Our Man About Town

I notice thnt the lot ndjoiniug Fred Stimson's groceiy bas beon fenced in by Stafford, the mercbant tailor, wbo has put up a large sign ndvertisiDK bis business. Anyway tbe unsigbtly pile ot rubbish is covered up, aud the sign looks bctter tban the vacant space. As I was passing a barn on North I ngalls street Sunday, I was astonisbed to see a student deseorating the day by sawing wood. I thought to myself tbat if he would give less time to playiog base ball, on Saturdays, he could flnd time to do odd chores without brenking the Skbbath. I notice tbat during the last few weeks auy number of fences have been taken down from in front of private residences in tbe first, fourth and sixtb wards, and it iscertaínly a decided improvement. It is only a question of time before a large majority of the fences in these wards will have been removed. "We sell four quarts for a gallon," reads a sign posted on fenccs and sidewalks. Can it be tbat some concern bas been giving short measure, if not why adyertise in that way. One has a right to infer tbat customers have been imposed upon, and by the very parties who advertise "we give four quarts for a gallon." During the past week, bundreds of bushels of potatoes have been brougbt to tbis city f rom a distan ce of 20 miles around, and at the Michigan Centra] freight house, Wednesday, I noticed seyeral car loads consigned to parties in this city. Thia certainly does not look as if there was any probability of a potatoe famine for a while, at least in this vicinity. If the mayor had seen the floodec streets around the postofflce during the heavy rain Sunday, I think he woulc not be slow in is9uing orders to have the gutters opened, so that the water could run off in its proper channel. I should be done at onoc, for witb these clogged up sluice-ways during the winte months, every time it rains or thaws the streets will be quite impassable. A boy who will abuse his mother on any pretext whatever, should receive about ten lashes on bis bare back. As ] was passing a house on First street the last of the week, I heard a young upstar curse and abuse his aged mother simpl) because dinner was not ready when h returned home. And this boy, who is a clerk in one of the stores, wouldn't hav is name made known for the world. I caunot imagine what the officers can be thinking about to allow rushing in the postofHce. Friday night a section containing several hundrcd boxea was pushod eeveral inchea out of place, and that no further daraage was done, was no fault of those wlio were in the rush. It may be f un for the stndents, but citions waiting for tlieir mail do uot like to be jostled and run iuto, if sludents do enjoy the sport. Nothwithstandiug winter is fast approaching, there is ampie time iu which to repair and rebuild a number of dilapidated sidewalks, but the preseut council seems to take little interest in having it done, and why I fail to understand. Cases presented to theni for consideration have, in instances oases, been ignored, and there are no more signs of certain walks being repaired or relaid than a year ago this time. I nnderstand that Prof. Frothingham is about the niaddest man in town. The case of Joel W. Hamilton against the doctor for the third time, has been de cided in Hamilton's favor, the verdict being for $1,000 and $240 interest. Frothingham's attorney notifled the court that the verdict would never be paid unless so ordered by the highest court in Michigan. Tbe case makes fat pockets for the lawyer, but the defendant is wealthy and can stand it. I overheard deputy fish conimissióner Imus remark last week, that he propused to make it warm for any person caught spearing fish in Whitmore Lake from now on. There is a law against it, and Mr. Imus proposes to see it enforced to the very letter. It is only a few days ago that a pickerel weighing 17% lbs. was on exhibition at a grocery, but it hung there only a short time after a gentleman threatened to make complaint agaiast the person who did the Bpearing. It is well-known that thousands o dollars are taken out of this city ever] year by the difieren t insurance companies all of which could be kept at home, i a number of enterprising citizens wouk organizo a compauy here . It ia admittec tbat Aun Arbor ia one of the luckiesi places in the country, and with our pre sent system of water works, a tire could gain but little headway before being extinguished. Of course I am awure thut there would be a good deal of kicking j on tho part of certain agenta who make a Imng in tho insurance business, but let them kick. What a soft snap the supervisors bave, remarked a citizen last week. Tliey take 18 days, or rather draw pay for that number, when they really ought to complete their labora in half that time. A portion of the time is spent in cutting down bilis, yet they vote themselves ful pay for Saturdays when adjourning tho day before . I heard one of the mem bers of the board say there was no rea son why more than a week's time shoulc be consumad in any one session. Aud i don't make any difference which party i in the majority , tho sessiona are "spun out to the very last day m the after noon."