"You've got me wrong, Steve," said the Prisoner, softly. "I used to be
a Depraved Character, but now I am the Big Hero. Under the revised
Code of Morals a Handy Boy who goes out and trims a Boob for everything
in his Kick becomes recognized as a Comedy Hit and every Seat on the
Lower Floor goes for two Bones. Instead of doing a Lock-Step to and
from the Broom Factory, I work up to a Dress Suit Finish and marry the
Swell Dame. And the Mob is with me. If it came to a Straw Vote
between me and Lyman Abbott, I would win by a City Block."
"The Gentleman speaks the Truth," said the Court. "In this Fair Land
we forgive a Man anything if his Work has Class. Instead of committing
you to the Pen, I shall arrange to spend the Evening with you."
The next was a tall snaky Female with black Beads all over her Person
and she was smoking a Cigarette, half closing her Eyes as she blew
Rings toward the Ceiling.
"Judge, she is some Brazen Hussey, believe me," said the Prosecutor.
"After turning Flip-Flops around the Ten Commandments for fifteen years
she married a Good Man and put him on the Fritz. Her regular Job is to
loll on a Divan and turn the Coaxing Eye on some poor Geezer who is
wandering from Drawing Room to Drawing Room, trying to have his Life
wrecked. Please send her up. She is a Menace to Respectable Society."
The Prisoner looked at him in haughty Disdain.
"I am not a Low Woman," she said, proudly. "I am a Matinee Favorite.
The Best People in our City hang their Chins over the Seats in front
and cry softly whenever I get into Trouble. Don't lock me up or they
will be lonesome."
"Go, woman, and keep on Sinning," said the Court, in a kind Voice.
Then, turning to the Defender of the General Good, he said. "You are
two years behind the Procession. Hereafter arrest only Business Men
who have been Successful."
MORAL: Criminality is merely a Side-Issue.
THE UNRUFFLED WIFE AND THE GALLUS HUSBAND
One day a Married Woman who was entitled to a long row of Service
Stripes on her Sleeve, sat in the Motor, and watched the remainder of
the Sketch try out his new trick Monoplane.
He scooted away with the Buzzer working overtime and soon was cloud-
hopping about a Mile overhead.
When he began doing the Eagle Swoops and the Corkscrew Dips, which so
often serve as a Prelude to a good First Page Story with a picture of
the Remains being sorted out from the Debris, most of the Spectators
gasped and felt their Toes curling inside of their Shoes, but Wifey
never batted an Eye. With only one little Strand of Wire or
perchance a Steering Knuckle standing between her and a lot of
Insurance Money, she retained both her Aplomb and the Lorgnette.
"How can you bear to watch it?" asked a Lady Friend, who was heaving
perceptibly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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