking feet and humping heads. all
scrambiing for tie money. Finally one of
the gang got a grip on the dime that could
not be loosened with anything short of a
crowbar. and the others let him up.
II never had so much fun for a dime
BEFORE remarked the man that threw II.
to his companion. land I think I'll buy a
couple Of dollars worth before / spend the
money for something else."'
Il guess I'll invest little In the sun
myself" said the other fellow. They got
a couple of dollars worth of nickeIs and
dimes. and after tossing several Of them
straight up they commenced to throw them
down the street so the boys would have to
money proved conciusivcIy to those watch
ing them that the race is not always to
the swift
The boys were all punched a. the start.
lead and was ready 10 pick up the money
before the others. He did not always sue
ceed. however, for as he stopped to reach
for ii the head OF the fellow behind him
would strike him where his trousers were
tightest. and over he would go. leaving the
money behind for the other fellow.
Finally the fast runner got wise enough
TO slide for the money and scoop II up as
he slid over It, He confined himself to
that practice until he got quite few dimes,
when the men that contributed the money
thought that he was having TOO much Of a
good thing: SO they decided to handicap
the boys according to their size, and give
the little fellows n chance.
There was a large field in each race, and
the Handicapped and starter had to contend
with more false starts in a half hour than
starter on race track would encounter
In a season of racing.
All hands enjoyed themselves while the
money lasted. and as the bankers. the boys
said they were. walked away they all sat
down to balance up .Huliy gee.' remarked
one of the boys. dis beats sel.in' papers a
mile