Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-21

4 FIRST saw the Discouraged man
when he was tried in the municipal
A- court of Kansas City, Mo, on a
charge of vagraney. The patrolman
who made the arrest said that the
prisoner had not worked more than
three days in two months, and that
when the arrest was made he had re-
sisted the officers and made such a dis
turbance that they had to call patrol
wagon, says Charles Phelphs Gushing
In outdoor America.
The vagrant stood before the judge
with dropping eyelids, sullen and indif-
ferent. A patch of court plaster on the
top of his head substantiated the story
of the police that he had resisted ar
rest. The city attorney read his name
and the charge, and tossed folded
paper to the judge. After administer
ing to him a hasty oath to tell the
truth, the judge began to scribble the
prisoners name in the court record
book.
well what have you to say for
yourself?" the Judge asked
"Nothin' much" the man answered
"I've worked a lot morn'n the officer
says, but 1 guess I'm guilty"
"And you've been here before?"
-Four times"
The judge finished writing in the
book and looked up.
"Teil the truth" he said, land I'll
make it easier for you. What's the
trouble?"
"Ain't much use to talk about it," the
man replied. I'm just down on my
luck-discouraged-t all. Amt got
my health now. Been drinkin'. Don't
feel like had any friends. Don't know
no trade. :. . But it amt goin' ta
do me no good, nor you no good, to send
IL Fo acfla
I'm not going to send you to the
castle this time. 1 know better
place." the judge said. Your fine is
SIS. That's thirty days. I'm going to
make a special order to send you to the
Leeds Farm. Maybe it will be the best
thing that ever happened to you"
The prisoner slowly walked back into
the mouth of the black tunnel that
leads to the holdover. Detection showed
in every line of his face and in every
movement
At / o'clock that afternoon he was
loaded into cage on wheels and driven
through the city. That had happened
before, so the edge of humiliation was
PdulIed But If shame was less, dis
ragement was deeper.
The wagon stopped at the workhouse
and some of the prisoners were un-
loaded there. The workhouse is built
in the shape of a medieval castle,
acknowledging in its appearance that
the institution for which 1t stands is a
relic of Middle Ages. The prisoners
within its walls wear leg irons, which
Jingle as they walk. They are guarded
by men who carry repeating rifles, and
they do no useful labor but a little
drilling and stonebreaking in a nearby
quarry. IN summer they sometimes
vary this with weed cutting on vacant
city lots.
IT,, he m
wheels found much to be thankful Tor
in the fact that he was not to be re-
turned to the castle. In half an hour
the wagon was out of the city and roll
ing along a smooth, we'll oiled pike
through a land of truck gardens. Along
the side of the road was little stream,
like a natural canal. Soon the wagon
rumbled over a bridge. The Discour-
aged Man looked out and saw small
coffee -co1ored river shaded with great
trees whose trunks bent inward across
the water course, and whose leaves and
branches almost made an arch. One OF
the negro prisoners in the wagon re-
marked that the water was up and just
right for trot line fishing. "Knead two
cupsfull of cornmeal with one of flour
i'm cold water" he said. Then roll
the dough into little balls the size of
marbles" He began to show the whites
of his eyes and grin The Discouraged
Man could not keep from smiling in
sympathy.
'IIavin' perceeded to this, you takes
th' balls an draps 'em in kittle of
boilin' water" the negro said. Quick
as they starts arollin' 'roun' on tn bot
tom, they's done. Spoon 'em out and
squeeze 'em! Bounce 'em on tn floor
like rubbah balls. That's th' bait that
hooks th' bullheads."
The Discouraged Man laughed. After
that he began almost to enjoy that ride
and to notice the scenery. The wagon
passed through a suburban town called
Leeds; then past some more truck gar
dens. Six miles southeast of Kansas
City's city hall it turned on to a dirt
road and climbed a steep and rocky
hill. 1t stopped at last on ridge from