The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.


oording to the season g advanoe, the shadows
creep over the top Of the City Hall, and
the broad steps In the rear begin to look
cool and suggestive Of rest. An observer
at the entrance to the County Court House
may then note on fine day curious nit
ting.
The little row OF idlers who have been
leaning against the park ratings under the
trees move quietly over and select balcony
ssats on the steps. From around the cor
babes and baby carriages. led seemingly
by instinct to the coolest spot In the park.
Transients on their way to Brooklyn or
jersey stop to note the crowd on the CITY
Hall steps. and presently one ortwoof them
will join the resting throng. BEFORE tne
Of tired humanity will have assembled
there as can be found In any part OF the
town and not until the sun Ia low on the
horizon will the steps be totally deserted
A dainty young girl, about to cross
Broadway, noticed at ono and the same
time that the ribbon OF. her low shoe had
become unfastened and that the Cross
ing had Just been sprinkled.
She could not stoop In that crowded
thoroughfare to tie her shoe, especially
as there was nothing to rest her foot upon;
and she could not cross ana get her aces
suddenly she spied little bootblaok.
Come here, boy" she said, tie my
Without a word he knelt and did so,
and arose in moment to have two pennies
thrust into his hand.
blacks have added to the we'll known cry
of Shine, sir?" this one; ALaces tied, MISS!
Laces tied?"
The Eighth avenue car swung around
the corner into Hudson street and sprinted
TN a couple of blocks. Then it came to
dead STOP and while the half dozen PAS
sengers watched with curiosity crowd
about a store front. the motorman ano
the conductor dashed across the roadway
and into the crowd which gave way before
them.
Ten seconds later they we're grasping
three cent tumblers of lemonade, and in
ten more they we're racing back TO the car.
Tho motorman adjusted his controller,
the conductor gave the two bells and they
were hurrying up the street to regain thier
Roadway.
aYes," said the conductor as he wiped
his dripping mustao che, "thats fine graft.
m bet that they sell IS worth OF lemonade
to us people alone, and the regulars IN tne
crowd have learned to make room lor us
right change all ready, and 1t takes less
tia n half a minute but 1t lasts half an hour"
.She seems to be just back from abroad,
said woman. commenting on young girl
who passed her on the walk at Manhattan
Beach. SITS odd, but suppose we will all
be bonneted that way next summer.
The Young girl wore an embroidered
Jacket Of white wolfe over white dress
Her hair was done UP In a bun, covered with
a net in large squares. and she had on coal.
scuttle bonnet Of white straw, ornamented
only with rosettes OF narrow baby clue
velvet ribbon. the ends hanging in stream
era and forming the bonnet strings.
.Cigarist' Is the sign on the window OF
Broadway tobacco store.
THERE'S specialization for you.' re-
marked passing citizen. Il suppose the
word tobacconist ia too old fashioned for
these I'D to date days, Next thing ! sup
pose il will be cigoretteist and pipeist or
would piper be more correct!"
The manager Of an all night restaurant
uptown has discovered a satisfying diver
sion to while away the dull hours. During
the hot spell the demand for watermelon
has been great and he guesses the number
of seeds in each piece Of melon sold. II he
knows the customer there ia guessing
contest O = at once. Ifnot. he will call The at
tention Of the cashier or waitress, and after
the customer departs the seeds are care
fully counted.
We SELL on an average. ten melons
night" he said. and each melon. is cut
.:-.,,x ,,t. Ay VIC no or @
contains from l 900 to 100 seeds, an eighth
of which is l25 or 1877. so you see l can
make pretty fair guess at the number
of seeds TO the piece.
A tall, rawboned. muscular man was
arraigned before Magistrate Crane the
other day, charged by his wife, puny and
delicate woman. with habitual drunkenness
and continually abusing and neglecting
her and their children. The man was an
old resident Of Harlem,
What have you to say to this charge?"
asked the Magistrate.
your Honor. Judge Crane was the
answer, Il have known you sincs you
first settled in Harlem, and you have known
me for many years, All ] ask is justice
at your bands
The prisoner said this in familiar manner
as IL he expected the plea Of old acquaint-
ancs wOulu nelp his Cdsc
Il am very sorry," said the Magistrate,
in his sevarsst tonss. that this Court can t
do you full justice. All can give you Is
ST.; months
The itinerant backyard band is gradu-
ally isaprearing, owing to the increase in
the number Of apartment houses and the
abolition of the back tenement. Occa y
sionally one of these musical troupes is met.
however, and it is noticeable that they
ride up and down town in the subway in
stead Of in the surface cars or elevated.
These bands rarely have among them
bass drum. The leader of one Of them
explained this the other day by saying
that while they would like to have drum
because of the increased noise and rotundity
that this instrument lends to backyard
music, they find that the ordinary boy or
girl cannot restrain the impulse to thump the
drum. 1t is naturally rather cumbrous
thing, and the bearer Of it frequently
finds it necessary to lay it down for rest
The minute he does So whether he turns
his head or not, some inquisitive kid stsa is
up and pokes chubby fist at the tightly
stretched skin.
Il t,ax, oop rot dr,,u,atiCk thew will