| FROM A NEW YORK STREET I S CORNER TO SING SING. f m O yf <zj> Melodrama of Hoal Life in a Great City. <j£ IT is but a short stop from the street corner to the police court, and many frequenters take it. Ar rests are practical sermons for itliose who do not attend the churches. Junctions of streets form natural points of reunion—social cluhs for men ■who cannot afford to pay dues. The gregarious instinct brings together .those who harmonize in feelings, in oc cupation. in general interests, and It gradually comes to pass that a young fellow feels a sense of proprietorship In the pavement of the place where Ida friends welcome him. While each corner group has its spe cial tone, its marked individuality, the etory of one lounger will apply, with slight modifications, to many others. The first of the ensy steps downward may begin from any direction, but the instance to be cited is typical In the great metropolis. He was very young, not yet out of bis 'teens. I-Ie had plenty of natural quickness and brightness, which had been sharpened Into distrust by the struggle for existence, Involving con tact with only the seamy side of hu manity. Short in stature and slight In physique himself, he had an over whelming respect for strength. He bad drifted from pillar to post since lie was left 011 his own resources as a lad. He had blacked boots, sold news papers, served as messenger, acted as an apprentice in a machine shop and finally drifted Into the employ of a big department store, assisting a driver and delivering bundles. He had picked up reading, writing and arithmetic, but the only advantage he had taken of this educational foundation was to meet the requirements of his work. He recognized the saloon keepers as powers in the land—persons who wield great Influence in politics, and whose bauds consequently help to guide the affairs of the nation. He grew to envy those who had money, and he longed for an opportunity to wuste dollars as he saw others doing. I 2 ! 'BUS-®u|i if-' .pi 23 1 •-"-!'1: in 1 l r _ > v- snrajns rt. rl* *■tbHS - - b "~ lit 11 -t n oan 5 1 FIRST EXPERIENCE BEHIND PRISON BARS. He found at his corner one evening a man who had returned from the race track with a pocketful of winnings, who was anxious to celebrate ills luck by a debauch, and who sought merry company. The result was disastrous for the youth, whose brain became in flamed with liquor, aud who wished to pose before Ills new friend. The evening was not very far ad vanced when a street fight varied the monotony for passers. One blow felled the elder mail, who lay stunned 011 the sidewalk. A policeman who had been standing across the street could not avoid seeing the occurrence, and hur ried over to stop the now frightened youth, who resisted arrest until sub dued by a few violent strokes of the night stick. He then became very penitent, and with tears In ills tones begged for release. He had, however, gone too far, and, with his late an tagonist by his side, he started for the police station. The youth hung ills head when he heard the change preferred against him. lie answered the questions put to him, giving his name, age. resi dence, occupation, his parents' name and the fact that he could read. He was led through a room in which sat several policemen, whose faces were familiar to him; he passed through an Iron gate down a few steps, and then lie was shoved into a cell and the grated door clanged be hind him. When daylight finally ap peared, lie felt disheveled, dirty and disreputable. The doorman came around and opened the cells, the ponderous key grating in the locks and the hinges grinding in a manner that would dis tract a nervous person. Again the youth walked through the sergeant's quarters. He went right on* and IN JEFFERSON MARKET OOUBT. BOARDING TRAIN FOR SING SING. stepped into the patrol wagon with other unfortunates. The horses started on a clattering trot and he peered out at the street. < Midway between the station house and 1 the police court a delivery wagon from the store passed and the driver recog nized him with a stare of astonish ment. He had another anxious period In the Jefferson Market building. He was soon led into court. The police man who had arrested him stood by his side, silent, stern and vengeful. "Come on," said the policeman, ad vancing a few steps. The youth found himself in front of a railing separating the little platform, or bridge, from the main floor. He did not realize that his case was being heard when the policeman stepped on the bridge and muttered something to the magistrate in so low a tone that not one syllable reached him. He Rtood, waiting and wondering, when the magistrate looked at him and " LOAFING raTO CORNER^ asked. "What have you to say to this charge?" He had intended to say many things, but ids tongue was silent and his brain was in a whirl. The magistrate, with kindly face, but an abrupt, severe manner, resumed: "Come, now, what have you to say for yourself? The officer says you were druuk and fighting and that you attacked him when he approached you. He says you are one of a gang of loaf ers who give a great deal of trouble to the police." Anger made the youth's face flush. Tills was more than lie had expected. "He's a liar," he cried, "and I'll get even with him." lie could not keep Back the profanity to which lie was accustomed. The magistrate held up his hand in warning and, as the pris oner stopped, said in an undertone: "Ten dollars." This was a crushing blow for the young man, who had assumed that the night in Jail would complete Ills punishment. He had been thinking of running up to the store to Inls work, and he had made up his mind to Im plore the driver who had seen liini in tlie patrol wagon not to mention the fact to any one. As he did not have $lO to pay tlie line the alternative was imprisonment. He was one of ten crowded into the Marin, a cell-like wagon with peep holes and small shutters to a limit air. There was a long jolt over the cobble stones to the east side, and then the door was opened aud he stepped out upon a pier. Tlie Brennan carried him by the vast eastlelike structure of gray stone 011 tlie southern extremity of Blackwell's Island to the landing pier further north. He had not realized before that tlie island was so large. He looked about him witli curiosity, wondering which of tlie buildings was the peni tentiary. He was led there, and when lie reached tlie office his pedigree was again taken. Prison life was dismal, but by no means as bad as he had Imagined lie was assigned to n comparatively easy task—assisting tlie bakers. He pulled a little wagon loaded with flour from tlie storehouse to the ovens, and when the long, crisp loaves were ready he took them away. The work was no worse than any other in the Hue of routine; tlie only objection was the ever present sense of restraint and supervision by day, the locking of the cell door by night. The ten days dragged slowly by and he was restored to freedom. He was left at tlie water front shortly after , four o'clock in the afternoon, and he immediately stnrted for the store to ! see if he could recover his etnploy ! meat. His place had been tilled as soon ns his Imprisonment bceams known, and he was gruffly informed that he was not Wanted. The ensuing fortnight brought a se ries of crushing disappointments. It seemed impossible for him to obtain steady work of any kind. He loitered In saloons trying to pick up odd jobs that would keep his body and soul together, and he slept on docks and open lots, wherever he found a chance to escape observation. lie grew desperate as time passed, and he would have been willing to tsfke any chance to get money. Visions of loot and plunder filled his mind, the only question was, what he should (10. He did not know where to begin, ns he lacked experience in crime. He helped a drunken man to his home one night, and on the way paid himself for his trouble by taking what money he could Hnd—n handful of change amounting to about $2. There had been so little difficulty about this theft that he wondered that he had not made a similar attempt be fore, and he spent the following even ing looking for persons under the in fluence of liquor. His eyes glittered when he saw the fat roll of green backs pulled out by n man paying for a drink; this fellow was taking fre- quent potations, but was by no moans helpless. In fact, be could take care of himself, even though his legs wab bled and he lurched toward the curb when he came into the open air. He walked up a side street and stopped by a stoop, as though In doubt whether he should enter the house. There was no other person in sight, though the hour was quite early, and the young man who followed conclud ed to make a supreme effort to get the roll of bills. He brought a heavy stick he had been carrying down with crushing force upon the head of Ills intended victim, felling him. Then he jumped on him and grabbed the bills from the waistcoat pocket. There was a fierce fight on the ground and the older and heavier man finally got on top and, pinning the other down, shrieked for the police. When the youth was taken to the police station he was recognized by the sergeant. The charge against him this time was highway robbery, and conviction did not mean a few days In A BIDE IN THE BLACK MADIA. the penitentiary, but several years lu State prison. He was held by the police magistrate and sent to the Tombs to await the nctlon of the Grand Jury. His photograph was added to the collection known as the ltogue's Gallery, which includes like nesses of thousands of criminals. He learned that he had been In dicted, anil then one morning he was led across the Bridge of Sighs to the Criminal Court Building and taken before a Judge of the Court of Gener al Sessions to plead. It was almost useless for him to say "Not guilty," but, as a matter of form, he did so. The case was so clear that It re quired but an hour to try and the re sult was conviction. The sentence Im posed two days later was imprison ment at hard labor in Sing Sing for eight years and six months. It so happened that the young high wayman was the only convict booked for State prison that day. He was taken from the Tombs with Ills right wrist handcuffed to the left wrist rf a deputy sheriff. They boarded a north-bound Fourth avenue car In Centre street and went to the Grnnd Central station, entering through the Forty-second street gateway, ordin arily reserved for arrivals. They walked to the smoking ear and took their places, looking through the win dow as a score of laughing girls bound tor the Ardsley golf links rushed to ward the train. The bell rang and th prisoner was 011 his way to Sing Slug. —New York Herald. Overrated Actors. "Some of the 'celebrated' actors now on the stage of England and America ought to be at school, learning the n-b --c of their profession," says Bronson Howard in the Century. "Men and women like them in the next genera l tlon, if our schools and great teaphers make their full influence felt, will have no place 011 the stage at all. The public will say to them: 'Go and learn your business first, as other people do. and then come back to us.'" THE MERRY SIDE OF LIFE ' STORIES THAT ARE TOLD BY THE FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. Science and the MIIDHCH— Thnt Settled "It" That Matrimonial Lottery—Tommy's Query—A Bay of Hope—But She Cot There—An Inquiry, Etc., Etc. Oh, man of science, heed this rhyme, Likewise the moral, which Is this—the man who squanders time Will surely not get rich. Your methods do not suit us well; We greet you with a shrug; You take ten syllables to tell The name of one small bug. —Washington Star. That Settled " It." Mattle—"Woll, I have promised to marry him and that settles it." George—"How can you refer to him 'as It?" Judge. The Matrimonial Lottery. Miss Askins—"Do you believe iu church lotteries?" De Wltte—"Well—cr—l rather like ehurch weddings."—Puck. Tommy's Query. Mamma —"You must have you hair shingled, Tommy." Tommy—"And then will my bend look like the roof of a house?"— Judge. A Bay of Hope. Mack—"Doesn't Mr. Baker object to his wife becoming a npw woman?" Wyld—"No; ho says anything Is bet ter thau the original."—Brooklyn Life. But She Cot There. "So he has at last led her to the al tar?" "I don't know whether he led her, or she pushed him."—lndianapolis Press. An Inquiry. Maiden Aunt—"There are just as good fish iu the sea as ever were caught." Miss Pert—"Can't you catch auy of them, Auntie?"— Puck. Temporarily Suppressed. "What are the names of that newly married couple in the next flat?" "Oh, we can't find out for a few weeks; each now calls the other 'Bir die.' "—lndianapolis Journal. A Reciprocated Sentiment. Farmer Giles (a parting admonition after a prolonged and painful castiga tlon)—"Now I 'ope I wont ketch you 'ere again, yer young warmiut!" "I 'ope yer wont, guv'nor!" Accommodating Him. Youth—"Oh, I don't want to take | that character. I'll make a fool of myself sure." Maiden—"Well, you said you wanted an easy part."—Detroit Free Press. 111-Fated. "There is nothing left me," said the anthor, "save to kill my hero in the middle of the story." "Go ahead and kill him," said the critic friend; "nobody will blauie you." —Atlanta Constitution. Holding Him Cheap. "She accepted me, but wouldn't let me sit by her on the sofa." "Why not?" "Said she'd just paid fifty cents to have her white dress done up."—De troit Free Press. The Bavngcn of Time. Mrs. Waile—"l'm sure the constant anxiety must have been terribly wear ing." Mrs. Luers "Wearing? Why, in the last three years I've grown to look at least six mouths ohlerl"—Life. Art'* Happy Discovery. "Dauber has hit it at last; he's mak ing fame and money." "How?" "People have begun to notice that he paints smaller hands and feet thau any other portrait artist iu town."— Chicago Record. Forgiven. ne— "lsn't his singing something aw ful ?" She—"Don't be too hard on the poor fellow; he's probably doing his best." He—"Oh, in that case it's all right. I was afraid he was dying his worst." —Chicago News. A Book's Attractiveness. Ferguson—"Don't you think it wretched taste to spend so much mon ey on a book's binding instead of upon its contents?" Chumley—"You must ask somebody else. I have au eye for beauty in bindings, hut life is too short to read hooks."—Boston Transcript. Price MakeH tlie Demand. "But if you could sell these suits for 58 last month, how does it happen you want so much more for them now?" "That's the trouble, my friend. We couldn't sell those suits for 88. No body wanted them at that price". At 80.99 they are going off like hot cakes."—Chicago Tribune. Exclualveneaa. "I believe," said the new clerk, "that our claim is that only the select few buy our goods." "That's right," said the fashionable haberdasher. "Because our prices are so high." "Because why are our prices so high?" "Because only the select few buy here."—Philadelphia Press. J list Wanted to Know. Zitkins—"l'm going up in a balloon this afternoon. It's a rare chance, and 1 wouldn't miss it for money. But don't say a word. I don't want my wife to know it. It will worry her so." Boscohel—"Of course. But, I say, will she 1)0 afraid you will be killed, or afraid you wont? Of course, 1 don't know anything about wives. I only ask for information."—Bostou Trail script. HALL CAINE TRAPPED. rtio Author Tells How He Was Outwitted by American Jouriiuls. Hall Caine has every reason to hate the American journalist, says Peter Kenrey in the London Express, for once he told mo a story I could hardly credit, yet I heard it confirmed by the man who instigated it. Just as Hall Caine was leaving the States on his last visit, a certain mur derer was about to he executed. The novelist received a letter from him say ing that during imprisonment he hnd been allowed to read the Christian, and would like to meet the author. The book bad done him much good; the writer could perhaps give him some words of comfort during the lust few hours he hnd to live. Hall Caine went; he talked to the man, he even prayed with him, and kissed him on the forehead before he left. Two illustrated pages of this ap peared in a £lew York daily paper next .day. It seemed the editor had prom ised the prisoner 51000 for his family If he would carry out a certain plan, and he did It. Mr. Hall Caine fell in to the trap. I heard this story from Hall Caine some time ago; I heard It last month by the man who projected 1L Another story I heard may also be relied upon as true. Hjill Caine agreed with one New York dally paper to contribute certain articles to it. A rival paper had to get the literary lion of the moment some how. It was not going to be scooped in the race for sensational Items If It knew 1L A damsel of tender years waited upon him at his hotel with the request for an interview. He refused It point blank. She importuned; another re fusal. She sent up n tearful message that so much depended upon this; it was lier first attempt, her whole future. Could Hall Caine, who preached Chris tianity, ruin her life? Well, Hall Caine could not, and he fell into the trap again. He gave the interview, to find later that the young woman was the most expert journal ist In New York. Bottles Start Prairie Fires. It has been discovered that many of the prairie fires that have destroyed the grass on the ranges in Montana and in the western part of Dakota have been started by the concentration of the rays of the sun upon broken beer bottles that are scattered freely along the cattle trails and wagon roads, which offer a new argument for the use of temperance folk, says an ex change. Numerous fires have started far away from human haunts and hab itations, miles beyond the reach of sparks of a locomotive, and farmers and ranchmen have been so mystified as to their origin that several Investi gations have been made. When a fire has been traced to its source in almost every Instance a broken bottle has been found with evidences around it to convince the investigators that it was the cause of the mischief. The curved glass was found in such a po sition as to focus the rays of the sun upon a tuft of dry bunch grass and start a flame.—New York Telegram. What's In a Name* Although the present fashion of christening children with family sur names Is much to bo commended for many reasons, it carries with it some awful possibilities unknown in the days of Mary Anns and John Henrys. A glance at the following list, each name of which is genuine, will illus trate sufficiently well the possibilities of nomenclature resting with parents in their choice of names for the men and women of to-morrow: Edna Broker Mothershead, Marian English Earle, Sawyer Turner Somerset, Will W. Upp, Nealon Pray Daily, Benton liil tin Savage, Owen Taylor Money, Ima Little Lamb, Broker Husbands Hart, It. U. Phclau-Goode, Maria A. Bachel or, May Tyus Upp, I. Betty Sawyer, Mabel Eve Story, Will Waltz Wither, Waring Green Cotes, Iva Winchester Rifle, Etta Lotta Hammond-Degges, Barber Cutting Mann, Makin Loud Noyes, Hurd Copp Gumming, ltodenor Pullman Karr, Doody Spies Sourwlno and Knott Worth Reading.—Life. A Watch Without Honda. An old friend, who has done Europe and England in the last four mouths, fetches back a novel timepiece. It is a watch of ordinary size, hut devoid of the usual hands and dial. In the centre nre two small spaces for figures, the upper for hours and the lower for minutes. These change at the proper intervals, presenting the correct time ns the railroad man gives 1t—10.42 or U.fiO, not "18 minutes of 11" or "lialf past 0," in the slovenly civilian style. A second hand makes fractions of the minutes for the exact man. This watch is guaranteed for seven years and costs only 811 in Paris.—New Press. By-Product. From Pout. After many years of experimental lnbor and at a heavy cost a company of Oldenburg, in Germany, has suc ceeded in producing from peat a coke, the expense of getting which is en tirely covered by the value of the by products, such as peat, tar, methylic alcohol and other residues. It Is now proposed by the English company which has acquired the patent to do the same in this country. A llrook Form Pleasantry. Mr. Ripley once announced that a contribution would ho taken to de fray expenses at Brook Farm; "hut, as the speaking was to he continued during the time the box was passing round," the audience was requested to put in as many bills as possible, so as not to disturb the speaker by the rattling of small change.—Christian Register. ENCLISH WINDOW CARDENS. * rises OflVrml In U Kentlili VIIIUBO for Small Flower Uiepluys. Not long ago I spent several weeks In summer in the little village of Ket ton, anil while there came to know of a pretty custom which it seems to me might be introduced into this country—that of giving prizes for the most pleasing windows filled with house plants. The houses in Kettou are built of stone. Almost without exception they stand close to the street, for English gardens are behind the houses or be hind high walls, and so the quaint, lead-sashed windows are so near the sidewalks that the flowers which fill them show to the best advantage. I had often admired the beautiful dis plays in Ketton anil wondered at them until I happened to learn that they had a definite object besides that of ornament. A small sum had been set aside some years before by a wealthy lady, the in come to be devoted to giving prizes each year to the possessor of the finest window garden. The sum available for premiums was not large—as I re member it now £2 a year (about $10). I believe the three prizes were respec tively £l, 12s, and Bs. That would be $5, $3, and $2. The only restrictions were that no one should compete who had a greenhouse—small glass houses for forcing are much more common in England than they are here; that the competition should include only one window in a house, thus putting the oc cupant of the smallest house on a fair footing with her more prosperous neigh bors, and that the general scheme of arrangement should be decided on at least one month before the day set for awarding the prizes, and not altered during the month. Tills last condition was to prevent any one from procur ing greenhouse or other plants at the last moment and making a temporary display. There were three judges. The year I was there the judges were the vicar's wife, another lady and the vil lage postmaster. There was a great deal of variety in the different windows, more than one would at first think possible, Tor the English are natural gardeners. The Interest taken was Intense, not only by the contestants in each other's win dows, as the designs developed, but by all the residents of the town. The win dow which took the first prize the year 1 was there was a study In green and yellow. A number of shelves were fastened across the window Inside and alternate shelves were tilled with pots of musk, with its delicate light green leaves and yellow flowers, and pots of lobelias, with dark green foliage and dark blue blossoms. There were enough shelves so that the window was tilled solidly full by the day the judges made their tour of Inspection, and the effect of the mass of foliage and flowers in the soft gray setting of timeworn stone, of which the cottage was built, was very beautiful.—Vick's Magazine. HOW JIM CAPTURED HIS CURL. Hud to Do II by Taking in Two Burly Thieves. "There is only one girl in this world for me," is the motto a police sergeant at the Harrison street police station kept in his mind over two years. Had it not been for the sergeant's handsome features and his bravery in capturing two desperate thugs In Michigan ave nue near 12tli street who had held up and robbed a saloon and were making their escape in a carriage in the avenue it is feared he would not now enjoy calling his "only girl" his wife. But such is the case. It was a very hot day that the sergeant and his "only girl," as he termed her, were walking along Michigan avenue. He had just proposed to her and had been rejected. He was downhearted, as he had staked his life that he would not be jilted, as he termed it. But his heart gave a bound when a shot rang out and a carriage attached to two maddened horses being lashed by their driver came tearing north in the avenue and pursued by a policeman. "Oh, Jim," said the frightened girl, "protect me!" Giving the girl a squeeze and telling her to be brave, the handsome sergeant drew his re volver and leaped into the street in front of the fast approaching car riage. Grabbing the bridle of one horse, the sergeant hung on for dear life, while his sweetheart, who had al most shunned him before, began to cry, "Jim, don't get hurt, for 1 love you." Just as the girl uttered tile words the robbers in the carriage leaped out of the vehicle. As they were about to make their escape they were confront ed by the brave Jim, who held his re volver at their heads and made them surrender. This they did in a hurry when they caught sight of the revolver. That evening Jim called again at the home of his sweetheart and was ac cepted by the girl. Six months later they were married, mid now very often the sergeant's "only one girl in I his world" will tell her handsome husband of the bravery lie showed in capturing the robbers, and she makes him lmppy by telling him that when he captured the bold criminals he also captured her heart.—Chicago Chronicle. All for the Best* "They say that women have a very deficient sense of humor," remarked Willie Wishlngton. "Yes," answered Miss Cayenne. "And perhaps it is just as well. If wo had too much discrimination in such matters we couldn't smile at idj many well-meant masculine efforts to be fun ny."—Washington fftur.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers