Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-11-25
Observation-Disclosures. Observation-Disclosures

SbUIu btli'I II thriving bIli' 'lNN ~
northern Indiana. Its population *
mainly on Ia" one side Of the 81. Iu-
Scph river. bur quit" Il respectable
fraction thereof takes its industrial
way TO the opposite shore, and there
gains an audience and Il herring in The
rather imposing growth nnh huriy-bur-
ly Of its big manufactures, and IN"
consequent rapid appearance of multi
tudinOuS neat cottages, tenement
houses and business blocks. \ stranger
entering South Bend proper on any
ordinary day. viii be at some loss 10
account for its prosperous appearance
its tagged and powdered streets
its handsome mercantile blocks. banks,
aud business houses generally. Rca-
sOning from cause 10 effect and seeing
but mcagrr Sprinkling of people on
the streets throughout the day, and
these seeming. for the most part, mere
~ idlcrS. and in nowisc accessory 70
the evident thrift and opHlence Of their
surroundings the ObScrvant stranger
will be puzzled at the situation. But
when evening comes, and the outlying
foundricS. ~owiug-machinC, wagon,
pillow. and other works. together with
the paper mills and all the namclrSS
indu>trieS-Whrn the operations of all
these are SUSPENDED for the day. and
The workmen and workwomen ionScd
from labOr-lhcn, IA this vast army
suddenly invadeS and overtlOwS bridge,
,vft.. -
stranger will fully comprehend the why
and wherefore Of the city'S high pros
perity. And. once acquainted with the
people there. the fortunate S0journcr
will find no ordinary culture and intel
ligcnce, and, as certainly, he will meet
with social spirit and a whole-souled
heartineSS that will make the place n
lasting memory. The town, too, is the
home of many-world known people, and
host Of local celebrities. the chief of
which latter class l found, during my
stay there. IN the person of Tommy
Stafford. or THE Wild Irishman." as
everybody called him.
Talk al odd fellows and eccentric
characters" said Major Blowuey, my
employer, one afternoon. you must see
our wild IriShman' here before YOU
say you've vet found the queereSt
brightest. c!rvcrest chap in all your
travels. What dye say, StOckford?'
And the Major paused in his work of
charging cartridges for his new breech-
loading shotgun and turned to await
l,fs Y,.rtp.Y'~ rt,~nnpSA
StockforJ. 'huS addressed paused
abov.. the shield-sgn he was lettering.
! 's1liiiUS as he :. ,7,Ti and 7rIUi'ci
his pc7cil through the ivory black upon
hit of broken y'nsS and said, In his
deliberate, half abSent-minded way
rs it Tommy you're telling him
aboutF" and then, with n gradual
broadening Of the smile. he went on,
We'll. should say SO. Tommy !
What's come of the fellow, anyway?
haven't seen him since his last bout
with the mayor. on his trial for shakin'
up that fast-h0rSe man."
The faSt-hOrSe man got just eX-
actly what he needed. too" said the ge-
NAL Maior laughing. and mOpping his
perSpiring brow. THE fellow was
barlin' up the wrong stump when he
tackled Tommy, Got beat in the trade,
at his own game. you know. and wound
up Ivy an insult that no freshman would
take; and Tommy just naturally wore
out the hail carpet of the old hotel
with him."
And then coiiared and led him In
the mayors office himself they say"
"Oh, he did :" said the Major, with II
dash of pride in the confirmation ;
that's Tommy all Overt
Funny trial, wasn't it," continued
the Illuminating Stockford.
Wasn't it thought laughed the Ma
jOr. 'The porter's testimony: You see,
he was for Tommy. of course and on
examination testified that the horse
nan struck Tommy first. And here
Tommy broke I'm with He's a-mennin'
well. yer honor. but he's lynn to ye-
he's lynn to Sc. No Twin man liver
struck me first-nOr last. nayther, for
the matter a. that" And | thought
the -- Cbuft - WOHit-tie COhttnuet
the Major. in like imminent state of
merriment.
Yes. and he said if ne struck him
first" supplemented Stockford, he'd
like To know why the horSeman was
'wearin' all the black eyes. and the
blood, and the hoompS on that head of
UNI And it's that talk that got him
off with so light fine -
las Il always does" said the Major,
comm. ? himself abruptly and look
ing at watch. stock. you say
you're nob going along with our duck
shooting party this time?
Cant go possibly" said StockfOrd,
mot on account Of the work at all. but
the folks amt just rs well rs I'd like
to see them. and I'll stay here till
they're better. Next time I'll try and
he ready for you. Going to take Tom
my. of cOuseT'
"Of course Got To have The Wild
frishman' Eith us! I'm going around
10 find hin now" Then turning to me
the Major continued, Suppose you get
on your coat and hat and come along
It's the best chance You'll ever have 10