The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-15

black cat that crossed his path cast such a
spell over him and his engine that he met
with the worst railroad accident in his en-
tire career. A funny thing I've noticed
about many engineers is that they dislike
to dismount from the locomotive cab
from their own side. You know the engi-
neer's seat is on the right side of the cab.
and it would be natural for him to get
down on the ground by the right gangway.
But have known a number of them who
always crossed over to the left-hand side
in dismounting believing it means better
luck to get out that way"
'Tt is amusing to me-" said the man in
the white apron behind one of the big ho-
tel bars, ito observe how various con-
sumers of drinks who patronize this bar
habitually are constantly shifting from one
drink to another in hopes of hitting upon
some liquid consummation that will not
prove in any way injurious to them. I've
been a mixer of drinks for many years, and,
of course, my living is dependent upon the
selling of alcoholic beverages. but 1 can't
help growing bit sarcastic over these fell
on account of bad stomachs and are still
1t never seems to occur to them to drink
water. A well-known Indianapolis attor-
ney spent half hour here at the bar the
other afternoon discussing the unhappy eff
fects produced upon him by different
drinks. He asked my advice about drinking
this and that beverage, and seemed to be
trying to discover, once and for ALL which
alcoholic refreshment he had best adopt as
IL
lawyers in town, and yet he didn't appear
to see the absurdity of his argument in
this particular case. After learning that
everything he drank at a bar seemed to
disagree with him, 1 suggested that he
stick to water in the future. Such advice
from a bartender was too much for him,
and he proceeded to drown his disappoint-
ment in a Scotch highball-the very worst
thing he could drink, according to his own
confession.
1T isn't the alcohol that hurts so much
as the ingredients in mixed drinks. Most
other countries take enough interest in the
welfare of their hayward Inhabitants to
examine into the ingredients of their drinks
and prohibit the use of those that are per-
nicious In France the National Academy
of Medicine recently sent petition to the
government asking for the suppression of
absinthe. vermouth, gin, anisette and all
kinds of bitters, in which were to be found
many ingredients far more harmful tnan
alcohol. 1t is said that the essential in
gredient in both absinthe and vermouth is
a powerful stomachic irritant. The drinks
of the very fancy class, however, are not
very popular here in Indianapolis, and alb
sinthe and vermouth are not consumed to
| any great extent But if one wants to be-
come a bit scared all he has to do is to
| look into any work treating of aerate wat
| ers to take a stand against the innocent
| highball, which is such a great favorite in
| this city. This may seem strange, coming
| from bartender. but if / had my way my
customers would stick to what are called
straight drinks. They would find them far
| less injurious in the long rum"
| Said North New Jersey-street resident
| who has been lodging shiny balls every
| day during the last week: indianapolis
| has become large enough, il seems to me-
/ to have Fairgrounds for its small boys such
as you see in many of the large cities. 1t is
more noticeable than ever during these
| early spring days that there are many chill
dren who are obliged to play their games
| on the sidewalks and in the middle of the
| streets. The city is far more crowded in its
| central portion than it was few years
| ago, and many of the small boys have no
| yards of their own in which to enjoy their
| pastimes. Now that this game of Skinny
has taken such hold on the entire juve-
| nile population of the town. it is dangerous
| for pedestrians to push through the crowds
| of youngsters on the streets who are so in
| tent upon their games that their sticks and
balls are just as likely as not TO injure
| some passer-by.
| ION the sidewalks of some resident
streets there are so many of these little
| chaps on roller skates, playing shiny,
| from the time school is out until dark that
| pedestrian must be pretty skillful to
walk a block unhurt through the midst of
the rushing yelling youngsters. who are
| swinging sticks about their heads and
| whacking a ball about in all directions. The
little fellows go tearing along on their
| roller skates taking up all of the room on
| the sidewalks, fully expecting the prosac
| passer-by TO get out of their way by taking
| to the streets climbing the nearest trees.
/ These children should have Fairgrounds
| where they could play all of their rough
| games without having to keep of the
grass II Juvenile court is evidence of
| civic enlightenment and advancement no
| less is a children's playground Few per-
useful Fairgrounds viii forget the refresh
/ ing and inspiring sight OF thousands OF
tenement children making merry outdoors
In the very heart or the town.