The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-02-28

that l might return when l got ready
for a new supply of, cash. And refer
ring to cash, l wonder now if there is
anybody in grand old New York who
would be willing to lend me is cents
for the purpose of purchasing that
which is designed to keep body and
soul together. 1t is splendid to be in
dear old Broadway, but 1 am unable
to forget that I have not eaten since
I left that God-forsaken place they
call Ohio. I wonder now why / did
not accept the egg sandwich that
Cousin Lydia offered me? But 40, it
was better to spurn her proposal. It
would have destroyed my s%elf-respect
If I had permitted one who is content
to exist in the b~ackwoods, or, I may
say in the rea pocket of civilization,
to patronize me thus. Better an
empty stomach and a full heart in
dear old Broadway than afhuence
where people see green fields, quie.
pastures, winding streams, slanted
corn shocks and red barns instead OF
the wonderful panorama that I am
now permitted to behold. What a
beautiful thing is yon corset sign upon
the top Of the one-story building with
the sheet-iron cornice. And there is
a man exercising in a window for the
purpose of advertising somebody's
pulley arrangement. What poetry of
motion. How elevating and how
thrilling, withal. I take it, judging
from the size of the crowd in front Of
the window that a good many people
beside myself are here without press,
ing engagements. Let me see? I
wonder if there is in this vicinity any
man, woman or child with whom l am
well enough acquainted to make it
reasonable for me to expect assistance
in the way of a dime or some contri,
button approximating that sum? Alas,
no! I car think Of no one. It may be
that here in the Great White Way
there is some one who knows me,
some one who would be glad if we
met to see me. I say 1t is possible
that there Is some such person here,
but I fear there is not. I am a stranger
to all who pass me. They know not
whence I came Or whittier I go. They
care not that I am unshaven, for many
of them need the service of BARRIERS
themselves, and 1t matters not to
them that my trousers need trimming
and pressing. Fringed trousers I per.
ceive are not uncommon here. They
do not attract attention, nor does a
gaunt look appear to compel people to
pause for the purpose Of expressing
sympathy or Offering assistance. But
why do 1 permit myself to stand here
moralizing dismally?. Yonder is a
chauffeur ~endeavoring to run over an
old man. Here is a newsboy who has
never seen a bathtub. There is
"a hotel in which people spend
tens of thousands of dollars a
day. Oh, it is glorious. Now let me
think a moment. What shall I do first?
I have it. Aleck McDermitt has a job
somewhere in the street cleaning de-
partment. / will hunt him up and see
whether he can't fix it so that I may
operate a broom upon the asphalt.
'Tis a lucky thought. Perhaps Alexis
influence will be sufficient to enable
him to put me on Broadway or at
least in one of the side streets heal It..
What nobler destiny could any man
demand? Poor Cousin Lydia away
out there where high life is known
only as it filters through the maya
zines, how I pity her. l will now be-
gin to drop my RS and HE me away
in search of Aleck."