Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1891 — New York Official Dignity. [ARTICLE]

New York Official Dignity.

It was fi o’clock in the Bowery, the not particularly witching hour when the toilers of the great city are struggling homeward. On a corner stood a very striking example of “one of the finest,” airily swinging his club and observing the trim young working girls trip over the broad street crossing. {•Suddenly he became aware that a very pretty young woman had taken her stand on the corner near him. He noted the blueness of her eyes and the wavy softness of her blonde hair. Throwing back his shoulders and giving his mustache a twist, he meandered showily by the vouDg woman, and gazed tenderly into her face. So great is the confidence of womankind in the benevolence of the New York police that this unprotected young woman looked back at the stalwart guardian of the peace with almost grateful eyes for the interest he showed in her. The officer thereupon gave his mustache another twist, and a-t he passed again before the girl he raised his eyebrows just a little, as if to say : “I see you, my little gazelle.” Presently a young man, who had hurried across the Bowery, stopped in front of the girl, and, raising his hat, spoke a few words to her. At the same instant the heavy hand of the policeman fell on theyoung man’s shoulder. “Here, here,” growled the officer. “You’ll have to come along with me.” “What for?” demanded the young man, looking up in alarm. “For mashin’ this young lady,” replied the policeman. “Why, she’s my fiancee.” “She’s your what?” “My fiancee.” “Aw, what areyougivin’me? Don’t try any fiancay business on me. Come along.” But now the young lady herself spoke up with, “Really, Mr. Officer, this is my young man. We are going to be married.” The large red face of the policeman became purple and he se med to have a fit. After he was able to speak he said: “Say, young feller, don’t talk Portuguese or Dutch to a policeman after this. If you’d said you and she was keeping company first off, there wouldn’t have been do trouble.” Satisfied that he had sustained his official dignity, the policeman crossed the Bowery and took up his stand on the opposite corner. —New Fork Sun.