The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13

great many questions about tho growth
OF tne little old town. Iexpatiated at some
lehGth upon the expansion Of Harlem,
where l live.
At the mention Of the word Harlem
the man at the other table whose face
over TO the table at which We sat.
Don't think | have been conscious "
Iuooering, he said, good-naturedly. ac-
crossing me-and l am bound to say that
the New iorkese sounded good in my
ears, AFTER having been on the 90 for half
year put heard you use the word har-
, ZEN, M'il you pardon me for inq,liring
whether you were adverting ~ haariem
IN Holland, or to Harlem, New York;
New York, of course, | replied, and
even az he was speaking l remembered
why ms lace was so familiar to me. For
Years he had been taking the same down
town express from the l25th street elevated
station that ltook every morning. There's
no downtown express from 125th street at
7;25 in the morning in HARLEM, in Holland
is there?'
BY George, now I've got it, the man
standing in front Of our table exclaimed,
giving his thigh a tremendous whack.
and then he told me how my face had been
bothering him.
often on winter mornings We had stood
on the l. platform, up there in Harlem,
pres rain was late on account Of icy rails
or FOR some reason Or other He sat down
with us. and comparing notes, We found
that we lived within block OF each other
in Harlem, and had been for fifteen years.
He was a lawyer. and on trip around
the world for his health. He had belonged
to the Harlem Republican Club and had
Club since its beginning, We knew ~
about each other, as Harlem folks generally
DO but we had never happened to meet
formally.
That's an odd name Of yours he said
to me after We had introduced ourselves.
Only fellow ever knew Of that name
was shaver that / used to play shiny
Iockport, N. Y, way back yonder in the
'6Os. His name was Jack, but we called
him Smoke, because he was always smok-
ing corn-silk and dried leaves wrapped up
in WELLER manila paper, and
We'll, guess that wasn't another queer
feature Of that meeting. For was and am
that Smoke of Lockport. N. Y. / fear that
Harlem. man and kidh0od playmate Of
mine. during the remainder Of our fore
gathering in Nagasaki."
Il went ont 10 San Francisco the wear of
the knights Templars' conclave," said
another business man, "and enc evening,
Wnle rldlnR on crowded car out toward
the Sutm baths, a sharp-faced fellow, a
typical pickpocket, grabbed my watch
chain, broke it, got the watch and leared
from the car
Il leaped right after him, turning several
somersa ults in the sand dunes, and. when
picked myself up. took after him. am
rather long-lcgged. and got him. He
handed mo my watch. I was content to
take him by the shoulder and give him a
good kicking, which did. TnenI boarded
the next car that came along for the Sutro
baths.
last fall was riding on the rear platform
of an electric car in Budapest Some man
beside me asked me, in English, what time
it was Without turning to look at him,
pulled my watch out of my pocket.
~'Uh-huh--it's all right only wanted
to see IL you had the same super the man
who had asked me the time said, and |
turned about and saw the pickpocket, an
American, whom had chased and kicked
out on the San Francisco sand dunes
There was broad grin on his weakened,
shrewd face
But might've known that you'd still
have it he added, az he cMtched the rail-
preparatory to swinging of the car Say,
dye know that I've been taking my meals
standing up ever since1' and he jumped of
the car and mingled with the crowd"