The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-18
An Adroit Sell.

l. E Co. Ft1-4
One day gentleman called in at tho
store of Mr.. Ralph Hardman, with 4
violin box under his arm. He purchas.
ed a necktie, for which he paid fifty
cents, and then asked permission tc
leave his box while he did few er-
raDds down town. Old Hardman-a
dealer in new and secondhand cloth
ing-had no objection. s.a
q lAtis yiolin," said the gentleman,
"Wlich prize very highly. 1t was
given me by an old Italian, who died
at my fathers house, I beg you be
careful of it sir" III AZ. i5I95
Mr.. Hardman promised, and the
owner of the precious viol departed.
Toward noon, while the old clothing
dealer was very deeply engaged in the
work of selling a suit of shoddy for
bang up Prussian Tricot, a stranger
entered the stOre---a remarkable, well
dressed man, with a distinguished look.
The yiolin-box was in sight upon a
shelf, and as no one was near to pre-
vent, the newcomer slipped around
and opened the box, and took out the
instruments very dark -hued and an
cient-looking one.
"Hallow cried Hartman, when he
heard the sound Of the violin, "what
for You touch dat, ell ~ lr
The stranger explained that he was
a professor-that he was leader of an
sOrchestra-and that he could never sec
a violin without trying it. And then
he drew the bow across the strings,
playing few passages Of fine old
German waltz. H5
"My soul ~ he cried, after he had
run his fingers over the instrument
awhile, "that is the best violin ever
saw! There is not better one in the
city-a perfectly genuine old Cremona
l will give you hundred dollars for
it, .4..sf z.s
OIL give you hundred and fifty
Two hundred ~
) Mr.. Hartman was forced to explain
how the violin came to he left in the
store. = la5s
Is The stranger had taken out his
pocket-book, aud drawn forth two one
hundred dollar bank notes. He put
them back. remarking:
81 must have that violin if money
will buy it. When the owner returns
will you ask him to wait for me 2 If
he cannot wait, ask linn to meet me
here at six o'clock. If he cannot do
that, tell him to call at the Office of the
Treasurer of tho Academy OF Music,
and inquire for the Director of the
Orchestra. Will you do it,"
Hardman said lie would.
But" suggested the stranger, "you
need not tell the man what 1 said
about his viol, nor what I've offered /;
because he may have no idea of what a
tleasnre he possesses. You will be
careful and circumspect."
The stranger went away, and Ralph
Hardman reflected. In the course of
an hour the owner of the violin re-
turned, and asked for his box. Bnt
the shoddy man had been captivated
by the golden bait. '-
What would the gentleman take for
his violin 7
At first the gentleman would not
listen to the proposition; but after a
deal of talk he confessed that he was
not himself a professor, and could not
we'll afford to keep such valuable in
strument. He would sell it for $l75,
not a penny less.
Ralph Hartman paid the money and
became the legal possessor Of tho vio-
lin, ready d to take anywhere from three
to five hundred dollars from the di-
rector of the orchestra, as be might be
able. a..f 6if grg
But the director did not come. At
the end of a week Hardman carried the
violin to professional friend, and
asked him what was it's real value.--
His friend examined it, and said:
1.-TWO dollars aud half, without the
box.n e ~. sa IL
Ralph Hardman was strongly of the
opinion that the gentleman who left
the violin IN his care was a swindler,
and that the director was a partner in
the business, and that, together, they
had made him their victim. That
night shoddy was marked up ten per
cent. m
DRIME WHITE WINE VINE
y gar, for sale by III ST. JOHN
GENTT nrApv IN Nv