West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-09-23

btIlON hkCEPTACLE-
20 know why, then, they were not made
In two equal pieces. whereupon I was
Stunned.
The third draft that craved from
the fount OF knowledge was enlighten-
ment concerning the character known
as "a man about town" He was more
vague In my mind than a type should
be. We must have a concrete idea OF
anything, even If it be an imaginary
idea, before we can comprehend 1t.
Now. ! have q mental picture OF
John Doe that is as clear as steel
engraving. His eyes are weak blue
he wears q brown vest and shiny
black serge coat, he stands always
In the sunshine chewing something.
and he keeps half shutting his pocket
knife and opening 1t again with his
thumb. And. IL the man higher UP Is
ever found. take my assurance for It
he Will be large, pale man with blue
wristlets showing under his cuffs, and
he will be sitting TO have his shoes
polished within sound OF bowling
alley. and there will be somewhere
about him tuFquolses
H.
when II came to thinning the man
about town, was blank. fancied that
he had n detachable sneer dixie the
smile Of the Cheshire caO and at
tached cuffs. and t.at was all. where.
upon ] asked newspaper reporter
about him.
why" said he, "a man about town
is something between q rouuder and a
clubman. He isn't exactly-weIl, he
fits In between Mrs. Fish's receptions
and private boxing bouts. lie doesn't
well. he doesn't belong to the I.otos
club or 10 the Jerry McGeoghcghan
Galvanized Iron Workers Apprentices
Left Hook ChOwder association.
don't exactly know how to describe
him to you. You'll sec him every
where there's anything doing Yes.
l suppose he's type. Dress clothes
every evening, knows the ropes. calls
every policeman and waiter In town
by their first names No. he never
travels with the hydrogen derivatives.
You generally see him alone or with
another man"
My friend the reporter left me- and
wandered farther afield. BY this time
the 3.12G electric lights on the Rlalto
were alight. People passed. but they
held me not. Paphian eyes rayed upon
me and left me unscathed. Diners,
heimgangers. shopgirls. confidence men.
panhandlers. actors, hlghwaymen. mil
lionaires and outlanders hurried. skip.
ped. strolled. sneaked. swaggered and
scurried by me, but took no note Of
them. I knew them all 7 had read
their hearts. they had served. want
ed my man about town. He was
type. and TO drop him would be an
error-a typograph But. no let US
continue.
Let us continue with n moral sdI
gression. To see a family reading the
Sunday paper gratifles. The sections
have been separated. Papa Is earnest
~ scanning the page that pictures the
young lady exercising before an open
window and bending-but there. there
Mamma II Interested In trying to guess
the missing letters IN the word Nv
Yo-k. The oldest girls are eagerly
perusing the financial reports, for n
certain young man remarked last Sun
day night that he had taken a fler IN
q, X. and n. Willie. the eighteen-year-
old son. who attends New York
public school. is absorbed IN the week.
" article describing how to make over
nn old skirt. for he hopes TO take
prize IN sewing on graduation day.
Grandma IS holding TO the comic
supplement with n two hours grip.
and little Tottie. the baby. Is rocking
along the bcst she can with the real
estnte transfers This view Is in.
tended TO I've reassurirg. for II f. dc.
sirable that few lines Of this story
be skipped. for ~ introduces strong
drink.
went into cafe tO-and while II
wns being mixed ! asked the man
who grabs up your hot Scotch spoon
as soon az you lay II down what he
Understood by the term. cplthet, dc.
scripuon, designation. characterization
or appellatlon-vlz. "man about
town"
Why" soid he carefully. 1T means
hy guy that's wise 10 the al night
push-see7 IT'S not sport that you
fAp'f bump 10 the raii anywhere be
tween the tlatlrons-see7 guess
that's about what It mcaus."
thanked him and departed.