Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-11-11
a Tale or tlae Grent Saratoga
Trunk.

Old Anthracite has very dear awits-ao
dear that she costs him on her own private
account abo.t fifteen thousand dollars Z
wear. Mrs. Anthracite always has the Ia
test fashions. 10 when the great Saratoga
trunk was exhibited in Broadway, Mrs. A.
instantly purchased one for her summer
r. kscsst 6hs Knows tlnt che great sasstosi
trunk is an unexccptionable trunk. 1t is
cclessala>-of Ti>anic proportions. Checps,
the builder Of the great pyramid. might
have found ample accommodation for her
entire household in the great Saratoga
trunk
Accordingly down went Mrs. A. 70 the
great watering place, with her great trunk.
She had not been long thersy hOweser, when
old Anthracite received private telegraph
from friend to inform him that Mrs. A.
was flirting desperately with young Belze-
bub. the san end hcir Of old be1ncbub, tlse
great soap boiler. Anthracite instantly
takes the train, arrives ct fhs hctc1 and.
inquiring the number Of his wifc's room,
quietly walks up stairs. His wife's door is
shut. Anthracite knocks. Door opens
after some delay. Mrs. A. 1uttered, which
futtcr increases to dismay when she sees
her husband. Husband enters coolly; ex-
plains that be just came to see how she was
getting on, ard seats himself on the Sarato-
"a trunk. Drops glove. the picking up
Of which enables him to look under the bed.
No one there. Mrs. A. looked as IL some
one ought TO be there. Husband talks Of
the weather, and the pair are sitting down
to little conversation, when old Anthra-
cite remarks quietly:
"Mrs. a., there's rat in your trunk"
Mrs. A. turns pale through her paint.
No; husband is mistaken. The rat is in
the wainscof. They are always there,
those rats Husband is sure it is in the
trunk Ho smells him; he will examine.
Mrs A., very anxious. he should not. He
can't. The trunk is shut, and she has lost
the key. Husband bcgs to contradict.
The key was in the lock-thc lid was open.
Husband, amid the protestations Of Mrs.
A.. half raised the lid. No crinolinc, no
shawls, no lace. no fnrbelows in the great
Saratoga trunk !; only young Belzebub's
glossy curls and ling moustache arc visi
ble Mrs. A. instantly faints. It's the
privilege Of her sex, on such occasions.
What does husband do? Shoot young
Bclzebub Not bit Of it, He smiles
grimly and shuts the lid down again. lock
ing the great Saratoga trink. He rings the
bell tells the waiter to bring a gimlet
Borcs few holes in the great trunk. Or
dtrs up the porter, and goes off to New
York accompanied by the great Saratoga
trunk. What would the trunk not have
given for cigar in baggage wagon, when
it smclled the tobacco smoke that was so
literally pulled about! The trunk, although
nearly sufiocate'l, thought it best to keep
quiet Arrived at New York, old Anthra-
cite told the people at the depot. loud
enough for the great Saratoga trunk to hear
him, that he would leave his baggage at the
Office for few days when he would send
for it. This was more than the great trunk
could bear, so it kicked, shouted, and made
noise until it was broken open. and to the
amazement of everybody. poor Belzebub
crawled out in limping condition. He
tried to tell the people twas done for bet,
but somehow the truth leaked out, and
predict that next summer there will be
fewer great Saratoga trunks at the Springs
I think old Anthracite had the best of it,
don't YOU?