Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-26
"Open-Back Shirts. y

They were sleepy lot on the o'clock
car going down Michigan avenue yester-
day. The day was hot, the dust thick,
and only one man, and he beyond the
prime of life, opened his eyes as wo-
man crowded in, with long paper box
under her arm His eyes opened little
more as she sat down near him, and,
presently, they widened to their fullest
extent as he read the label on the box
"One dozen open-backed shirts" He
back, and groaned out:
LAND O. love! but what will come
next?'
She looked around at him as if she
feared that case of collie would come
next, and he frightened up little and
said:
"Well, I've worn 'em for a year, and
| know they are handy and reliable If
my daughters want to get half dozen
apiece | shan't cry over il" sr
" Were you speaking to me" she
asked, after seeing that no one else
seemed interested.
~ sorter was, and sorter wasn't" he
replied, as he worked a faint smile to
his face. az was saying that it's Won
derful how much the inventive genius
of this country has done for us on the
shirt question"
She hitched away little
Twenty years ago." he unused, as he
hitched after her, if any man had told
me that the dormant genius of this
country would soon rouse up and invent
IL button-behind shirt I'd have looked
upon him as crazy. But dormant genius
was all 0. K She reused, she invented,
and I've got one o. them very shirts
on"
The look she gave him ought to have
torn him all to pieces, but it didn't
lone year ago." he calmly resumed,
f" if anybody had told me that the gent
Ter sex would soon demand open-backed
shirts I'd have gone afishing and never
returned. But the epoch has hove in
mend them as boss"
"Who are you talking to, sir?' she
demanded IN an awful voice.
"To you, madam. was saying that
if wear 'em there is no reason why
you shouldn't
L appeal to these passengers she
excitedly exclaimed
$50 do" he answered. r Everybody
in this car, with button-behind shirt
on, viii please stand up until l can
count noses"
The old man stood up. He was all
alone. He looked around in sorrowfrl
way, and said:
"The noses have it, and the resolution
is laid on the table. However, I'll stick
to mine and don't believe this woman
here will go back on her dozen till she
has given 'em fair show. Which side
of the neck do they button on, madam ?'
The yells that followed brought in the
driver. The old man was pointed out
as drunkard and a woman-insulter,
and the driver was feeling for his neck
when the astonished man cried out:
who's drunk. Who insulted any
body?'
He kept talking about shirtsr'
screamed the woman with the box.
''And you've got a box fullr' shouted
the man.
g | hain't ne-r'
She turned up the box, and saw the
label for the first time She grew red.
then white, and there was an awful 81
lence. Ripping off the cover she exhib-
tied bolt of mosquito netting nestled
away in the box. Nay, she held it up,
and even shook it at the old man. He
smiled softly, nodded his head a dozen
times, and blandly said:
Correct, madam tumble to it.
That doesn't look like dozen button
behind shirts, and Pm grieved if 1 Of
Tended. Put it back, madam, forget
that you ever saw me, and wear any
kind you are a mind tor'-Detrot Free
Press.