Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-23

these nightly gatherings ana among ms
particular set he was recognized as the
leader. Being descended from one Of the
finest families in the town, he had the en-.
tree into the best society and while IL was
generally known that he had pretty well
managed to make way with rather ample
Torture left to him upon the death of his
parents, yet no one took the trouble to
inquire into Saunders means Of living and
dressing we'll. though it was known that
he neither sought or desired employment
Several weeks have elapsed since the
murder of old Frederick Allwine and
though the police have been most thorough
and energetic in their efforts TO clear up the
mystery. as well as to claim the rewald not
a single clue have they unearthed. The
subject has long since failed in its pOpu-
larity, as the chief topic of conversation,
and there are many knowing ones who con-
hdently assert that the murder will forever
remain a mystery.
Saunders has shown wonderful degree
of compOsure all through the period when
the Allwinelmurder was upon the tongue of
everyone. His COOL sang Iyoid aud sneer-
ing manner has never deserted him once
since he recovered from his 6rst fright
immediately after the murder had been
committed. Indeed the hardihood of the
iinpudent scoundrel is amazing when you
take into consideration the fact that he,
man Of gentle birth aud refined surround
iugs, never before in trouble of any kind,
should so calmly view such an atrocious
crime as the dastardly assassination of
Frederick Allwine.
But now a new topic for discussion has
lately arisen among the poDuace and is be-
ing talked of in every home ana public
house in the town. II deals with the several
mysterious burglaries which have lately oc-
Cured in the vicinity, the work of thieves
evidently acquainted with the interior as
well as the exterior Of the houses ransacked.
Theories upon theories have been advanced,
argued on and finally thrown aside to make
way for newer and more original creations
of excited brains, and yet in the end the
solution of the mystery is as far from being
solved as it was at the beginning
AT the Union Hotel where Saunders and
his cronies cougregated, the talk on the
matter is just as prominent feature of the
general conversation as il is elsewhere in
the town. The bartenders Of the hotel bar
have grown weary of the whole discussion.
Their opinion has been solicited hundreds
of times during the day and night And
right here 1 would like to make a little di-
gression aud ask the public why it is that
during any great or unusual event which
requires discussion that bartenders are al
ways supposed to be possessed of profound
reasoning powers, and of a general ana.
lytical turn Of mind sufficient to solve the
greatest events, or the most complex ques-
tions of the day, and yet, strange as this
statement may seem to persons who never
enter restaurants, still it is a positive fact
which am telling you
I have myself heard these mixers Of
drinks appealed to upon questions of his
tory, poetry, music, athletics theaters, and
as for politics, WELL every bartender is pop
ularly supposed to be a born politician.
He is supposed to have the whole political
history of this country at his 6nger's end.
Said one Of these genial personages to me:
The Nicaraguan Canal Bill has given me
more downright trouble and annoyance
than it has Senator Morgan, 1 confess that
l know practically nothing about it, and
yet if you were to hear the questions asked
me by the men who drink here you would
imagine that it was. sort of toss up who
had the most knowledge of the subject,
myself or the father of the bill, Senator
Morgan.
''Tis the same with athletics, something
which do not care at all about and yet If
you were to see me and several Of my Gus
toners discussing the merits of this out
fielder or that in6elder, you would imagine
that the name fanatic would just about
apply to my case, and as a matter of fact,
l never saw more than half dozen base
ball games in my life. Then again if there
is one subject that disgusts me more than
another 1t is pugilism, and STILL you will
Il. s.,t t1.s-
eagerly discussing the merits or dement's
of this or that fighter with present day men
of his profession, or the 'Pugs' of long
ago--and whenever a question arises as to
some statement made by one of the party,
am appealed to as though were handy
Book of Reference, and all that were
needful was to open me at the letter 'P'
and run your eye down the column aud
secure the information necessary to settle
the argument
Now, what do / know about yacht
racing9 Practically nothing Yet if you
were to hear me explaining difficult ques
tions asked me by my customers, you might
possibly imagine that my whole heart and
soul was in the sport. During those interna-
tional yacht races up in New York, ques-
tious we're fred at me on every point EN-
bracing yacht, aud when you consider the
fact that know just about as much con-
cerning yacht as do about one of Santos
Dumont's airships you can appreciate
my troubles at the times of which /
speak. But the strangest thing, perhaps,
IS the idea which possesses men who patron
lie restaurants that If the man behind the
bar fails to simulate burning interest in
whatever subject is brought up for argu.
ment-no matter how many or how widely
different they may bel say if the bar
tender fails to appear greatly interested, he
is at once put down as a churlish fellow
and thereby loses trade by his lack of
diplomacy"
If you were to see me, or any other bar
tender, for that matter, at the beginning of
the fishing season, discussing the quality
Of bait to be lsed in catching this or that
kind Of fish, you would imagine that we
were old and experienced fishermen, and
nine chances out of ten neither man had
ever dghed since he was "a bov and then