Life — January 10, 1884 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

S VOL. IIL. JANUARY rorn, 1884. 1155 Broapway, New York. Published every Thursday, $5 a year in advance, postage free. Single copies, 10 cents. Back numbers can be had by applying to this office. Vol. I., 20 cents per copy; Vol. II., at regular rates, Tue editor begs to announce that he cannot undertake to re- turn rejected contributions. 6¢ BREN and I are out." —PAilips. * * * A SPECIAL meeting of the Thompson Street Poker Club was held Saturday evening for the purpose of discussing the ways and means of aiding the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund. Mr. Tooter WiLtiaMs, who had unfortunately not entirely re- covered from an acute attack of malaria contracted on New Year's Day, was found to be too unparliamentary and uproarious to occupy the Chair, so that power was conferred upon the Rev, Mr, THANKFUL SMITH, who, though evidently convalescing from the same malady, was drowsy but dignified, and banked as usual. Mr. RuBE JACKSON opened the question and the jack-pot by remarking that he had seen a photograph of the statue, and thought that its complexion should strongly recommend it to the zeal of the colored race. Mr. Gus. JOHNSON passed out with the remark that he never didn’t have no luck on jackers nohow, and wanted to hear the Bartholdi matter more fully discussed before venturing an opinion, Mr. CYANIDE WHIFFLES came in without remark, Mr. TooTeER WILLIAMS woke up and said he would open the pot for a dollar and a half. Mr. Ruse Jackson, who saw there was trouble coming, hastened to mildly assure him it had already been opened for thirty-five cents, Then said Mr, WILLIAMS in a voice of war: “«T rise dat two dollahs, ’n I’ll knock de tar outen de niggah wot doan’ rassle.” This definite proposition had the effect of scaring Mr. JACK- SON half to death, and of recalling the Rev. Mr. SmiTH from the temporary state of coma into which he had lapsed. He drowsily ran over his hand, inquired who had opened the pot, and on being informed of Mr. WiLLtAs’ belligerent burst of chips, electrified all present by drawing forth the honorable wallet and slapping it on the table with great violence, He then said to Mr. WILLIAMS: “ Look hyar, Toor: what yo’ doin ?” “*T jess—jess rised dat pot,” faltered Mr. WILLIAMS, who had not forgotten past experiences with that wallet. “Yo! vised it, didyer?” sarcastically inquired Mr. SMITH: ‘yo’ rised it?” Here-he opened the wallet and shook out a roll of bills, ‘I see dat rise ’n I swole dat pot ten, twonny—fohty dollahs.””. Here he leaned back and smiled reassuringly on Mr. | Jackson, who had begun to breathe again. Mr. Wituiams ran his hand over. It somehow didn’t seem to be as large as before. He then said : “TI ’sidered dis pot was fer—fer de fun’.” “ Wot fun'?” asked Mr. SmirH. “ De pedstal fun’.” “Dat ’s why you swole de jacker ?” “Ye—yes.” “Well, den, for de sake ob de pedstal fun’, I jess swole it fohty dollahs.”” Mr. WILLIAMS’ respiration was labored for a few minutes, during which time he ran his hand over again. “‘Ise a patriot,” he said, ‘‘ an’ I'll do anyting in de cause.” “Den yo’ call dat rise ?” Mr. WILLIAMs threw up his hand. The Rev. Mr. SMITH raked in the jack, counted it over twice, and said : “De gross proceeds of dis entertainment am five dollahs ’n seventy-two cents. Five from. thirteen, nine, carry one; six’n four ’s nine—dat leaves jess seven cents profit fer de fun’. Brud- der Jackson will take charge ob de seven cents,” he concluded, passing that sum over in coppers, “Bud whar—whar’s de res’ ob de money goin’,” inquired Mr. WILLIAMS, «The res’ of de money,” said Mr. SMITH, impressively, “is absorbed by de 'spenses ob de entertainment. Brudder Jackson will now pass around de aces.” * * * HE /nter-Ocean, of Chicago, with true Western enterprise, presents its readers with a complete list of all the eligible bachelors of that city, with their several attractions and depend- encies, One young gentleman is quoted as being ‘‘ handsome as ared wagon” and ‘‘a good and moral dancer,” while another “likes a quiet game, and plays it well.” This Leap Year cata- logue, we are informed by the Jnter-Ocean, meets a want long felt, and is being thirstily sought for all over the West by maidens anxious to marry, The effete East knows not what true journalism is. * * Boston tiptilts her patriotic nose at the feeble efforts of New York to obtain a pedestal for Bartholdi’s Liberty by the aid of loan exhibitions and begging. Has Boston forgotten that Fanny Elssler had to dance $3,000 worth of pinnacle on the | Bunker Hill monument ? comicbooks.com