Our Man About Town

I uotice that in many portions of the oity, new sidewalks have been laid, and old ones repaired, but there is room for further improvements. Winter ia com ing on apace, and unless the authorities hnrry up, there will be miles of poor walks oTer which pedestrians will be obliged to plod their way until "another eason." Iwouldliketoknow wby the Toledo railroad authorities sold ticketa to the farmers, picnic, to passengere in the lover town, and then run the station, to the disappointment of Bome 60 pereons who wished to go to Whitemore Lake on the day in quertion. The same thing was done at one or two stations north of this plaoe. I say that was an outrage that should not go unrebuked. I wonder if the parsimonious fellows who are opposed to improvemente in this oitv, don't teel a little siok in opposing the raising of that $5,000 with whioh to boom the place, when they were in snoh a small minority. One or tnro that I might mention shonld sell ont and shake the dust of Ann Arbor from their feet. They are of no earthly benefit to themselves, much less the city, and no tears would be ehed at their departure. Tas Ann Abbob Demoobat is the only democratie paper published at the oounty seat. And why do I say this, imply beoanse I know it is under the management of a demoorat, from away back. An alleged democratie newspaper, ander the control of a republican and democrat, has but little inflnence in wielding the politics of county like Washtenaw. I am lead to make this statement, from what I heard on the streets no later than Saturday. If a young man will turn from the error of hi ways, he is to be oommended. It is not many years ago that was left a handsome competency. While it lasted he was in fine feathen, and tb e pelting rain or blazing sun's rays were erer kept from him by the shadow of the friends that hovered over him. He had a fine farm, well stocked, and he had a fast horse and faster friends. One beautif ui morning he aroee to find himself a pauper. To-day he is attempting to do something for himself, and whether he will succeed is a question. I believe hewill, if he will let his old cronies alone. At last the Bondinot sidewalk has been relaid, on Ann street. For more tban two yeare people on dark nights have been obliged to take the road, to escape injury. I learn that the young lady, who sprained her ankle on this dilapidate'l walk a year ago, will commenee proceedings against the city for damages, and she ought to receive f 3,000. Now let the city fathera hurry up the owners of poor walks . frhy is not something done to the walks on West Huron street. They are almoet impassable, and the sidewalk committee iscognizant of the fact. I am opposed to making "flsh of one and flesh of another," therefore all should be served alike. I hear a rather diverting story illustrating woman's weakness for flattery. A young man in this city has for more than a year been paying assiduous oourt at the shrine of a beauty who resides in thenorth part of town. Ilis snit has been met with a coolness that kept bim "stood off" at a rsepectable distance. Partios, baila, ice cream, exonrsions and presenta of books, jewelery, and other souvenhs had not the least effect in melting the obdnrate heart of this fair tymnt. Finally, the young man hit upon a happy ezpedient. JLo you know, my dear," said he, "that you are the exact counterpart of Mra. Cleveland 't" This was the straw that broke the backbone of her hitherto invincible obstlnacy. She cepitulated at once. She responded to bis request to "name the day," by locating the happy event in the early autumn, when the laaves begin to turn. Tbere ia, and alwsys will be, complaint regarding the removal of ashes from the streets bo long as it is done in a manner and at a time when the eyos and muuth are fllled and the olothes of pedestriana are oovered with the flying aehes. There ia bnt one right way to dispose of such refuse, whicti is to sweep it to the back of the store or shop, put it in a proper receptacle and then place the box or barrel on the eidewalk, not when people re passing, bat when the street is vacant. It ahould be pnt out at night and by daylight in the morning the dnstman shou'd come with bis cart, enpty the receptado into it and carry the rubbish completely away. Thia is done now to a certain extent, but it should be oompnlaory, and the colk etion of the retase matter shonld be taken in hand by the city. The ordinanoe shonld be bo amended as to be eztremely strïct in its requirementa about having the refuse ready for the collector, and this part of the work the city should attend to. If the refuse ia valuable there will be no trouble about letting contracta for ite removal; if it ia worthleas the oity ahould proTide means for its removal. A shoe dealer, on Main et reet, gave me, the other day, some really valuable pointers on Belling shoes to ladies. He says that out of every ten ladies nine would rather have their shoes fitted by men. Newly married men must be afraid of ahoe clerks. In the honeymoon they always come with their wives to get the first pair. They hover around and sometimos do the olerk's work in fitting on the shoes. They adjuat the draping of their wife's dress with a great deal of cuution. But af ter that she can come alone and buy her own shoes. He never comes again. Then again there are very modest girls and women. They go to buy a pair of shoes like going to hav a tooth pulled. They will pass the door of the store two or three times before they muster up courage. I can spot them every time. Inrariably they have big feet and ankles. They are quite uncomfortable about the drapery and wou't hardly give the olerk a chance to fit them. If anybody else looks at them while they are being fitted, even another clerk, the chanoes are that they will put on their own shoet and leave the store. They get unoomfortable, you know. I forbid the olerks in my store from looking at another olerk at work. I am surprised and the decenoy of the community is Bhocked to see old, grayhaired oitizens, men of respectable families allowing themselves to become parties to disgusting scandals. Men in business and men who should afford society an cxample of correct living are constantly being made the central figures of malodorous scandals. These men, moving as they do in reputable and well-ordered ciroles, no doubt flatter themselves into the belief that they can outrage all the forma of decency and vet go unpunished by publio opinión. Tbis is not true. I know of two or three oíd, grayhaired reprobatea who are playing with the fire, and who think they are ounning enough to keep the unholy alliances from their families and from the people. These men as they move unblusbingly in respectable society, among decent men and virtuous women, little know that their lives are as an open book and that the finger of scom is pointed slyly at them. Sometime, soou perhaps, there will be an explosión - their sins will find them out - when society will jump with both feet upon these aged smners and pious oíd frauds, and righteoualy stamp them out of existence. Some portion of a man's lite should be Uevoted to correct living, and if he persista in being a leoherous oíd repróbate down even to hia grave he should prepare to take the consequences. In all the catalogue of crimes there is none so thoroughly revolting and pitiable as that of a aon who strickes a parent. A few weeks ago a blooming lad of this city struok his mother in the face, and forcing her into a corner of the dining-room kicked her brutally, until in agony she oried out to the neighbors for help. He is an only son and I presume God is to be thanked that he is the only sui generis. The heartlesa youth is upheld in his oruelty and waywardness by the father, who should be horsewhipped for such unchriatian conduct toward one whom he took an oath to protect and obey. Since his disgraceful escapade the oallow youth has left the parental roof for the wide wide world. Companions shun the unnatural son that would raise an arm against the mother that bore him - nurtured him, watched through the weary vigils of the night to minister to his every want, turned day into night and" night into day that he might grow up to manhood's estáte an honored citizen. "A boy's beat friend is his mother." Who but the dear good mother listeus to our griefs, our disappointments and sympathi.ea with us and encourages and puts new life into our disheartened soul. I see a ar oLE in an open cottage door on a little farm a dear good creature, shading her eyes with her hand, looking for her boys to come home. Time has dealt genlly with her, but the frorsts of years have silvered her locks and set the wrinkles of care on her brow. (Jod bless her, that is my mother. Paralyzed be my mind,. my life, my body, before time shall come when a hand shall be raised to her save in kindest strokes of tenderness and love. Ye young reprobate that smote thy mother get down on your knees and ast forgivennss, and may God have meroy on thy soul.