The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-27
LONG VACATION ENDS.
Buck RuiTaloc, After IL Year OF Peace
anu Plenty. is Sent Back to Work

buck BuffalOe has gone once too
often to the Well-Or, more accurately,
10 the dispensary. SO that Raleigh
will miss him for a space, will lose
the sight of his smiling face, the cheer
full impudence of his situations. his
entreaties the beaming evidence OF his
gratitude at faVors received the no
less merry mask behind which he hid
his disappointment at rebuffs before
he left to strike for surcease Of
sorrow in another quarter.
For Buck has gone to the roads /.
For thirty days he must pound rock,
associate with negroes, Weld the pick
land lift the shovel Buck Buffaloe
must work-he who, when business
was dull or his flask contained still
aught of comfort, could stand by the
hour on one corner and contemplate
the world through dream-lit eyes and
be happy as a king! 1t is sad to
contemplate. inharmonious to analyze.
For Buck Buffaloe seems to have been
made for leisure: and to send him -
the roads, to put him to work, seerGs
almost as it were to peg the march,
or in this case, to put the spur tC
Destiny.
Buck Buffaloe's business is to stay
full and to keep his legs. Liquor and
Buck have so long associated that the
two have become friends who coalesce
without efferVeScence. There is moth:
ing of the sky-rocket about the Buff
falOe iag-it is peace that broodS when
ne has had his dose-peace and good
will and dreams. To see him sit on
the slab at the BerWanger window
happily content but watching with the
lazy interest of q Well-fed merchant
the coming of q possible friend dis
pensary- bound, is to look upon haDpi-
ness naked and unafraid. To watcn
him suck his straW-he always has a
straw-and look with thoughtful red
eyes upon the passing show of bus
ants of men is to feel the epic essay
on the futility Of toll the condescend-
ing satire on human endeavor, the
whimsical humour on the folly of
haste and the Worthlessness OF wrath
that one imagines is going on within
that misty brain.
But perhaps you approach within
the vision of those bloodshot eyes. In
stantIy they are alight with hope. The
comfortably lounging body comes into
action. The unsteady legs uncoii. Buck
Bufaloe is on his feet; his hand goes
10 his hat in a precise military salute:
You feel like general at Brigade
mauOeuvres; you are addressed with
difference. beguilngiy, yet as a friend
and brother:
SAY, General" says Buck in a whis-
per that is at once considerate ana
fiattering. Lend the old soldier tho
price of a pint
And it makes no difference whether
you comply or whether you refuse. II
the coin is forthcoming one gets sa-
lutte. bow and a deeply grateful
thank you, General" If it is not
the salute. the smile, the thanks come
out all the same. And, after while
one feels ashamed to meet the eye and
still refuse: one becomes embarrasse1
with the thanks that are given sc
freely and pays to ease his conscience
On the 5th of August. 1903, Buck
Buffaloe went once before to the roads
When the leaves began to turn in sep
TENDER. he came back a chastenet
man. Since then he has. as it were
walked a slack wire i'm brogan boots
| he has managed to keep full withou
| losing his legs. His vacation has lastet
Irearly a year. Lately. however, tbs
memory of the roads has grown dim
mer and DINNER until for the pas
several days he has slept nightly II
! The guard house. And on Thursda!
| he took his jag to bed on the street.
| and woke up again in the guard house
and the mayor was adamantine-an,
the roads that had been lowering lik'
cloud above the sunshine of tn
booze had become q reality.
And this is why if you see a soldie
with an inch long beard and a brOke'
down salute and a straw between hi
| teeth who wants the loan of a pint
| if you see such a man before the 25u
! Of September, give him a kick for tn
| absent Buck-fOr be sure he is an i'm
postor.