New-York tribune., 1901-07-21
\ MERE INCIDENT.
BY JULIA TRUITT BISHOP.
(corycight 1901. by Authors. syn4icate

Ahd many outlying squares found his soul
troubled within him because of the submerged
tenth who came and sat the park benches
when his back was turned in full view Of the
palaces of the rich.
The towns that full o. dirty hobos." he grum-
oled in bitterness Of spirit. That they sets down
IN de park like lords, an de grass is wore off
roun' the benches wild de big feet o them An
when they see me comm they take a walk an
the minute I'm gone there they are back ag'in.
settin' there like Jay Gould hfssef. If / had my
way they'd be o town tonight, bad
luck TO 'enl-an me gettin' raked over de Goals
all de time for not keepn de tramps out o de
park"
And then, going with reserved and dignifed
gait along his beat, and glancing back as he
went. he had the modification to see the
Jay Goulds of the park benches lounging aim
lessly in from the adjacent streets as though
it had just occurred to them that here was a
park where might spend a pleasant half
hour away from the noon heat. For no matter
what means might be used by the powers that
were. the hobos were never run out Of town.
Different parts of the park We're under the
tacit control of different groups. Wandering
Bill Virgins held his crew spellbound on and
about the bench near the fountain, where he
told them stories of the road and OF men and
women for he had seen many lands. Further
down. toward the end of the park. Dave
and his coterie, who smoked and talked and
watched the gay world riding driving by, and
made sage reflections life and prosperity ana
the people VINO had temporarily managed To
get on top"
This amt a good seat Dave-it's too sunny"
one Of the contingent remarked day, when
the sun at its best Let's go an rout
Bills gang away from that fountain. They
didn't have cali to rush in there an git the
hes place, before fOun' what wanted;
blame pigsi"
This place suits me-" said Dave lying back
on the bench and staring at the network of
blue through the leaves overhead. You don't
know when you're well off. If this amt
good enough for any hobo earth he ought
TO go to the pen. Carpe diem. Roadsy-which
is Latin for Take the goods the gods provide "
After that his name was changed to Latin"
You don't appreciate your privileges" he
moralized, grayely, one day. he trimmed the
fringes from his sleeve with his knife
Here we facing Of houses where live
the truly elegant Out in the world they
wouldn't recognize existence, Roadsy.
cept, perhaps TO stare at haughty and ask
the policeman why he didn't make those people
move Here We have orchestra for
every performance. They come to the window,
and We look. at them and how they
dressed and the easy elegance Of their
white hands on the curtain. They come out for
a drive, and mentally appraise the value
Of their horses and carriages and estimate about
what they pay the coacbman. Next being
rich ones self, this is about the greatest pleas
ure life gives. The world ROadsy, is made up
of two oIasses-thOse who rich and those
who acquire brain fag computing how much
the rich spend foolishness. And when these
people come out for a walk the privi-
legged class who sit here at and see
them trip lightly down the steps and itemize
their frocks and shoes and gloves and rarasols,
as though a Suncay paper. In the
evening they sit in the porch. with all Of us in
our orchestra chairs looking on; or, perhaps,
they entertain. and see the halls-the halls
Of festal joy and fond memory brings the light
Of other days around You ignorant,
Roadsy. You don't know when you are IN Para
disc"
'Is that what you set here the whole bloomin'
day fur" asked Roadsy. in deep disgust. Jest
set here TO watch blokes wild money havin' a
good time? You're gittin' awful tony all to onct,
Latin"
'sThe result Of association" said Latin, with
a smile When l the park bench, oppo-
site Rome, ! instinctively do as Rome does. And
when / am out on the road with you, Roadsy,
and with Tke and Sam. there, do as you all
do-Which is why the officer who is just coming
around that corner regards me as hobo"
They arose with great promptness and strolled
asrlf ffaE II