Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-11
A shrewd Trick-A Bit of Practical En-
tomology,

A writer in one of the London weekly journals
tells this story;
A comical little Indy, in green spee,ncles, told
us the story, grsvelyi we will eet it down as ws
heard it.
Little Old Lady, loquitar;
1.-THE scene was II very popular pace of
amusement and recreation; there ia no need to
particularize further. You have been there,
and 30 have !. 1t WAS not very grand day at
the popular place Of amusement that is to say
no monster attraction had been got up to draw
multitudes thither, but there were visitors in
plenty, nevertheless, and there was also music.
Amongst those visitors ! have to bespeak your
attention on behalf Of friend Of mine as she
happened to wear on this occasion a blue drese,
aud as don't mean to mention names, shall
call her the Lady in Blue. She was walking
c0mpanOnless in the place of public resort, and
had left the more fiequented spots for one COM
paratively lonely. where the hum of the human
hive was sill audible, sort Of accompaniment to
the footsteps of the few who were saunterng up
and down, probably, like herself, waiting for
frenus.
"Looking at these loungers, the Lady in Blue
experienced n momentary wonder at the sight Of
policeman in this quiet spot whore people had
nothing to do but to enjoy themselves peaceably'
Ii might have formed fine subject for 'frag-
ment on the depravity of human nature, but
the Lady in Blue was no poet, and could not
fore, and listened TO the music, and had just
begun to wonder impatiently why her friends
were so late at the place of meeting, when, by
one of those chances which get such fine names
from mental transferists and thought impression
lists, she raised her head suddenly, and caught
the glance Of peculiarly gentleman-ike stran-
ger fixed in a searching manner upon her. 1t
was averted at once, of course nevertheless
there was little additional hauteur in the car
riage of the Lady in Blue rs she continued her
walk. Still on her ear came family the delight
full platitudes Of the-eteTnal, never to be worn
out, Trovatore; but suddenly there was step
close behind her, touch, a gentle and most
polite
Excuse me, madam.
"And the lady stopped in amazement 1t was
the gentlemanly stranger
"I beg ten thousand pardous, but there is
in fact disagreeable insect on your shawl.
Might be allowed to remove it?
"The Lady in Blue turned with face hor-
ror 1t sCds q disagreeable insect, there is no
denying that. 1t was-to tell you the truth"
said the little Old Lady, nodding over her spec
tacles al am not an American, but an old
fashioned English woman, and always like to
call things by their right names. If there is any
fine, long Latin word for the insect, | dopt
know il, and couldn't use it if did. II is
what is vulgarly called bug.
"When the Lady In Blue had recovered her
sell iiltlet nbr WAS 10 lOuh luI Ahd
gentemanly stranger, but he was gone And
very proper Of him, too, she thought; great
proof of deicacy and good breeding.-But the
thiug-the insect To be actually on her shawl
How did it get there Where had that shawl
been, and how WAS such calamity possible
Did auy ore zee the transRctiOn2 These weSe
questions OF terrible import, and unanswersbls.
Her walk lost its languid ease Trovatore had
no longer suy charms for her. A ssncion Of
horrible discomfort fingered about that shawl,
aud the hum OF the human hive, which before
had been soothing, seemed like chorus Of dis-
tant voices lifted up on the subject Of that dis
agreeable insect. When would her friends Join
her. At any rate, it must te long past the time
appointed Thinking TINS she began fumhling
nervousy at her watch chain; at least in tho
direction OF the chain. For you sec the chain
itself was gone; and the watch was gone and
when she searched her pocket, she found that
her purse was gone too Aud by this time her
face Of dismay and her excamations had attract
ed the policeman, whose appearance in such
place had seemed to her as unnecessary short
time before.
UOther curious individuals also began to
gather round her; in fact the poor Lady ia Blue
thought all the world was coming to chatter
about her, and add to her confusion, which was
quite n super1uous attention on the worlds pRrl; ;
and to the question, 'When did you miss the
articlesi she could only put her hand to her
head IN a distracted MANNER anu ulter ulryolht'
ed signals Of distress.
";Niiss them don't kuow-I-'
".Wheu did you have them last?
".I really cannot tell. I-yes, now know.
am quite sure, looked at my watch just be-
fore that strange gentleman spoke to me about
"iWhat gentleman"
".A stranger to me, quite. He-why. there
he is again; the one with the white hat. Ah,
he is gone don't see m now.
e.Rnt before the speech was ended the police
man was gone too and if any one ia anxious as
to the fate of the missing articles, beg to reas'
sure them.
"The gentlomanly stranger encountered an
unexpected friend at the door Of. the popular
resort who kindly relieved him of burden
which must have been heavy.-Besides the
iewelry Of the Lady in Blue, the stranger was
found to have about his person several watches
and chains, and goodly array of purses. Also,
he had in his wsiscoat pocket-a little box Of
bugs" ..: