The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-04

dH asboTUeu company bnoWDouhN nb IAcp
inn in question. The jolly Doctor, the Red
Nosed Gentleman, the Sour Gentleman,
the Old Cattleman and others spin their
yarns while the great fire roars and the
mellow drink is poured. The historian
records that nobody seemed grieved by
reason of the detention. 1.-THE Jolly Doc
tor joined the Red Nosed Gentleman in his
burgundy, while the Sour Gentleman and
the Old Cattlenan qualified for the occasion
with a copious account Of whiskey, which
the aged man of COWS called nose paint
The historian himself did not drink.
His own tale ia told by way OF introduce
ton. Some time before the binding
storm he had come to the inn a drunkard,
quite hopelessly abandoned to his vice, and
had been cured by the jolly Doctor with the
fluid extract of red cinchona-a teaspoonful
every three hours He tells US: II took the
prescription for trio Of days. At the ex-
pirationI safe me solemnly down and de-
bated within myself whether OF no craved
strong drink, with the full purpose Of call
ing for it II l did. Absolutely, the desire
was absent; and since had resolved not to
force the bottle upon myself but to give the
Jolly Doctor and his drug all proper show
to gain victory, l made no alcohol de-
mands. All this was years ago, and from
that hour until now, when / write these
lines, I've neither taken nor wanted alcohol.
I've gone freely where it was, and abode for
hours at tables when others poured and
tossed it of; for myself I've craved none
and taken none"
Others OF the company made frank con-
fessions. The Sour Gentleman, before he
embarked upon his first anecdote, observed
that he felt some natural hesitation in
telling stories Of himself--whoh were the
only sort OF stories that his poverty OF
imagination would allow him to tell
since they were little calculated to grace
or. lift him in the esteem OF his hearers.
He was encouraged when the Red Nosed
Gentleman remarked that he himself was
reformed gambler, and that he could
not believe that his own stories were cal
cuated to set him before the company
in q fattering light. Then there will
be TWO black sheep, at all events" said
the Sour Gentleman cheerfully. He was
further heartened by remark OF the Old
Cattleman who said: If it'll add to the
gen raj encouragement, I'll say right we're
that in Arizona / was allowed to be some
heinous myself. II this is to be COM
petition in iniquity, l aims to cut in on
the play
The nature Of some OF these histories
was not misstated by the narrators. The
Sour Gentleman, as appears from one OF
them, was a soldier in the Confederate
Army, and at the close of the war-Athose
five red years of war; he says, not quite
accurately--came TO New York and en-
gagged in an enterprise In tobacco. He
was rapidly becoming millionaire, and
was living handsomely at the rate OF $50
600 a year, when an observant revenue
official, who had remarked the very at
| tractive profits of the business, offered
to go into partnership with him. Because
this offer was made in a devious and yelled
manner the Sour Gentleman failed to per-
ceve the Importance of il. He did not
know until too late. that it was made by
| an officer OF the revenue. He declined it
without suspicion, fearlessly and with
acrimony.
The reversal Of his fortunes in the matter
of tobacco was sudden and overwhelming.
Everything had been so certain and 50
splendid. 1T was a bright October after
noon. My cometlike career had subsisted
for something like year and half; and l,
the comet, was growing in size and brilliancy
as time fed by My offices-ive
rooms, fitted and furnished to the last limit
Of rosewood and Russia leather magnif-
| cence--were downtown. On this particular
autumn afternoon. as | went forth TO my
brougham for roll to my apartments. the
| accountant placed in my hands a statement
| which I'd asked for and which with par
ticular exactitude set forth my business
standing | remember it exceeding well.
As trundled uptown that golden after
noon / glanced at those additions and SUBJ
! fractions which told my opulent story.
As read the totals and reviewed
! the items would not have paid penny Of
I premium to insure my future. There 1t
| was in black and white. knew what had
done knew what could do, was mas
ter OF the tobacco situation for the next
three years TO come BY that time would
count my personal fortune at a shadow
| over three millions. There was nothing
surer beneath the sun. At 20 would retire
from trade and its troubles; life would lie
at nv toe like kickball, and / would own
both the wealth and the supple youth to
! pursue il into every corner OF pleasurable
| experience
Like Byron, he would work tho rich mine
OF his youth to the last vein Of its ore And
then came the offer of the revenue official
which was ignorantly and fatally declined.
If only he had known! The knowledge
would have been worth million and
half. "But why spin out the hideous story"
says the Sour Gentleman, with some natural
display Of feeling. II gave up my rich
apartments, sold my horses. looked no
more for female We're de We're with intent
her to espouse. and took to smuggling
The Sour Gentleman told number Of
stories about smuggling, and the Red
Nosed Gentleman had divers vivid men,
cries of gambling and cheating at cards
A story told by the Jolly Doctor will please
those who like to read Of high pugilistic
powers virtuously directed. Mike Men,
ares, who lived in Pitt street with his little
half brother and little half sister. was the
son OF Spanish Jew father and an Irish
mother. He was an Apollo for beauty, 10
years old, and weighed 1856 pounds. BY
day he drove a grocery wagon. and by
night he was assistant to Prof. O'Punch,
boxing master. who had place In Fifty
ninth street. At the end Of three years
spent in the Professors service, he was
! most efficient pugilist. Powerful pupils