The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27
STARVING WHILE WINE FLowEr
An incident Of Fast Living In
Great Clty.

4 ~ ssSsASstS W ant ksbVubD8 vi :
Great City.
"See that man--that one with the
silk-lined, tenor-singer overcoat with
the high collar and bull's-eye diamond
In his shirt front? Well, whenever see
him the vicissitudes Of life in a large
city like Chicago are brought vividiy
to my mind"
The speaker and his companion were
standing In down town buffet after
theater hours and were having part.
ing nip before boarding the last regu.
lar car. In another part Of the buffet
stood jolly crowd Of sporty looking
men respondent in first water jewelry,
cracking the necks OF of bottles con.
tanning the rich. ripe fluid Of Frances
Oldest vintages as fast as the walters
could furnish them. In the center Of
this group stood the prosperous-look.
ing gambler to whom reference had
been made by the speaker. He seemed
to be the "angep' of the party. doing
all the buying and refusing to let his
comrades spend cent.
"Now, that same richly dressed sport
and wine buyer was in this same place
year ago with Just such another par.
ty, but on that occasion he was not
the angel" continued the speaker.
II was in the party myself that time
and the corks popped then just as they
are doing now. But the sport didn't
do any of the popping. Nor did he wear
such garments as he now does. AS
for jewelry, he was as free from 1t as
pig is Of feathers. watched him
somewhat more attentively than I
would under ordinary circumstances for
the reason that he did not seem to en-
Joy the blowout. His conduct seemed
strange, and. although his appearance
clearly indicated that he had not fallen
up against such snap for moons. yet
he had to be pleaded with almost every
time fresh quart was stunned before
he would empty his goblet.
IA panied expression would scurry
across his face every time fresh order
was given and a fve-spot would be
transferred to the hand of the waiter.
He was sitting next to me. and finally.
after dozen or so Of bottles had been
disposed of by the high rollers. he
leaned over to me and whispered:
z e This is about as tough an expert
ence as ever went through. I can't
stand 1t any longer and he made a
move as II to get up and leave. !
looked at him in surprise and then
asked what was the matter.
"'Why, can't you see?' he replied.
Look at my face
II did so, and noticed that It was
drawn and plnched. His eyes. too. still
retained their lack-luster appearance.
although he had surrounded good
dozen glasses Of the grape fiow.s then
thought the man was sick and offered
to 60 to a drug store for him or sum-
mon a physician, but he shook his head
In shame-faced, respondent sort Of
way, and, with sigh, placed his lip
to my ear and whispered:
damn It. man; can't you see that
am starving. actually starving? See
the money Frank Is blowing in at 81
~ 49,
quart while I am really suffering for
the want OF square meal. can get
Ill Of the costly wine I can drink. but
not bite to eat. That's why call
my experience tough
"of course we soon had our hungry
companion in front of a twin porter
house. half dozen big baked potatoes.
- a =
a big pot Of coffee And he did justice
TO it, too. Whenever see him cant
help but think of the time I was in
the company of man who could swell
his waistband on rare wines but could
not get bite to eat. But that's life
In large burg. especially in the ranks
Of the up-and-down SPORT