The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-08-08
0pen-Back Shirts.

O'CLOCK car going down Michigan ave-
nue. yesterday. The day was hot the
dust thick, and only one man, and lie
beyond the prime Of life, opened his
eyes as woman crowded in, with a
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 tie label on the box-"One- dozen
open 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 if she
feared that a case of collie would come
next, and he frightened up little,
and said:
DWELL, I've worn 'em for a year, and
I know they are handy and reliable.
If my daughters won't to get half a
dozen apiece I shan't cry over it."
"Were you speaking to me9" she
asked, after seeing that no one else
seemed interested.
~ sorter was and sorter wasn't" he
replied, as he worked faint smile to
his face. 81 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, eff any man had
told me that the dormant genius of
this country would soon rouse up and
invent button behind shirt, I'd have
looked upon him as crazy. But dor
mant genius was all O. X. She rous-
ed, 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.
zone year ag',' he calmly resumed,
eff anybody had told me that the
gentler sex would soon demand open
backed shirts I'd have gone fishing and
never returned. But the epoch has
hove in sight-she's right here. l can
recommend them as boss.n
"Who are you talking to, sirq" she
demanded in an awful voice.
"To you, madam. 1 was saying
that if wear 'em there is no reason
why you shouldn't"
81 appeal to these gentlemen !" she
excitedly exclaimed.
$50 do l." he answered. "Every-
body in this car, with a button behind
shirt on, will please stand up until
can count noses"
The old man stood up. He was all
alone. Helooked around in sorrow
full way, and said:
"The noses have it, and the resolu-
ton is laid on the table. However, III
stick to mine, and l don't believe this
woman here will go back on her dozen
till she has given 'em a 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 IA drunkard and woman insul-
ter, and the driver was feeling for his
neck when the astonished man cried
out:
"Who's drunk7 Who's insulted
anybody 2"
she keeps talking about shirts !"
screamed the woman with the box.
"And you've got box FULL" shout
ed the man.
81 hain't me-"
She turned up the box, and saw the
label for the drst time. She grew red,
then, white, and there was an awful ST.
lence. Ripping off the cover she ex-
bibited a bolt of mosquito netting nes-
tied away in the box. Nay, she held
it up, and even shook it at the old
man. He smiled softly, nodded his
head dozen times, and blandly
said:
Correct, madam tumble to it.
That doesn't look like dozen button
behind shirts, aud I'm grieved if Of
Tended. Put it back, madam; forget
that you ever saw me, and wear any
kind you have a mind to !'-[Detroit
Free Press.