The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-07
CAMP FIRE IN BROADWAY.
Two Daring New Workers and Two
Young Women Have Great Time.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Ever at campfire right in Broad
way?' asked the young man. mo,
thought that would hit you as being a
little out of the ordinary" And then he
told all about it.
They were three. The first was a young
man from Cincinnati who Is pretty we'll
off as far as money goes and who is in
for a good time, no matter of what sort
1t may be. Then there was the son of
a rich New Yorker, and finally there was
New Yorker who is rich in his own
name. The last two We're In for just as
good a time as the first.
They began the evening in the very
ordinary way of taking three young la
dies to the theatre. Then they went to
the inevitable after-theatre restaurant
supper and they had the usual happy
time-not hilarious. but Just happy.
1t was about 2 O'Clock In the morning
when they left the table and sauntered
out to get a cab. There didn't happen to
be one that they liked at the door and
some of the party suggested that
they take short walk up Broadway
and ride later. That Is how they happen
eu 10 ma the campfire
1t WAS down In the big hole that con-
tractor Is making not Thousand miles
from Forty-fifth street and Broadway so
that people may some day be able to
travel in cars underground from The bat
terry to. Harlem. The fire made a glare
that lighted up the neighborhood just
as the six went past, and, being OF that
niomentary exploring disposition which
leads to real discoveries, they went over
to the railing around the excavation to
see what 1t was all about
Down in the hole there was a brisk
fire and around the blazing timbers sat
four men, hardy toilers. They were smok-
ing. talking and having good time
even II they did have to be awake when
most other people were asleep
Doesn't 1t look nice and warm down
therel" said one of the young women.
The other five of the party agreed that
1t did.
Dare you to go down." said the young
man from Cincinnati.
Cant dare me-" said one of his COM
panions, but how are we going to get
DOWN."
Can we come DOWN." shouted one OF
the young women to the group of work.
men who started up in surprise we
want to come down and get warm"
Sure, mum, why av coorse you can
come. Well get a ladder for you"
And they did. Half the fun of the
whole affair was In getting the young
women down the 30-foot ladder but the
other half was just as fun of jollity. Tho \
workmen had a nice warm fire and they !
had pipes and they had sociability, but
they also had tin GROWER"
Pretty soon one of the workmen pick
ed 1t up and went up the ladder When
he returned the GROWER was full of
foaming beer-a whole big can
full of the beverage for only Is cents.
There wasn't even a tin cup to drink II
from, and the toilers didn't know wheth-
er they ought to offer their guests any
of it or not. but they did and the offer
was accepted.
OF course the young women had to
drink first and they had to be told TO
be careful not to spill the beer. OF course
they did spill a little and one of the
young women swallowed some of il the
wrong way, but everybody said it was
great To prove that they meant what
they said they sent the pail back for
another load and another and still an
other. And the men of the visiting party
had cigars enough for all the smokers
Couldn't some one tell a story? Why
of course he could, and did. Then some
one else thought of a story that hadn't
been told In New York before The work
men, too, had some stories to tell and
those they told were voted the best of
ALL And the dialect In those stories
came straight from nature.
why can't we sing?" asked some one
when the story fountain ran dry. No
body will ever hear us away down here"
And then they sang. BY and by one ofthe
the young women jumped up In a hurry.
whats the natter" they asked
why, it's getting light overheard"
she said. Il don't mind getting home
late, but this Is a little too late"
And then they said good-by and climb
ed up again into city life. They had had
such a good time that they didn't care
II a few people did see them as they
reached Broadway once more.