The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20

I'm N. G.-thars q cinch! The
sooner ] chuck IL the better!"
Caught In the swirl of the busy
eity's midday rush. engulfee I'm Broad
ways swift moving dood OF hustling
hrnanity. jostled unceremonious,y
~ the careless. indifferent crowds.
discouraged from stemming further
the tide n pushing. elbowing men and
women who hurried up and down the
Great thoroushfare. Howard yeffries.
<1rsd and hungry and thoroughly dis
Gustsd with himself. stood still ut the
corner of Fulton street. cursing the
1nck which had brought him to his
prsssnt plight. s.,
R Wa the Eoon hour, the important
time q day vnsn nature loudly claims
h>r due. when business affairs. no
uattsr how pressing. must b. tenn
Dorarily interrupted 90 that the h~-
1nn machine may lay In fresh store
- nervous energy. From under the
DortAis Of precipitous once buildings.
mamme<h hives Of human industries,
witch - right and left scared tlixzily
Gom strsst 10 sky. swarmed thor
onnds q employees OF both sexen-
elerks. stenographers. shop girls. mes
oeaoer boye-all moved by q common
nDulse % satisfy without further de-
Nv the animal cravings Of their phys
~ nAtures. They strode along with
euick. nervous step. each chatting and
hnghing with his fellow. interested
~ Tie nonec IN the days work. ma.
k1ng plans for wsll-earned recreation
voen nvs o'clock should come and
~ uptown stampede for Harlem and
homs begin. MI
The young man suiieuiy watched
Ne scene. envious Of the energy and
eeuvity OF all about him Each one
= these nurrying throngs. he thought
oottsrly 70 himself, was q valuable
0it N the prosperity and welfare of
~ olg town. No matter how humble
~ - her position. each played .
Dnrt In the business life of the great
oky. each was IN unseen. unknown,
yes Indispensable coz In the whirling,
eompsicA-tsd mechanism of the vast
world metropolis. Intuitively he felt
0at hs Wa not ono Of them, that he
- 10 right evsn to consider himself
oeer equal He vas utterly useless
- anybody. He was without position
q neaey He was destitute even OF
''6Afed w selfrsspect. Hadn't hs
psonissd Annie not 70 touch LIQUOR
again bsfe-s he found . jobf Yet he
>sAad already imbibel aA the whisky
yhich the little money left IN his
PICKET would buy.
lnvoluntarily. instinctively, he
oArank back into the shadow Of q
,legrvay 70 let the crowds pass. The
tAvements we're now filled TO over.
Sowing and each moment newcomers
nom the side streets came to swell
- human stream He tried to avoid
ooesrvation. fearing that some one
night recognize him, thinking all
.1gvl1 read on hts face that he was
. cot. selfeonfessed failure. one OF
MS incompetents. In his painful
esRconscisusness he believed himself
- cynosurs Of every eye and he
v1nced a. he thought he detected on
oortain faces side glances OF curiosity,
esnmissration and contempt.
Nor was he altogstaer mistaken.
xors than one passer-by turned to
took In his direction. attracted By
11s peculiar appearance. His was q
yps not seen every day In the com.
Dsretal Gistrict-ths postgraduate
ssllese man out at elbows. He was
snooth-facsd and apparently about rs
years OF age. His complexion was
MIR and his face refined. II would
bave been handsome but for a droop-
'fag. irresolute mouth. which denoted
more than average weakness OF char.
sctsr. The face was thin, chalk.like
en its lack OF color and deeply scanned
yfth the teil-tale lines of dissipation.
Dark circles under his eyes and
peculiar watery look suggested late
bcurs and ovsrfondness for alcoholic
rsfreshment His clothes had the cut
q expensive tailc-s, nut they were
shabby and needed pressing His linen
was solled and his necktis disar.
ranged. Hts whole appearance was
careless and suggested that reckless
-1asss Of mind which comes OF general
Generalization.
Howard JefYries knew that he was o
fsilure yet like most young men
mentally weak. he insisted that he
could not be held altogether TO blame.
Secretly. too. he despised these sober.
on1ustrious people who seemed con.
epatsd with the crumbs OF comfort
thrown to them. What. he wondered
sdiy. was their secret OF getting on
How were they able TO lead such vel
regulated lives when he. starting out
with far greater advantages. hat
friied' oh. he knew we'll where tn,
trouble lay-in his damnable weak
ness OF character. his love for drink