New-York tribune., 1902-04-29
"CHE4P N ETERTTHIN' BIT DRiNRS|'

MR. DRAKE OF SCRANTON, MAKES A FEW rUR-
CHAsEs HERE AND TALKS ABOUT THEM.
Frederick Drake. blue eyed. tow haired. To-
ouacious man about forty years old will make an
applica ton to-day of the sub-contractors on
the rapid transit tunnel for position Mr. Drake
strobe into the City Hall yesterday afternoon at
o'clock. carrying a brown leather bag craInned
with all sorts OF hardware and fancy junk bought
from sidewalk merchants in Fulton-st. Ann-st'
Park Row and the Bowery. Drake didn't stop for
AZ Introduction to the hangers on around the city
Hall. Walking up to a knot OF them. he said
Say neiehbors | come from Scranton. | want
to git Job on this here tunnel I'm the best man
on crib work and proppn up that ever struck this
town. and I've got a recommend in my trunk at
2 and Chatham Square thatl say I'm the best
man IN my line in the world. Say, just heft this
bag Will yer? I've got 1t full OF the darndest lot
OF things l ever seen, and l amt spent all my
money vet either. Feller down here in the Bowery
sellin' hatpins. Sez l to him. I'm from
Scranton; how much do you want fer them hat
pins" Sez e. Five cents apiece Good gosh"
/, only five cents? How many have yer got?'
About forty sez e. IN take every yer've
got. sez l. AN do you know where you can get
more?' Say" said the Scrantonian. II
sell them hatpins in Scranton for 80 cents apiece.
and L know II. An I've got other things in this
bag that I've bought reg'lar bargain prices
See that ring?' resumed the man from Scran-
ton. unscrewing a tight fitting band his brown
finger. Il only give 35 cents fer that. Amt II
ton for ess'n 81, This Is great town to buy
things in cheap all exceptin' drinks Up where l
was in the Bowery last night two girls set down
alongside o me, and the waiter come around, and
he ter me. 'What'll yer have ter drink? And
them girls drank every time l did, and the waiter
wouldn't wait fer he 10 git my drink down before
he d say, NhatH yer have drink? and every
time he asked what I'd have drink them
girls drank. although / didn't ask em. They got
a-here."
With this Mr.. Drake produced large handful of
quarters and half-dollars
say said he, reYertins to business affairs. Il
want to git in and see the Mayor and have him git
me job the tunnel right off. | In this
town about fifteen twenty years ago and only
had 81 left an wanted git to Hartford |
went up to the Grand Central Station and asked
see Mr.. Vanderbilt. an the CoOred boy outside the
door relied ole his eyes around an said couldn't see
him But said | wuz going to MI Wander
bit If stayed there all night Bimeby they let
me in and he We'll. young man. what kin |
do fer you? / seZ, Mr. Vanderbilt | want ter git
ter Hartford an I've only got 80 left. an want a
pass He looked at me and kinder laughed. an
then he sez, Well, young fel!er like your cheek.
I'll give you pass An got il, an since then |
amt been afraid to walk right into any mans
Office
Drake talked so fast and recounted' such in
finite variety of experiences that his audience
him going for half an hour and then induced him
20 go to his hotel and put waistcoat order
hide shirt that looked like the Beef Trust
Drake went away with the promise that this after
several men at the City Hall would Introduce
him to the sub-contractors and help to get him
job "prOpper'' 'cribber.