The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30

, Arthur Guiterman in the New York
Times
IN the year 1902. when young man
named Washington Irving entered the
law office of Josiah Ogden Hoffman
as clerk and student, the busy city of
New York that was the scene of his la
bors and diversions. although already as
Stunning metropolitan airs. was the seat
of lively, gossipy little community with
very distinctive life of its own, social
and commercial. Everybody who was
anybody knew every one else in that same
fortunate social position.
II the journals of the time had neither
the circulation nor the news service of
those of the present, the little humorous
happenings of everyday life were keenly
noted and joyously retailed much as they
| were in ancient Athens. The old guild
spirit prevailed among the men Of trade,
| and business rivalry could not chill the
warmth of fellowship that, contrary to
| the general pesslmistic view, is as often
developed in the joint pursuit OF the cold
hard dollar as it is in the chase OF the
painting fox or trembling hare.
| AT this period the several public mar
kets were important centers In the grow
inp town. These We're conducted much
in the fashion of Fulton market To-Day
with stalls and stands rented TO independ-
emf butchers, who fraternized In and out
of business hours, and were lamentably
prone 10 play practical Jokes on each
other and sometimes on -.Ae rest OIL the
public
Among the butchers of Oswego market
then at the corner of roadway ana MAID
en- Lane, the most striking character was
George Ship, the Hessian. With lie"
thousand others of his much-feared out
for the most part kindly spirited fellow
countrymen he had been imported from
Hesse- Cessel to aid King George In sub
DUNG his rebellious subjects lie soon
grasped an opportunity to desert to the
revolutionary army, and enlisted under
Leutenan Colonel Baylor in the light
horse troop, known as Lady Wasnins-
toms Guards, which was subsequently 80
terribly cut up at Old Tappan by the
merciless General Grey. After this catas-
trophe he served as wagonmaster In the
French auxiliary army until the close OF
the war when he began his business ca
reer in New York.
The old cavalryman was tall and power
fully built, and the skill with which he
managed his spirited black mare was the
Somewhat eccentric. but businesslike and
blessed with a goodly share Of humor he
was eminently successful: yet, as he had
never learned to read, he was often the
butt OF his associates In the market, who
frequently RECALLED him with pretended
extracts from the newspapers describing
the most frightful accidents, and then
heartlessly enjoyed the horror with which
their victim received the news
One morning as Ship entered the market
a little later than usual he saw Knot Oh
his friends engaged in eager debate.
"No. it's true: Dobley swears to it, he
heard one Of them say. Isn't 1t true,
Ship" the speaker went on, appealing to
the Hessian.
'.vot ISIS diss? Anuuder Of dose tam
chokes?'
Not this time. George. About the
ghost Haven't you heard?'
"Geister! Spukeni'' snapped the Hes
sian. 'Vot foolishnessi"
well. old Dobley. the Waterman takes
his Bible oath that last night he saw a
ghost on black horse dashing along
Spring street past the Manhattan Well
We thought you might know something
about It," And the speaker looked rather
keenly at the stolid German.
"Nonsense," said "Ship." Why, ] yass
ridtng down Sphring shtreet meinself
last night TO see mein freundt. Franz
Heuser-he liffs choose Ply der vell-undt
heardt coldt shteel svishing aboudt your
| nies in Chuly. you vouldt be more afraidt
Of de lifting dan de deadt."
Never mind, George! Come along to