The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 25, 1900, Page 5

THE SUNDAY CALL Night With the Topers and Dancers of the “Barbary Coast™ STRANGE SCENES THE BARKEEPERS WITNESS AND QUEER CHARACTERS THEY MEET. e g would of the vio- nd forth in his ¢ his e e nd the patched ends of his &h a continual tattoo Now the ¢ would tinkle, tinkle, rum- ble, the nist—lean, hungry, gaunt— doublel over the keys, his long, bony f the claws of a buzzard, trem- ; striking the notes, his eyes were seated about at e talking, some laughing, 1 drinking—the the men (foolish The women have fore- The men were the v seen along the the crowling along, scuffling and out Goors that you never knew were there— Novel of dark corners and , and unsung, who t leaving world of ours, with a inken, and ess to them; t recedes. glass of inst the who s d through ns so distinct ks a seems content, with hands clas to thumb. Round mad and never; they are considered a waste of en- time and music. It is generally a over Jh egs in a ergy, waltz, sometimes a galop and then again, by the higher stratum, “de mazuke.” But all have the inevitable glide and dip. Twice—yes, by the shades of Terpsichore— I saw the two-step. In spite of the sordid surroundings, the smoke, the flickering lights and the noise of men, there was the poetry of motion, the rhythm of the steps, inborn. Perhaps 4 trace of our Bacchana- lian ancestors come to do honor to a Bar- bary saloon. Who knows? The barkeeper at my side nudged me with his elbow as he reflectively wiped a glass “Bein’ dat you'se a newspaper guy, 'l put you mex’. Trow your lamps on dat layout over dere,” said he, as he indicated with the glass and towel a group of three, two men and a woman, seated at a tabla. .c“lxperience of a Plucky Junday Call Reporter. Continued From Page One. the way from one to two those that we are ysing we get further advanced ds T se a ton at a shot. We e 2 about 1200 tons of powder get that rock out of the way.” before we jiver came around and asked me b had enjoyed my experience. was not such a bad dive, itself,” € rty-three feet is & pretty £ epth. You know the deepest dive . ade was only 230—a little more than t rds the height of The Call build- sired how long he had been making for some years,” he replied. T n the English channel, and various parts of the world isiness. Have done most of nd wrecked vessels and in dations for wharf work ve any accidents?" I asked. very serious ones—never got K 1 have had the air pump get out of order, and sometimes the air tube gete crossed, but I never happened to be down very @eep when anything went wrong.”" “With inquired, “there would be no danger except that of smothering, would there? That is, if the &ir tube or the little windows should get this modern suit,” I broken under the water, be danger of drowning?” wouldn’t there “Oh no,” he replied, “these little valves here are for that purpose, they let the air out, but don't let the water in—close right up behind the air—and this little €lide is to slip over the opening if the glass gets broken—besides it doesn't get broken—see these guards?” Then he showed me a big sharp knife that was slipped handily under a strap at the waist. I hadn’t noticed it. “That's for when you get into troubl said he, “just give the canvas a rip, get out of it and do your best at holding your breath till you get to the top.” It sounded simple enough, but it is prob- ably an experience that few would like to anticipate. The Lottie steamed back to the barge, which had taken on a hospitable appear- ance, and it seemed good and solid to move about on—almost like dry land. There was a stream of smoke circling upward from the stovepipe and the cook had dinner in readiness. That row of ples had been martialed out and lined up and down the length of the white oflcloth covered table, with flanks and outposts of steaming viands. The captain suggested that I might then safely venture a bis- cuit, and the cook turned to me and inquired if I had brought up any fish, saying it was Friday and he had forgot- ten to order any. But this is not a fish story and I will mot repeat my reply. *Well, what about them?" asked I. *Them,” answered my friend, “‘why deys @e biggest bunch along de line. Dat one wid de black front is Portuguese Joe, an’ de one nex’ 'im is Comstock Pete.” “And the lady?” queried I. “Call her most anything; she'll stan’,for it. And, say, me fren,’” he added, “if youse happen to be pipen aroun’ her just keep your hooks on your plunks, or she’il spill yer jeans quick.” With this parting admonition he left mo and helped himself abstractedly to a drink. Portuguese Joe I found out by dint of conversation with the bouncer to be somewhat of a terror along the coast. A sallor by trade and a landsman by selec- tion. His face bore every evidence of a life of dfssipation,and there was a gleam frem you walking in the middle of the street all the way home. The old man next him, Comstock Pete, was bent with age. His clothes, mere rags collected here and there from places not sacred to the ragman, hung limply about him. His beard, gray and unkempt, hung down over his solled and greasy shirt, and his hands, crackei and creased with the wrinkles of age, clung tightly to his glass. And yet this man at one time was worth $1,000,000 He dealt in stocks; but, alas, he dealt not wisely but too long—an hour or so, per- haps. One woman I noticed in particular. She was petite and pretty. The. ravages of time and dissipation had not left its mark as yet, except for a little hectlc spot on each cheek. “She had the air and the two little beady eyes that would keep swagger and the forced protruding of the THE \NEVITABRLE GL’DE & SOTE SENSIBLE FADS ARE NOW IN VOGUE . Spoon crazes and monogram fan epl- demics have been succeeded by a rational and useful mania, and that is that each one has her own especial hobby, the movre useful and practical the better. One per- son has chosen plates for her specialty, and plates of all sizes and shapes will soon adorn her rooms. Each place on her travels will be remembered by a plate, while all her friends and relatives have been notified that plates will be most ac- ceptable for birthday and Christmas gifts. Another lady has the unique idea of col- lecting & set of anniversary cups and saucers. Whenever her wedding day rolls around she adds a cup and saucer. Cut glass makes a charming collection and It is surprising how quickly the pleces accumulate. A lady whose home is exquisitely dainty confessed that she saved her dimes most religiously and then walted for a bargain in what she was" wanting. The handkerchief fad seems to have struck the city very hard this winter, and fme hem-stitching has be- come .the rage. A collection of dainty “mouchoirs” is the pride of every girl's heart, and ‘“handkerchief” partles are quite the thing. Each girl brings her work; it Is such a fine opportunity to show off one's dainty thimble and gor- geous chatelaine with {its scissors and other workbox attachments. Sewing is rapldly coming to the front as a fine art, and taking its long vacant place in the many accomplishments of the nineteenth century maidens. An apron craze is also evident, from the sheer gauzy affairs to big practical color- ed aprons for kitchen use. A collection of aprons-is a most acceptable gift to a young housekeeper. A very intellectual girl regards books as her fad. Each one is duly inscribed and she points proudly to the case fllled with them, each one a souvenir of some city, time or memorable occasion. Still another collection i3 being made of Chinese and Japanese articles of all descriptions. under jaw which Is a part of the make- up of “de loidy of de Barbary.” A red, close-fitting jersey was twisted about her slender waist and on her head jauntily sat a little gray cap nearly concealed in her short-curled hair. I am not a con- noisseur of skirts, but I think the one she wore could be classed in any of the now prevailing styles, bell, eircular or box pleat, all depending on the point of vision taken by the observer. Blue-eyed was she and of a complexion described in the vernacular as “peaches and cream.” The lady favored me with a dance. We waltzed vigerously. “Well, ain’t you going to ‘buy? " sald she abruptly. We walked to the bar. With arms akimbo she demanded a gin and soda. Just then a youth behind a flaring Jtosom of stripes, perhaps a forerunner of what was to come -in larger quantities later in life, approached and said “Say, beau, give me a splel,” Then he put one arm about her waist. “Sure,” she replled; ~put your cnm oy me jersey.” -Suiting the action to th jword, they dipped and glided away with & motion not unlike the movement of the (walking beam of an Oakland boat. | Quick, fast, furlous grew the scens. ‘Men and women sang, some laughing the laugh which comes from the lips and not | from the heart. The shrill shriek of the violln and the thump of the piano wers drowned in the clatter of glasses. Little knots of men stood about in front of the \bar, talking, swearing, singing. A man {with cheek bones prominent and wide |features spoke of the chance of Mike in the coming prize fight, while a seething personage with flery red whiskers now and then gave three cheers for the Boers, which action was wildly applauded by the sallor man, who took the seething per- sonage to his heart and forthwith order- ed drinks. A coalheaver stumbled in at the door. He was hatled by the sallor man, who cried, “Heave to and share a drop, me ‘ardy.” “Sure and [ will,”” answered the coal- heaver. as he swung into line. The black bottle slid along the bar and was passed from one to another, the new arrival taking precedence. Each glass ‘was filled to the brim—bar-room etiquette is at a discount along the Barbary. “Hooray for Herr Most,” shouted the seething personage as he hastily drained his glass. “All hands pipe aft,” mumbled the sailor man as he leered over his glass in a valn endeavor to locate his mouth. “‘Stand from under,” shouted the coal- heaver who, without further ado, poured h{: liquor Into a seemingly bottomless P The eyes of the sallor man closed, his head fell between his arms upon the wet surface of the bar. The other two left him to his fate, a fate as inevitable as the setting of the sun. It was upon him soon. The strong arms of the bouncer went about him and then he was lifted, his body limp as that of a dead man, and hurled through the door, which closed instanter behind him. There was a dull, heavy thud outside. The bouncer never turned a hair. What be- came of the sallor man then? Well, that Is no affair of ours. ““De spoit is just beginnin’,” sald she of the twisted jersey as she borrowed a Hght. Then placing her head between her hands and her elbows on the bar she blew me & puff of smoke and asked, “Say, aln't you de mark that used to sling for de Palm Leaf on Fourth street?" I dived down be- hind the bar to look for something which I knew was not there—I wanted to get that language straightened out. After some little fumbling, both physically and men- tally, I arrived at the conclusion that she cant to ask me if I had ever served drinks at the above-mentioned saloon. *“Chure your dead next,” sald I, trying to do as the Romans did “I tought so,” answered she—flicking the ashes of her cigarette into the slot of the card machine. tumbles when I blows In here to-night. I knows yere front de minit I sets me glims on yere, de werry foist rattle out ‘en de box."” The girl in the twisted jersey. had fin- ished her dance and straightway walked with her partner, a sailor man three seas under, to the bar, calling again for a gin and soda. Her partner mumbled some- thing. A mumble is always interpreted as a desire for whisky on the Barbary. The barkeeper ‘set out the bottles and glasses. The girl poured hers with an accustomed naivete. The man's hand shook and the neck of the bottle rat- tled against the glass. The girl swal- lowed hers in a p. The man upset the glass, contents and all, upon the floor. The girl took a yellow check from the man at the end of the bar, and leaving the sallor man to croon a song over his loss, set about looking for another part- ner—for each dance means a drink and each drink means twelve and one-half cents for the girl if she can find a man to dance and drink with her. PR R S e e And when the ts commenced to grow low and when there was mora bead than beer In the glasses, I asked the girl what she thought of life, anyway. “Aw go on, give me a gin and soda,” sald she. SEYMOUR BRISCOE. Killing Jparrows for the Market. There Is apparen dustries of the pursuit is that est glory ¥ no limit to the in- Westernland. A unique hich obtains in its great- llinois. Near Nilwood, a north of Carlinville, the ates with an enthust< of the dollars his oc~ n asm entirely worth cupation brings him. The “sparrowist,” be it understood, !s any person of certain or uncertain age who, by hook, crook or in any other way, may do to the death one or more of the common or garden sparrows. which are personae non gratae in the Nilwood neighborhood. Sometimes the “sparrow- ist"" sprinkles lime in the places the little birds are wo Sometimes he lays traps snores. Sometimes he takes his trusty shotgun in hand and lets go at the most promisingly numerous flock of what the county re- gards as pests. time a sparrow head comes his way it means 2 cents to the slayer. Such is the bounty. EXIT You wouldn’t think that a men could get riotously rich off sparrow Kkilling, would you? Well, he doesn’t. But some- times he takes more money out of the county treasury than the fund custodian likes to see go for this purpose. So it was recently when the County Clerk was con- fronted with sparrow orders calling for he payment of $500 of the good legal tender of the land. The County Clerk gasped a while. He'd never heard of a Nilwood bird bill of that extent, and he'd been around some himself, but thers was the “O K" of the Town Clerk. And the “sparrowists’” were paid. The inves- tigation which followed resulted In the arrest of the Town Clerk, and It is be- lleved that the bills won't be so heavy in the future. The county authorities say they are heartily In favor of the extermi- nation, but when it comes to a claim of killing off 25,000 within a comparatively limited time they get their doubting caps on. Meanwhlile, the vicinity of Nilwood, IIL, is highly unfavorable to the health ef the sparrow tribe.