The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-08
as WE PASS ALONG.

AS general proposition among small
boys when a fight begins, the game-instinct
of the average young human warrior makes
him hold off and let the
A Fight two pugilists pommel each
Called OF. other to a finish. On North
Pennsylvania street the
other day a variation of this ordinary be-
havior on the part of the ordinary boy was
witnessed.
In a schoolyard full of boys happily play
ing and making a cheerful noise, two sew
en-year-old youngsters suddenly emerged
from the general game and fell to fisticuffs
in a most eager and energetic, not to say
blood-thirsty fashion. They Rugged and
pounded and hustled and choked each other.
after real grown-up methods, and even
pulled hair In the desperate scrimmage.
From the general game, the medley OF
other boys still happily playing, as suddenly
emerged another boy, about ten years old.
He dashed UP TO the two fiercely fighting
urchlns, grabbed each by the back of his
collar and jerked them apart with a bold
and determined action which deserved a
good round Of applause. Then he lectured
them, roundly and soundly, until the two
little fellows ceased glaring at each other
and made up. A man who saw the in
cident said he believed 1t was the first
time in all his life that he had ever seen
one boy stop a fight between two other
boys.
Books Which Have Helped U.s." Is a
theme which has been exclusively dis
cussed in print, but Books Which We Have
Helped Ourselves TO-" is
The Stolen almost a neglected chap
Book. ter.
"Once on time stole
book" said a bookish gentleman lounging
in a bookstore corner with another bookish
gentleman, 'but l have never regretted 1t.
The way of it was this once had a book
friend who had and still has no book con-
science whatever. Anybody's and every
body's books were his property. He helped
himself to books whenever and wherever
he wanted to do so. Some of his friends
obejected to this high-handed way Of doing
things, for he was VIGOROUSLY negligent in
returning books, often never bringing back
the borrowed volume. Others disapproved
of him. but said and did nothing. One man,
a rich fellow, l recall, used to buy two
copies of books he priced highly for he
said IL he didn't lend Rupert the book he
would carry it off any way, and If he car
ried it off he never brought it back, so the
easiest and most amusing way out was to
buy the extra copy and watch its fate.
when My Lady Nicotine was new, 1
was going home on the cars with the book
under my arm, rashly, not wrapped up.
Rupert sat next me, and began to read in
the volume. AS he left the cars he pleaded
eagerly to have the book until morning,
making great promises to return 1t by early
daylight. AS he pressed the matter vigor-
ously, notwithstanding my assertion that
had not read the book myself, he carried
My Lady Nicotine home with him. 1t
was not returned by early daylight, and, in
a few days Rupert invited me out to his
home to dine with some clergymen. On
Rupert's library table my new copy of Lady
Nicotine glistened bravely. At dinner
Of the clergymen spoke of the book, and
Rupert said, with his great. grand. gen.
erous air. Haven't you read MY Lady
Nicotine?" 1t is fine; I'll lend you mine
Other topics came and went, but my mind
hung around the book. Promptly after din
ner, in the confusion of taking seats in
Rupert's handsome library, thrust my
own dear Lady Nicotine under some sofa
pillows. I'll be bowed" said to myself,
If I'll stand by and see Rupert lend my
book to that Chicago clergyman. When we
donned our overcoats, / went back into the
library and buttoned my precious Lady
Nicotine safely in, close to my literary
heart. At the last moment the Chicago
clergyman mentioned the book, and Rupert
and Rupert's mother, and Rupert's sisters
had great hunt in the library, resulting
in nothing. of course. but great amazement