The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-17
A "HAYsEED" BY HIS WALK.

q have often heard the appelation | 'hayseed' applied to a tiller of the soil, ' said Texas ranchman, who is In this | city on business trip, dining With some friends at a cafe last evening, "and references to unsophisticated far
 mers as having hayseed in their hair | are common. There are, of course, fa- cetious figures of speech, but learned to-day that hay really does set it's mark-not in the hair, but on the feet of those whose vocation takes them into the long grasses. believe that al- most every calling leaves its impress on those engaged in it, in varying degrees "The laborer's trade mark Is in his horny hand; the lawyers distinguish
 ing characteristic is in his manner of
 gesture but the rancher or ranger car
 ries the evidence of his vocation in his
 feet As I said before, l only learned
 this to-day, but it was brought to my
 attention in a manner that impressed
 me. I will tell you how 1t came about.
 For some time I have been purchasing
 certain supplies for my ranch from
 dealer in Magazine street, here, though
 I had never met him or been in his
 place of business until this morning.
 wrote him last week that l would De
 in New Orleans on this date and place
 a delayed order. I arrived this morn
 ing, and, after having breakfasted,
 made my way toward his place.
 AS was walking along Canal street,
 approaching the corner of Magazine
 street. I noticed man turning out of
 Magazine street, and coming toward
 me. who, I thought, bestowed more
 than casual scrutiny an me as we
 passed As I turned the corner l
 glanced back and saw that he had
 stopped and appeared to be regarding
 me, but, as I could not recall his face as that of any one I had known, I. of course. passed on. On arriving at my
 destination" continued the Texan, T stated my business to member or the office force. He said. Oh, yes; MT.
 - was expecting you, and will be sor- ry that he Is not here to meet you. He just stepped out on important business and will be gone about an hour Why
 he exclaimed, as some one entered the office here he is now. MT. -, this is MT. - of Texas
 "As I returned the merchants greet ing saw he was the man l had passed at the corner. saw you as I was go- \ ing down the street just now, said he, and I had an idea as to who you were, so came back. As we had never had A a glimpse of each other before, nat urally betrayed surprise at his remark. T just had an--er--unaccauntable con- viction as to your identity he contin- ued in a slightly embarrassed way. We'll I transacted my business and then we had a long chat, in the course of which I expressed my mystification as to how he had singled me out in crowded city street without having any previous knowledge as to even my de- scription. The wire edge of formality had by this time worn off of our &C., quaint ance, and, laughingly he replied: The fact is, I recognized you by your walk, coupled with the fact that was expecting you. and that you were going toward my place of business
 "'By my walk?' I exclaimed, my not decreasing. Yes he replied; you see. I have been doing business with ranchmen for a good many years, and I have noticed that man who has been actively engaged in that business always walks as if he were moving through the grass; he raises his feet with a sort of dragging motion, even on the pavement, as If grass were there and impeded his pro- gress Of course none but 8 practiced eye would detect it. he continued: but I happened to notice this slight pecu- liarity in your walk when l passed you, and, as had your visit in mind. when you turned up toward my place, I fig ured that the chances were at least even that you were my expected caller As soon as I emerged from the congest- | ed wholesale district after leaving my | dealers" said the ranchman, in conclu- | sion, 'T surveyed my offending feet closely and responsibility as they shuf- | fled along under me. and as I compared I their gait with the airy tread of pass 1 ers-by, I saw unmistakably that the | had read them alright, and i that my unsophisticated feet were la- boring along under the delusion that |