The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-21

TO many whose sole occupation it is TO loaf
and TO others who loaf as a side line. Fed
eral buildings VIGOROUSLY slow. The
one in Chicago has ceased TO be an object
of interest because il changes so little
from day to day to seem a a standstill.
This city Will be fortunate II its new fed
eral building goes up quickly enough 10 pro-
vide an entertainment-not sensational, but
quietly amusing. The new Claypool Hotel
has behaved admirably. The barrier
around ii supports every day a long file
of interested spectators of its progress.
If the barriers should break a number of
men would be precpitated into the excava-
ton.
Now that the walls of the hotel are up,
it is difficult to see much that goes on
inside, but there is a pleasing mortar ma
chine in the exposed part of the base
ment. This building is being erected by
one of those Notwithstanding, work-all-
night-and-on-Sunday Chicago contractors.
A portable steam hammer was used on
the iron structure. long hose, which
carried steam, trailed after the workmen.
They crawled about on the beams and
fixed rivets. The operation made noise
suggesting the woOdpecker. man of
uncertain station and apparently lacking
the usual cares of existence, was stand
ing on the Washington-street side Of the
building one afternoon, staring, open
mouthed, at the process of fastening beams
together with the strange steam hammer.
One of the wor.,men, who, no doubt, had
been imported from Chicago for this work,
and who had the deepest contempt for the
unsophisticated Hoosier. called down: Say.
friend, if you like this thing well give
it TO you The man below closed his
mouth, blushed and presently slipped
around to the other side Of the building.
Xxx
Vending papers on Illinois street, in that
square of all-night restaurants and cab
stands. where there is always something
doing in the hours when the good are sound
asleep. is a little whisp of a boy with big,
soulful brown eyes and tangled. curly hair.
An old master might have taken just such
a model for pictures of the Madonna and
the child. He is as different from the or
binary sharp-eyed. quick-tongued gamin as
one could well imagine. Even his clothes
hint of honorable poverty and the widowed
mother of the Sunday-school book. His
sales are fabulous. for his methods are
singularly unique. To the other youngsters
who Vainly compete with him he is a crea-
ture of unapproachable excellence. Into
his business he takes a marvellous genius
for emotional acting. and many of the
sales he makes are scenes of melodramatic
intensity. His genius for finance is such
that in later years it may land him either
on the easy street Of afluence or in the
cell of prison.
was standing last night with two or three
admiring satellites and an audience of cab
DieS. Up the street came man and a
girl walking very close together, the joy
of the moment shining in their good-looking
faces. They had dined, evidently. and the
world looked very good 10 them. Furtively
squeezing each others arms and smiling
into each others faces. they came 10 the
spot where the boy with a face OF a cherub
was standing. and the play began.
Out of the youngsters mouth came means
and walls Of grief. and his innocent face
was splashed with tears that followed each
other i'm riVulets. In a storm of agony he
clasped his small head in his hands and
rocked himself 10 and fro. Never was there
a more truly pathetic picture Of boyish
sorrow They who had assisted at many
similar scenes. playing minor parts 10 that
of the gifted star-the other newsboys and
the red-faced cabmen--lOoked on in silent
sympathy. The means grew louder and the
tears ran faster as the two who were walk
inc in their own Elysian fields drew near.
The pathos of the boys grief went straight
10 the heart of the man and the girl. She
dropped his arm with her beautiful face
glowing with sympathy; her silk skirts
rustled with peculiar charm as she made a
little run TO the boys side. The man
watched her with a look in which fondness
and pride were equally commingled.
''Oh. you poor little deari' said the girl
with a eaten in her musical voice Please
don't cry. Tell me what is the matter
Has anybody hurt your And she threw
the glance Of an enraged honess at the knot
of rough men and boys who We're looking
She put her arms around him and drew
him 10 her breast. Tell me. - she repeated.
II fee! so bad" sObbed the star of the
cast. while the big tears wet her face and
dropped 10 the whiteness Of her dress.
II can't 20 home My father will beat me.
and / can't stand IL any more. he hits me
so hard. Oh, can't go home-l can't SO