Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-06-25
MAKING A SHIFT.
The Peril OF Changing Linen I'm the
Cars-an Embarrassing Predtca-


ment. . tHa
From the San Francisco Chronicle.l
A good story came in with the overland
train on Monday night. Among the
passengers was a young man possessed
of judicious spirit of economy and a
pardonable share of vanity. The judi
cious economy was made manifest to the
other occupants of the car by the fact
that the young man wore plain clothing
and single Cheviot shirt all the way
from Chicago; and for the pardonable
vanity--well, how that became apparent
is where the jokes come in. He had
only been to the East on a visit, and the
girl he left behind him had been notified
in advance of his approach, and, in COM
pany with a few other friends, was to
meet him at Niles station. Visions of
rapture foated through his brain, and
seating himself in secluded corner of
the car, he poured forth his spirits glad
ness in gush of melody, somewhat as
thus: q
Home again, home again, w
lnrr0f From a fOh-hOh-regn shOre; LtC Z a.
l.l And, oh il fills my sO-o-Oul with JOY
To me-he-eat my friends once more.
Suddenly he hushed his notes of joy and
reached for his carpet.bag.
The appalling idea flashed across his
mind that the shirt which had done him
such good service-which had clung to
him during the toilsome journey across
two thousand miles Of mountain, plain
and desert-was not exactly the thing to
appear in when one wished to intensity
an already good impression. 1t GER
tainly wouldn't be the clean thing, he
said TO himself-it wouldn't be justice to
the shirt So he resolved TO change it.
But how? The car contained several
lady passengers, Aaud they watched
everything that was going on around
them with an assiduity that did honor TO
the sex. All, hal strr-rate-gy, my
boy" said this resolute young man unto
himself. THE tunuel--we are approach
ing the tunnel. With good management
| can do the deed in the long tunnel
Just beyond Sunol;" and with heavy
smile on his manly features, he grace
fully lifted his earpetbag from the floor,
unlocked it, and drew forth snowy shirt
with nice frilled bosom. Then from
another recess drew he a little packet,
containing a pair of handsome Q sleeve
buttons and a set Of studs, which were
quickly adjusted in their proper places.
Casting careful glance from the win
dow, he saw the train was not far from
the tunnel where the metamorphosis was
to take place, and so he turned his back |
upon the passengers and began TO loosen |
sundry buttons--in short, prepared to |
.L,,oL l;..co1f Dro.ontl,, tbo ayont /
full moment came. The iron horse
plunged into the dark recessesD Of
the tunnel, and the car was shrouded in
impenetrable darkness. Presently ray
of light cleaned in fantastic shapes
along the rugged wall of the tunnel, and |
by its faint glimmer struggling figure |
was discernable in the direction of the
young mans seat As the light became
stronger its gyrations grew more frantic.
Its great long arms, incased in white,
thrashed wildly about as though in the
agony Of despair, and finally, when with
a shrek of Joy the engine dashed into
the dazzling sunlight, it sank into its
seat apparently crushed with mortihca-
ton and chagrin.
The ladies screamed with terror and
hid their bushes at the unusual appari-
HaH. Strong men crushed their hand
kerchiefs into their mouths and nearly
choked with emotion. The figure re-
clined motionless on the soft cushion,
until some one, with more courage than
the rest advanced to ascertain who and
what it was. Finally, the terrible truth
was revealed. The white covering was
lifted and from beneath appeared the
features Of our young friend, clothed
with carnationR richest hue The mys-
terry was soon explained. he had gotten
the Cheviot of, but alas in his hurry
and excitement he had forgotten TO undo
the collar fastening of the elegant white
frilled 'front.' Horror! 1t would not 60