Our Man About Town

I was grestly amused Friday, when in one part of the city, where the mail carrier was making his first rounds, the small boys aeemed to look upon him with a great deal of interest, also larger ones. I judged, they thought him a rara avis. Why does not the oouncil order the trimming up of the shade trees on our streets ? In many places the branches of the trees are so low as to almoat compel you to close your umbrella when passing beneath them. It would not only be more pleasant to walk upon the streets, but thé trees would look much better with some of the lower branches removed. I was amused on Monday upon seeing a young lady vainly trying to flnd the opening iu a letter box. She searched for quite a while without being successful, and flnally turned away witn a vexed and disgusted manner. I knew if I offered my assistance she would feel still more offended, so I let her walk away with her letter in her hand. One old lady asked "how can I unlock this box '!" There have been a number of laughable things seen in connection with the letter boxes. Whatare we goiug to do with the tramp ? He is becoming a nuisance. Our city seems to be a favorite stopping place for them. Hardly a day passes bat one or more is at your door begging for something to eat. I think if the ladies would not feed them, they would not be troubled so much by them. Let a tramp know where he can get a good meal, you may rest assured that house is marked, and the good woman will be frequently annoyedby unpleasant visitors. I sar do not feed them. Let them go to work. I am surprised that the residente of West Huron street will quietly submit to the disturbance and breaking of the Sabbath day, not once, but time and again. In riding by a few Sundays ago I noticed a large number of men and boys some playing base ball, others looking en and making loud and boisterous demonstrations. This ball playing on Sunday should not be allowed, and wherever it is done, if the residents in that neighborhood would only protest it might be stopped. It is a disgrace to our city, and I hope steps will be taken at once so there will be no more of it. I think the drinking trough on Huron street is not a very handsome thing and it certainly is not made as it ought to have been. It is at least, eighteen inches too high, and is very uncomfortable for horses to drink f rom. It ought to have been low enougb, and it was to hnve been, I understood, for the numerous dofcs upon the streets to allay their thirst. I cannot see why such a drinking trough was put up, as it is not made aocordmg to the contract. How conld Prof. Morris' pony get a drink unless he were lif ted up so he could get his head in the water. One night last week I was on the streets in the wee sma' hours. A young man and young woman were hanging over the gate engaged in rather an animated discussion I judged by their attitudes. Suddenly I saw the young man lean over and bite the young woman, then it was done again and again. At tirst 1 was disposed to resent such nulo conduct to the lady, when I saw that she seemed to enjoy it, and would you beheve it, I saw her bite him. I now know why the young women are so much in favor of fences, for without fences no gates, without gatos no young man and girl can bite each other so successfully. In my rounds of the city Tuesday, I went for a walk up West Huron etreet, and was astonished at the number of new buildings that have been erected during the past year. One wonld judge that land was acaree, so close are these buildings together. I also noticed that while these improvements have been made, sidewalks have been neglected. I found further that in several places along this high walk the railing is missing here and there, and I wondered if the rouncil realized the necessity of haviug it replaced, for by so doing the city muy escape being mulcted in damages. It is really daogerous, for a person stepping olT of this walk would fall several feet, and if he escaped injury, it would ui most be a miracle. I was talking with on e of Ann Arbor's prominent citizens, a few days siuce, and in the conrse of the conversation Gov. Luce and the university were alluded to. This gentleman said he had been informeel that in the smaller towns and villages, and throughout the different counties, Gov. Luce's veto of the university laboratory appropriation was considered the right thing done, but in the larger cities his act had been condemned . This gentleman also said, that undoubtedly Luce would be Michigan's governor another year ; and that he would be elected by a large majority. That the people throughout the state thought the university had had appropriations enough, and that the nezt legislatura would, in all probabihty, appropriate even less; in fact, that the people of the state were tired of being taxed to support the institution. Itis too bad that we cannot invite all the people of the state to visit Ann Arbor and see the university in ite magnitude during the winter, with its vast army of students and its corps of professors. They might realize then, that money was necessary to carry on such a university. I do not believe Luce will be our next governor, and think the people of the state have had enongh of him for all time to come.