Delaware tribune, and the Delaware state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1877-18??, 1877-08-16
OPEN-BACK SHIFTS.
AJH1ecpy Street Gar a Audience Becomes
Wide-awalke From AN IntereeQtux

AH1ecpy Street Gar A udlence Becomes
wide-awaIke From AN Interesting
Discourse.
Detroit Frer Press
They were sleepy lot on the o'closx
car going down Michigan avenue vester-
day. The day was hot, the ,iust thick.
and only one man, and ne beyond the
prime Of life, opened lis eyes as q woman
crowded in, with long paper box under
her arm. HIS Eyes opened little more
as she sat do~n near him, md presently
they widf med to their fullest extent, as he
read tie label on the box. "One dozen
opIned- backed shirts" He glanced from the
box to the female and back, and groaned
out:
Land o love! but what will come
next?"
She looked around at him as il she
feared that case of collie would come
next, and he frightened up little, and
said
"Well, I've wore 'em for year. and
l know they are handy and reliable. III
my daughters want to get half dozen
apiece shan't cry over it,"
"Were you speaking to me |" she asked
after seeing that no one else seemed in
terested.
II sorter was and sorter wasn't" he re-
piled, as he worked faint smile to his
face. Il was saying that it's wonderful
how much the inventive genius of this
country has done for us on the shirt ques-
| tion."
She hitched away little.
Twenty years ago." he mused, as he
hitched after her, ''if any man had told
me that the dorment genius of this country
would soon rouse up and invent button.
behind shirt I'd have looked upon him as
crazy. But dorment genius was all o. X.
She reused, she invented, and I've got one
| a them worry shirts on.
The look she gave him ought to have
torn him to pieces, but it didn't.
'One year ago, he calmly resumed, ''if
anybody had told me that the gentler sex
would soon demand open-beck shirts I'd
have gone a-6shing and never returned.
But tho epoch has hove in sight-she's g
right here. l can recommend them as
boss"
Who arc you talking to, sir9" she de-
!, nlanded in an awful voice.
"To you, madam. was saying that If
wear them there is no reason why you
shouldn't" ="
81 appeal to these passengers!" she
excitedly exclaimed.
$50 do l." he answered. Everybody in
this car with button-behind shirt on will
please stand up until can count noses. u
The old man stood up. He was all
alone. He looked around in sorrowful
way, and said
."The noses have it, and the resolution
is laid on the table. However, I'll stick Ia
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 q woman-insulter, and the
driver WAS feeling for his neck when the
astonished man cried out:
"Whos drunk? Who insulted any.
body2"
"He kept talking about shirts.'
screamed the woman with the box.
"And you've got box full!" shouted
the man.
81 haint me-"
She turned up the box and saw the abe
for the first time. She grew red, ther
white, and there was AN awful silence
Ripping off the cover, she exhibited boil
of mosquito netting nestled away in the
box. Nay, she held it up, and even shcol
it at the old man. He smiled softly
nodded his head dozen times and blandly
said
Correct, madam tumble to it. Tha
doesn't look like a dozen button behint
shirts, and I'm grieved if 1 offended. Pu
it back, madam, forget that you ever saw
me, and wear any kind you are a mint
to!"