The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-09-19

s.ralie that Il few fines of this story
be SKIPPED. fer il introduces strong
drink
went into Il cafe to-and while it
was being mixed | asked the man
who grabs up your hot Scotch spoon
as soon as you lay it down what he
understood by the term. epithet. dc
scription. designation, characterization
or appellation-viZ viz. Il man about
town"
why" said be carefully. lit means
fly guy that's wise TO the all night
push-See? It's hot sport that you
can't bump to the rail anywhere be-
tween the Flatirons-see? guess
that's about what il MEANS"
| thanked him and departed.
On the sidewalk Salvation lassie
shook her contribution receptacle gen
tly against my waistcoat pocket.
Would you mind telling me-" /
asked her. IF you ever meet with the
character commonly denominated as "a
man about town during your daily
wanderings?"
II think know whom you mean
she answered. with Il gentle smile.
1--WE see them in the same places
night after night. They are the dew
lis bodyguard. and if the soldiers of
any army are as faithful as they are
their commanders are we'll served.
We go among them. diverting a few
pennies from their wickedness to the
Lords service"
She shook the box again. and | drop
ped Ii dime into it.
In front of gIittering hotel friend
of mine, a critic, was climbing from
cab. He seemed at leisure, and |
put my question to him. He answered
me conscientiously, as | was sure he
would.
There is a type of man about
town in New York." he answered.
The term is quite familiar to me, but
| don't think | was ever called upon to
define tie character before. 1t would
be difficult to point you out an exact
specimen l would say offhand that
it is man who had hopeless case
wanting to see and know. At o'clock
each day life begins with him. He
follows rigidly the conventions of
dress and manners, but in the business
of poking his nose into places where
he does not belong he could give point
ers to Il civet cat or a jackdaw. He is
the man who has chased Bohemia
about the town from rathskeller to
roof garden and from Hester street to
Harlem until you cant find a place in
the city where they don't cut their
spaghetti with knife. Your man
about town has done that: He is 81
ways on the scent of something new.
He is curiosity. impudence and omni-
presence. HanSomS were made for
him and gold hauded cigars and the
curse of music at dinner. There are
not so many of him. but his minority
report is adopted everywhere.
I'm glad you brought up the sub
ject I've felt the influence o. this
nocturnal blight upon our city. but |
never thought to aEalyze it before. |
can see now that your man about
town should have been classified Icing
| ago. In his wake spring up wine
agents and cloak models. and the or
chestra plays Let's All Go Up to
Maud's' for him by request instead of
Handel He makes his rounds every
evening. while you and | see the ele-
plant once a week. When the cigar
store is raided he winEs ut the officer.
familiar with his ground. and walks
away immune. while you and search
among the presidents for names and
among the stars for addresses to give
| the desk sergeant"
My friend the critic paused to ae-
quire breath for fresh eloquanee. |
seized my advantage.
You have classified him." l cried
with joy You have painted his por-
trait in the gallery of city types. But
must meet one face to face / must