Our Man About Town

There is every indioation that spring ia uear. The irrepressible email boy has taken out his bag of marbles and begun the usual spring game. If thia is not a sign of spring I will give it up. If oity and oounty officials will continue to set the example, I wonder how thy think the marshall oan keep others from walking on the grass in the court yard. The one way is to arrest the officials and others would take the hint The only person that I have heard talked of for mayor on the republioan ticket is the present incumbent, Dr. Smith. It is safe to say that he will be renominated if he wants the offioe. It is a thankless position, although some men look upon it as an honor, and a big thing. I was informed the first of the week that a certüin mpat peddler recently purchased from a milk man a nice cow that was ín none of the best of health, and as the critter continued to grow worse, and fearing she might die, he buiohered her, and lias been selling tbemeat from house to house. I think it very enjoyable to go to the operabouse and haveyour neighbor right baok of you, dig his knees into your chair and vainly strive to " oust" you. I seem to be peculiarly unfortunate in always sitting in front of one who seems to have some spite against me and emphaeises it by digging his knees into my back tbro'out the entire performanoe. Some one of our oharitably disposed offloials might order the walk around the oourt-yard square cleaned of its gravel. County clerk üowlett had the credit of putting it upon the icy pavement for the benefit of pedestrians, and I know all will be willing to give him the oredit if he will see it is swept from due walks, ns it is unpleasant to travel over. A. Main street business man has been doing a little figuring, and hu has come to the conolusion that the new license law whioh goes into effect in May will close more than one-half of the drinking places in this city. I think, however, that he is a little off in his calculations, but it is safe to say that at least one-third of the saloon men will retire with the close of the year, leaving 22 to continuo the business . Just as soon as the frost is out of the cround, the council should go for the owners of poor sidewalks with a sharp stick. No favoritism should be shown, and at the sametime new walks are ordered relaid, and dilapidated ones repaired, the authorities should bave tar crossings put down, for it is unfair to make people build walks, and compel them to wade through mud ankle deep in crossïng streeta. There is said to be considerable dissatisfaction with a certain pension agent who does business not a thousand miles from bere, in bolding for months affidayits put into bis bands in a number of pension oases, ana all because tbe pensioners will not sign agreements to pay bim a stipulated sum for obtaining for tbem their pensions -when tbey are entitled to recover on more tban one disability. Perbaps it would be well for tbe goverument to look into tbe matter. Some of tbe children living at a distance from tlie ward schools, carry their dinnera. And it must be very annoying to them when noon comes to discover that some hungry cus bas devoured most of tbe edibles. This thing is eaid to occur about every day in tbe fourtb ward scbool. I remtmber tha some years ago tbe same tbing happened quite frtquently, in the high sobool and to get even with the person suspeoted o) the tbeft, a piece of pie was "doctered" and tbe guüty one discovered. After tbat the scholars, dinners were not meddie 1 with. As the time for bolding the spring election draws on apace, candidates begin to announce themselves for tbe respective offices to be tilled. On the democratie side of the house, the name of Herman Hutzel is mentioned in conneotion with the mayoralty. Ue is a young enterprising Germman and business man, has ser ved as alderman several terina and ib conversant with tbe needs ot tbe oity. I hear tbat Jae. R. Bacb and W. V . Watts have their eye on tbe office ot recorder, and neitber gentleman will refuse tbe nomination. As this is the only office that pays a cent it ia of course tbe only office worth fighting over. A few evenings ago I heard a couple of students relate their experience of the first mgbt in a new boarding house. After retiring one of the boys remarked, "I oan never sleep in this bed." His ebum, wbo was very tired, vainly tned to quiet bim but all in vaiu. Finally they aróse, ligLted a lamp and began an iuvestigation. Upon examining the bed, wbich was an old-fashioned Btr.iw tick, tbey said it contained every tliing but victuals. Tbe first tliiug discovered was a large iron basting spoon, small sticks of wood empty spools, pieces of bone, and sun dry other unneceseary articles for a bed to contain. After removing a peck, more or leas, of this debris they again sought their pillows to sleep the sleep of the rewarded, ïf not of thejust. It ia unneo assary to say that these yonng men soon found another boarding house. This week two notable persons in tbe literary world have gone to their last long home. We refer to Bronson Alcott, of BoBton, the philosopher, who died Maren 5th, and bis talented daughter, Louisa M. Alcott, who so quickly f olio wed bim. Miss Alcott, was a writer of world wide reputation, and ber loss will be feit far and wide by tbe readers of her books, as well as by her near and dear friends. Alger clubs are being formed all over tbe state. It won 't do boys. Grover is the man for the masses, and we propose to bave bim for president for anothei tour yearsi