Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 363, 17 March 1907 — Page 9

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By OWEN IKDLOAIRE LAXLEA U ' WW UUU

ON THAT great highway or the foolish and miserable, condemned and defamed for years, we have hunger and thirst hope and despair, love and hatred, as you have elsewhere. And there, too, On the Bowery, we have honeet men and women, strong on the Bide of righteousness, as, well as those who have leagued with the devil from earliest to most recent days. J Do remember that the Bowery Is In the heart of our greatest city and not in the wilds of Tibet, and believe me that human nature and emotions prevail there a3 anywhere. If you doubt me, come and see, transfers are givetl at all crossings. If thers is anything that will distinguish In one Particular human nature on the Bowery from that of other parts it is Ms primitive directness. People will love, bate, trust and despise more strongly, more directly, where the shellac of civilization has not yet entirely veneered the whole surface. And to you. of the higher civilization, the humanity of the Bowery, because of Its absolute directness, seems grotesque, absurd. It is claimed that fn certain stages of Intoxication men will show their true selves. That's how it Is on th Bowery, There, the potent inebriety of misery makes men throw all pretense to the winds. If one ftfV Vf4 -T-A P,l v'.; " J.'r. Wit Ai":':.''"? i1 "WHY, XP,W. YOU AIN'T GOING OUT2" is abot:t io k!l:, or steed, love, grow good, or go cratj', there is no mistaking his purpose. We hare no Ttomanlacs, geniuses br eccentrics down oir ay; we have the direct sort, crooks, "daffies ' .d "bugs." And of these I will tell you a story, as I have seen it played before me. Should you come to the conclusion that the narrator belongs to either of the two last named categories of the species, stick to it by fcU means; it will not change conditions even a trifle. Nick Bender was of so little account that no one knew anything vabout his private history and no on tried to find out. Not even his landlady, Mrs. Snlllane. of East Third Street, knew any more about him than that he was about as poor as the rest of her lodgers and made less of a bluff at prosOld Mary Spillane was not a sociologist and that Bender never got above the stage of distributing circulars for spectacular dentists and famboyant chiropodists, in spite of his youth and physical well-being, was no concern of her as long as her weekly stipend of seventyflw cents was paid on Saturday. There had beea. Saturdays when even this small amount had not been forthcoming, but old Mother Spillane did not have the heart to dispossess the poor, inoffensive devil from his room, which, in verity, was the merest cubbj--hote trx . the top floor, where trunks unused furniture and other trash shared the space with. hlm-In fact. Mother Spillane, who never took any interest in her lodgers, came about as near to liking Bender as it was possible for her to like anybody. Whether Bender knew or appreciated this fact was not apparent. He plodded along hi9 simple way, sometimes eating, sometimes starving, and nothing of Importance occurred to him until he fell Into the gaping meshes of the Salvation Army. Who shall dare to read men's souls aright? Therefore, do not let us Judge Bender's motives In joining this horde of jubilant fanatics. Whether seeking salvation or forgiveness for his sins, or whether seeking self-aggrandizement, it was his personal matter, not ours. Oa the other hand. Bender was not so far removed from his kind of the day to overlook any possible accruing benefit. It seemed to him quite liktly that some "painless dentist" would willingly increase the usual daily wage of fifty cents to. at least, seventy-five cents for the privilege of having his circulars distributed by a soldier of the Army in full regimentals. But that was still in store, as Bender had not yet reached the uniformed stage and in the meantime fate was to have its frolic with him. Next Week V .....

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On the day on "which the curtain of this little comedy of errors rolled up. Bender was returning from his daily search for work. He had not met with any encouragement and made his homeward Journey entertaining himself by noting the many Incidents which make the streets of the metropolis an unending panorama. , He made his leisurely way to the Bowery and, before turning into East Third Street, investigated the progress of the "Hygienic Restaurant," which, for weeks, had displayed this sign: "Will Open Tomorrow." It was In his immediate neighborhood and Bender took a personal pride in this improvement of it via this dazzlingly shining establishment for feeding purposes. Charmed by the bold inscriptions on the still whitened windows, reading, "Surpassing Coffee" and "Try" Our Home-Made Cooking." Bendef dwelled in dreams of feasting and was not aware that he, in turnr was being scrutinized. The proprietor of the Hygienic, a man of swarthy mien and decked out in much conspicuous jewelry, who had been directing the hangers of the great sign bearing the name of the restaurant, had for some time watched the circular distributer. "Working?" he broke, at last, the mutual Spell of inspection. "Me? No. not just now," answered Bender, feeling, instinctively, that he confronted a crisis. "Want a Job?"

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"YES, I'M GOING. PLEASE DON'T DETAIN ME. "What at?" "Giving out handbills and carrying a banner. The offer, partly acceptable and partly objectionable, was duly considered by Bender before replying. "I'd give out the bills but carrying the banner gee, I couldn't do that." "All right. Get somebody else." The man closed the incident and turned again to the sign hangers. . The last Saturday had been one of those on which the seventy-five cents had not been forthcoming. Not a penny was in his pocket, of credit he knew nothing, and Bender thought furiously. No. there was no other way than the one of humiliation, but the swarthy man never dreamed what sacrifice to pride was made when Bender declared his willingness to carry the banner. "I guess I might's well take the job, banner and all." Bender spoke at last. "What's in it?" "Fifty cents a day and three square meals." "I'll take It and when do I start In?" "To-morrow morning, at seven." "I'll be here." "All right, and don't disappoint me." Thus, in this land of opportunities, fortunes are made -in a twinkling. For years Bender's daily wage had been fifty cents, but never before had three square meals been thrown in." Mrs. Spillane had a right to know about this turn of the wheel and to her Bender hurried. His triumphal progress was somewhat retarded by the "second floor, rear," man, who sat, staring, on the stoop of the house. Not that the man of the second floor was given to idle talking, but his very presence alone was enough to interfere with Bender's pursuit of the moment at any time. There had been times when that man's step on the stairs had held Bender spellbound until the slamming door resounded behind him. And so, as he came through East Third Street, his steps drew more dragging and dragging the nearer he got to the house. His affairs were forgotten for the instant and he thought so deeply of the other's that, unconsciously, he halted to ponder with greater concentration! The other's protracted scowl, directed at Bender, set the latter again in motion and sent him flying up the stoop with, an unreplied, "Goodmorning." In the hall Mrs. Spillane was trying to rub some gloss into a dilapidated hat-stand when her favorite lodger entered. 'Well. anjr luck to-day?" she inquired listlessly. Bender reported the events of the day and, pointing at the stoop, ended with: "And how's his nibs to-day!" "Oh, about the same's usual, replied the landlady and closed the Interview. Long after Mrs. Spillane had retired to her beloved basement regions, where lodgers were not Gold

permitted to intrude. Bender still stood In the hall, fairly boring holes with his eyes through the door, behind which the secopd-floor man was taking his sullen airing. And again, later, when Bender at last had started on his climb, he stopped at the "second floor, rear," door and came as near to eavesdropping as his conscience would permit him. Whatever he heard or discovered, after a vigil of, perhaps, two minutes. Bender direfnlly shook his head and continued on to the top floor. During his three months in the Army Bender had carefully absorbed and practised tho docmas of that remarkable body. Scarcely any of the finiall daily tasks were performed by him without "holding communion." And so. as soon as his cubby-hole was reached, he again resorted to communion in this "travail of his soul." These "communions" were not perfunctory matters, but events accompanied by much detail. First he went to the "sink" in the hall to Cleanse his hands: then he brushed his hair and spread a newspaper on the floor before his cot. After this mise en scene had been arranged, he agraln went to the "sink" and once mc-rn washed his hantle. Back in the room, he locked the door and sank to hi kncs on the newspaper beside the bed. With folded hands and unlifted eyes he remained so for a moment before communing with Him, his God. the God of Bender. "Plea?e excuse me, God. for coming to You again with my troubles, but, honest, I can't help it. And It ain't only my trouble? I v.ant to talk to You about, but I want to thank You, too, for what You done for me about getting that job at the restaurant. It' no use o' talking. I needr-d it, and, You can bet, it came in awfn! handy. But I don't know what to do shout them two funny people on " th second floor. They're my neighbors and I got to do something for them because it is my duty, but I don't know how or what, and I got to put it up to You and I hope You'll help me. If You would only give me n little more nerve so's I could sneak to that fellow about coming over to the Army some night with me. I think it would be all right. He's been a pinner al! right, for Captain Aggie I la skins says you can read a whole lot in faces and his face don't' look right to me at all. I gnecs that's about all I can tell You just now and I hope You'll send me gome inspiration so's I can rescue that fellow from his wickedness. And now I thank You for Your goodness to me and ask Your blespiug and strength fo's I won't fall by the wayside. And and, ro long. Father. Amen." And. truly, that prayer was heard. They were celebrating a "Hot Time Evening" at the Salvation Army that night and Bender, of course, was present. The trend of his simple life was sadly disturbed by the strange couple on the second floor, rear. The only thing he knew about them from observation and through Mrs. Spillane was that they were poorly situated. Had he known all about them he might have deemed their fate commonplace, but the mystery surrounding them and the odd appearance of the man had a strange fascination for Bender. He had thought about them and how to help them all day and at the "Hot Time" he found application to them U every son, every speech, every testimony uttsred. . ft v.. is after the song. "We're All Going Home to Heaven," sung to the air of "We Won't Go Home Till Morning." that Bender's psychological moment ca.mo to him. Throughout the evening a pale, ascetic man. In officer's uniform, had sat brooding on the platform. After the last chorus of "We're All Going Home to Heaven," the commanding officer of the post stepped to the edge of the platform to make the following announcement: "Comrades and friends! As you all know, we have with us to-night Colonel Harvey Timberall, the silver-tongued orator of the Golden West. Colonel Timberall has been fighting glorious battics out. in the wicked digger-towns of Nevada and Colorado and Montana, and he is going to tell you how to fight the battle on to victory. And now let us give three cheers for Colonel Harvey Timberall!" The cheers were given and much noise was made while the Colonel made his way to the center of the platform. How his speech ranked according to Salvation Army criterlons cannot be stated, but to the average listener it was a weird compound of twisted theological doctrines and bombastic rhetoric. , But -and that was the point the audience liked it. Greedily they swallowed the sentences and often Interrupted v the orator by tumultuous applause after some particularly appealing sentiment. Bender's attention was so rapt that almost the entire speech was memorized by him. And when the speaker came to the practical hints, telling his congregation how they, too, every one of them, could go out into the world and do as much for their fellow'men as he had done, then Bender knew and felt that the sermon had been preached solely for his benefit. '. . . And there, behold, there He stood upon the mountain, facing the multitude, proving beyond peradventure that He was the saviour of the lowly. What did He say? 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.' And what did he do? Did he remain facing the multitude? No! He went right down among them and gave them the message of the Master. And these are the commands of the Great White Lord: 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.' And He also said: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, . . ." That was the whole thing in a nutshell, those were the commands of the Great White Lord, and Bender heeded them. Devotional hysteria ran high that evening, and it was midnight before Bender crept up the stoop, on which the man from the second floor rear, was taking his siesta. Ordinarily Bender's nerve would have failed him. but the influence of the "Hot Time" was still potent and he determined to begin his mission at. once. "We had a poorty good time over at the Army to-night." The man looked up without speaking. "Yes, I you' see, I belong to the Salvation Army," Bender bravely kept on, and, not getting an answer, asked: "You don't belong to the Army?" "No. scarcely," was the harsh reply. "I think you ought to," declared Bender fervently. "It made a man o me all right and you ought to join them too. for " "What do you mean?" exclaimed the man angrily. "Oh. nothing, only It makes a man much happier and well, it does a lot o' things." "It can't make me or mine happy and I'm more Interested In getting food than happiness." growled the stranger. "The Army'H give you food." "To be sure they will and then will take a mortgage on my manhood. There's such a thing as self-esteem; it's the only possession I have and I will not beg. I have reached the limit of misery, am forsaken by every living soul, even she but I won't beg." "But when a man is In your fix," Bender spoke didactically, "only the Great White Lord can help him." "The Great White Lord?" "Yes," replied Bender. "I ain't never been to school, but I know that the Great White Lord can

and the Guinea's Stamp" , ; . By Leo Cranneo

help if you only will pray to him." "And you are crazy enough to believe that?" sneered the man. "1 knew it's so and al! you got to do 13 to try it." "You fool! If there were any truth la that He would have helped me long rso." "But did you pray to Him?" "I prayed to Him and I cursed Him and a" without avail. And they called me crazy because of my belief in Him. Now ah. but why waste time In idle t2ik." "Gee. but you must have been an awfvil sinner!" It slipped involuntarily from Bender's lips. "I must have been." mocked the other. "1 was one of those fools who tried to satisfy a champagne appetite on a beer income. I played the grand bluff and when It didn't work any longer they called me irresponsible, put me away and dubbed me "crazy." liut I. got away and they shan't get m again. And IT she." he pointed upward In the direction of his room "if she gives roe away, then I'll give them a chance to put me away and for good." What to reply to this Bender did know. "You ought to tell it all to the Great White Lord." he said, hesitatingly. "He'll help you and I'll pray for you anyway." "You, and your Great White Lord, pshaw!" and the tenant of the Second floor, rear, went up to his chamber. Alone. Bender realized that he was facing a crisis. But what was he to do? Only one thing was obvious, he must procure some food for them. But that is no easy matter when one is without a penny. What was he to do? They were working all night at the Hygienic Restaurant to get it ready for the morning's opening. Several men ' were bossed about by the swarthy proprietor and the place was a bedlam of noise when Bender entered. What plea Bender made he never knew, but after pledging his next day's pay, he left the restaurant loaded with bundles. Careful Dot to lose any of the packages, he gingerly ascended the stoop of his house and opened the door. Somebody was in the hall. . There was no possibility of burglars there was nothing to steal still it was strange to find somebody there at this hour of the night. Bender went straight to the figure, shrinking into the shadows and found the wife of the second floor tenant dressed for the street. "Why- hew you ain't going oat?" he stammered. "Yes, I'm, going. Please don't detain me," she answered, eager to get away. "I think I know what you're going out for, but it ain't necessary. I got it right here." Bender smiled slyly, displaying his bundles. The woman's glowing eyes had been fastened on Bender, but now they saw the packages and the smiling face above them and, as people in some rare ruomente will, she understood a great deal. ' And you you got this for us?" Sure," he said. "It ain't much, but In the morning I'll get you some more. Anyway, I ouldn't have him doubt my Great White Lord." ' Your Great White Lord?" the woman asked ivonderingly. "Yes. He who says you might entertain an angel unawares." , "And you think that he, upstairs, might be an angel unawares?"

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Bender did not like the sound of her scornful laugh. "I don't know about that, but I believe In what the Great White Lord says and " "And he should tell you that that man Is a fiend," cried the woman. "I have been loyal to him through all our stages of degradation, I have stood his insinuations and slights, but now the end of my endurance has been reached. To-night he told me I was the sole cause of his misery, and and I can't stand it any longer. The street is more welcome than " "Oh, now you'ro talking about as crazy as he does," Bender declared with a charming frankness. "All married people have a little row oncet in awhile and then they make up. All he's got to do is to believe inthe Great White Lord and everything will be all right. I know he's laughing at it now, but it's worth while trying anyway. Look what he's made o' me!" Gently taking her arm he led the way to the stairs and helped her retrace her Eteps. Sobbingly she went with him and leaned on him until they entered the room. At the table sat the man, staring into emptiness

aid not turning when he heard them. ,Sh nf . cred for an instant, but then went to him end placed her hand on his shoulder. "Edward," she whispered, "I have come back; 1 couldn't go." The hi-.sband stood up. and, without a glance at Bender, who hovered in the background, he folded his wife in his arms. The humble intermediary thought this a good opportunity to absent himself ?rul stepped to the table to leave his bundles. But bfforo he had reached the door, the wife had him fc;. tho arm. "Oh. don't go yet." she pleaded. looking also at the husband. "We must thank you first and "Yes, I suppose we have to thank you. but I shall re well. I shall make it all right in a day or two. mumbled the husband, greedily eying the packages. The wife, not at all Fatisfed with the husband's manner, insisted on Bender' remaining. The packages were quickly opened ahd the two fairly gorged themselves. The food disappeared rapidly. This unexpected feast seemed to intoxicate the husband "The Great White Lord isn't such a bad fellow, after all." he mumbled between mouthful. "But say. you're a mighty queer looking cuss to be so intimate with such a great personage." The last few hours had taught Bender a great many things and he did cot propose to stand any more flings. "You can sneer all yon like at my Great White Lord, but I think it would become you much bet ter to thank Him. You can kid ell you like, but it's only the Great White Iiord that can save fellows like you." "And I suppose as the next part of the service our brother here will lead tn prayer?" the stranger still mocked. It was what Bender wanted. He did not know how to expound or argue, but he had implicit faith, in the. power of prayer. Bo, for once dispensing with his preparations, he knelt in the center of the floor and spoke to his God. the God of Bender. "Please, God, excuse me for coming to You with ftiy troubles so late at night, bot this fellow here that I have been telling you about, he's In a bad 8 way and his heart Is getting more and more stubborn. Now, what am I going to do? I done t everything I could and prayed for him, but it don't seem to do much good. How can he refuse to believe In You? He ought to know that only for You he wouldn't maybe-be-alire and wouldn't have gotten his little lady back again. It was Yoil that made me meet her and steer her back again. And, honest, You know how square and loyal she Is and that she's ill to th 'gewk,. M " 'T, Whether it was a laugh or a sob behind him Bender never knew or cared. He Jjst kept oe.

j"This Is the first time I ever tried to do what th Great White Lord tells us for to do and now. please, God. don't disappoint me. Let me make good this once, anyway. This fellow here, he ain't so bad after all, and he's educated, bat he got a little daffy from being on the bam and can't see that he's the cause of the whole trouble. So, please. God. open his eyes and make him go out and hustle for a job and let him find one so's the little woman won't have to be ashamed o' him no more. And You. who knows everything, knows that then the little woman's cheeks will be rosy again and that a fellow has been saved from going completely to down and out. And that's all. God, and I hop You'll do it for me. Amen." A sadden quiet had come Into the room and Bender, not wishing to disturb It, went through the door with -a whispered "Good-night," Insomnia never troubled Bender. His slumbers were always sound, in spite of hard pillow and thanks to a clear conscience. It was toward morning, just as the dawn was strenuously fighting tha stubborn night for supremacy, when Bender was awakened from his dreams. ,-i "Bender," whispered the figure beside the bed, & I want to thank you" "Oh, gee, that would hare kept until morning, ' growled Bender sleepily. "I'm good and drowsy." "But I mast tell you this, that the little woman has forgiven me and that I'm going to look for a job in the morning. And I also want to tell you that you did. this or " "Ah, stop yonr kidding, retorted Bender, now a little more awake. "Don't yon know yet who done it? 'Twas the Great White Lord. Go and thank Him and let me go to sleep. Good-night. Moral? Is there

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