The age-herald., 1900-12-07
SKETCHES FROM
 EVERYDAY LIFE

There was a loud yell, the car came to a sudden stop. Then footsteps were heard running and an old darley scrambled aboard. having first thrown several bundles or the platform. He finally got seated and the car started. "Niggers sure do have a hard time gittin' on desc here cars," he mumbled while catching his breath 'Dess motermen jist won't see a nigger in de day time an dey can't see him in de night"
 
 'In a certain city of my acquaintance" said a man who had lived most everywhere, there were two beggars who made a living sitting on the sidewalk in rolling chairs and playing the violin. One of them had no legs and the other had no use of what legs he had. This inability to stand up is probably what prevented open hostiities as the ri- valry between them was keen, they both considering themselves musical artists and resenting any competition. Aside from this desire to get rid of his rival, one of them was model of propriety and possessed all the virtues. He~was regular attendant at church. He knew absolutely nothing about music and could not play tune to save his life. The other beggar, who was the one without any legs, was just the op- poste in all respects from his competitor He had none of the virtues, would drink chew, curse and smoke, and would often, whenever the notion seized him, beat his wife. He would call her to him and she, like dutiful wife, always came and ceived her hogging like a man. This beg gar, however, knew something about music, and could play very well. Sometimes if wanted to hear tune, would give the bad beggar nickel and if I wanted to reward virtue I would give the other fellow nickel not to play. The bad fiddler was a good fiddler and the good fiddler a bad fiddler.
 "One day I suggested to them that they form a partnership I explained to each what advantage this would be to them. They could sit together and take turns play ing the violin. When one got tired the other could begin, and thus they could keep up a kind of continuous performance. Then occasionally they could play a duet, and the mere sight of two helpless beggars sit- ting together would excite twice as much sympathy as only one. The idea seemed to please them and before long they were sit- ting side by side fddling away. after- ward found out that the partnership was due to the fact that each was anxious to study the others methods of business All went we'll for while, but the partnership was finally wrecked by cupidity. Each one began to think that he was the whole show and the other entirely unnecessary and that an equal division of the profits was negotiable. When they agreed to dis solve the firm the money was easily divided, but the difficult question to decide was which one should retain the stand. During the partnership they had selected the best lo- cation in the city, and neither wanted to give it up. IL ended in free fight, in which both violns were smashed, and all the profits of the firm were swept out of existence in the crash. They are now fid- ding in different parts of the town trying to pay off the purchase money due on the new violins.
 "While Birmingham has some of the finest churches in the South and some of the most pious people, it is also somewhat of a sporting town" said citizen con- versant with the inns and outs of the place. "Some of the sports have recently caught on to a new dodge introduced by three wise men from the East. It seems that these three gentlemen recently came
 
 had hundred thousand dollars in cash and drafts and were supposed to be look ing for coal lands. Meanwhile they were not averse to a little game of chance. A hundred thousand was a lot of money to carry around and they could afford to lose some So an invitation from several of the sports to join game of fortune was ac- cepted and the party repaired to a club where games of this sort can be enjoyed without any interference from the inquisi- tive police One of the visitors said he had consumption and excused himself from playing. The game began and before long the visitors had lost $12O0. 'This Is dead easy," thought the sports. Pity your friend can't join in the game" they said. "He does seem to have a bad cough, though
 The game proceeded and before long the tide had turned and the sports were out of pocket 90O About this time the con- sumptives cough was so distressing that 1t got on their nerves, and they quit play ing. One of them afterwards got suspic- ious of that cough and going over to where the consumptive had sat found that he could watch the whole game and sig nal with his cough.
 By this time, however, the three wise men of the East had wisely left town.
 BIG OUTLAWS IN PROSPECT. E1ronn tbe pittshurp post