The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

sell me your stinking goods. was not
born yesterday"
"Fish-trembling live fish, just from
the bait, as good as the leviathan."
struck in a fishmonger, winking signi1-
cantly at the two quarreling women.
THE Car himself may eat them. Try
them, buy them, good women. Eight
copecks pound-eight copecks. Fresh
and trembling, good women"
Bewildered by the tumult and con-.
fusion I strolled from stall to stalb
staring about me in countryman fash
ion. 1 paid dear for my curiosity.
Every time 1 raised my eyes to the
high buildings some urchin was certain
to aim a painful blow under my chin.
Once the blow was so powerful that
when 1 recovered from my surprise 1
found my image deeply imprinted in
heap OF snow.
At length the yellowish street lights
began to flicker. I had never before
seen such illuminations, and they filed
my mind with admiration for the mag
niflcence of the Lithuanian metropolis.
While engrossed in sightseeing 1 was
utterly unconscious of the biting frost
and the dust-like sprinkling Of snow in
the air; but now that my curiosity was
half-satisfied and night had fallen 1
began to feel the cold and think of
place to spend the night. had money
in my pocket and might easily have
found lodgings, but was so at a loss
in this big city that 1 actually feared to
try. At one tavern after another
stopped, but could not summon courage
enough to open the door. I might have
walked the streets all night had L not
soon observed that on every corner po-
licemen were eying me, made suspi-
cious by my having so often passed
and repassed them. AS my fear of
them was greater than my fear Of inn
keepers, determined to seek refuge in
the first lodging-house 1 should come
across.
1 pushed open the door of an ale
house and, half embarrassed, remained
standing like a beggar on the very
threshold. Two men seated at a little
table were talking in low tones, and at
first seemed not to observe my pres
ence. A minute later, however, one of
the men looked up at me angrily and
said to his companion: THE beggars
are eating the flesh off our bones. They
give us no rest even on Friday night"
Then he asked sarcastically of me:
How many suppers have you had to-
night?"
1 was humiliated. I fingered the
money in my pocket, with a strong de-
sire to pull out the roll of bills and
show him that had more than enough
to pay for meal.
He's not that kind of a bird" the
other remarked. rising from his seat.
What do you wish?" demanded the
first man, who was the proprietor.
In faltering voice told him that l
was stranger seeking lodging for the
night, for which was ready to pay in
advance. Ny explanation seemed TO
appease the angry proprietor. and COM
ing near me he asked What is your
business, young MANI"
1 could not understand what right he
had to put this question to me, but as
I lacked courage to refuse an answer 1
told him had come to attend the gym
nasium.
"Talmudic sucklings are focking in
daily, so that the yeshivas will soon
have to be closed for want of students"
he said to his companion. Then turn
ing to me he said in tone of dis
missal: This is no lodging house,
young man."
was about to leave, when his COM
panion, who had been scrutinizing me
silently, inquired: Have you any
friends here?"
'I don't know soul in the city"
answered.
He continued to look sharply at me,
and after moments hesitation asked:
DO you write a neat hand-I mean
Russian?"
81 think I do"
'If you are willing to do some copy
ing-for an hour or two a day. will
give you lodging by way of compensa-
tion and give you an opportunity to
earn a few rubles besides"
This was indeed a godsend. ac-
cepted the offer straightway.
few minutes later we were walking
through the streets, while my COM
panion was questioning me about my
past. He was tall and solidly built,
with jet-black curly hair, and with,
what 1 thought, mischievous- looking
eyes. At first 1 was apprchensive of
danger; but there were candor and
sympathy in his words, and his offer
was too inviting for one in my circum-
stances to reject, so 1 soon dismissed
all suspicion from my mind.
We presently entered a large. gloomy
courtyard. After we had climbed two
narrow stairways my friend raped on
a door. We were admitted by young
woman into dimly lighted apartment.
He introduced the woman as "the lady
who keeps house for me-" and he
showed me into neat-looking room
which contained besides bed and a
little table, a small printing press.
'Israel-don't mind my calling you
by your first name; also wish you to
call me Adolph, not Mr. Dolgoff," he
laughed merrily, and slapped me on
the shoulder by way of encouraging
good ellowship-"Israel, make your
self at home here. 1 hope you will not
find me a bad fellow. But 1 must add
one stipulation-whatever you see or
hear keep to yourself; ask no questions.
When you have had as much expert
ence as you will find this advice very
helpful to you. Children must be
taught to talk, grown people to keep