Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-13


When dey here de banjer play
THE DISGUISED LOVER.
NV friend Tom has natural affection
for dirt, or. rather, dirt has natural af-
lection for Tom. 1t is to him what gold
was to Midas; whstevor he touches turns
to dirt. No matter how white the era
vat, no matter how immaculate the vest,
the moment that it comes within the
sphere of TOMS influence it's wilderness
is gone; it is immaculate no longer. Dogs,
sweeps and lamplighters never pass him
without leaving upon his dress unequiv-
ocal marks of their presence. Once, and
only once, saw him cross the street
without encountering the wheels OF
carriage. opened my mouth 60 congra-
ulste him, and before 1 could utter one
word it was filed with mud. The
careless blockhead lay at my feet. full
length, in tho gutter. At my earnest
solicitation be once purchased suit of
precisely mud color. 1t was capital
idea. He crossed the street three times;
he walked half mile, and returned, in
appearance, at least, unscsthed. The
thing was unprecedented. True, he was
welcomed by the affectionate caresses OF
dog that had been enjoying the cool.
ness of neighboring horse-pond; true, he
received showerbath from the wheels
of an omnibus. But to plaster mud on
Toms new coat was "to gid refined gold
Ito paint the lilly "Tom will be a
neat man YETI l said, as | witnessed
the success of my plan.
In about half an hour, it was my fate
to meet gentleman with seven stripes
of green paiht Oh his back-it was my
friend Tom; he had been leaning against
some newly painted window blinds.
Having no other amusement, one NOR
ming / strolled over to Toms rooms. As
1 assembled the stairs, | heard his voice
in very decided tone. "But it must be
done, and there is an end to it,"
"Really," was the reply, anything
within the limits of possibility, but tc
make a coat in ten honrs-I will promise
anything in the world, but really fear
shall be unable to perform"
eff double your price would be any
Object"
Certainly, sir, if You insist upon it
certainly will put every man in m!
shop upon it; it shall be done in time
Good morning, sir"
The door opened, and fellow will
, , shears and measures passed out. Wha
could Tom be doing with tailor9
Gust the man wanted to see," he ex
= claimed. ~ require your advice upon
very important affair; which of thes
cravats do you think most becoming ?
and he spread before me some half doze
of every hue and fashion.
"Now, what in the name of all that
wonderful does this mean, Tom? A fame
ball. is it? You have chosen an exec
lent disguise; your nearest friends wi
. never know you. But you cannot sup
d port the character; if you had taken ths
. of "a chimney sweep, now; but that woul
Il have been too natural. Tell me trul,
IS Tom, what does all this mean ?"
u "Why, the fact is, Frank" passing
u hand through his hair, redolent of mi
u CAESAR. 81 have concluded think
~ shall be a. little more neat IN tutur
=" You doubtless remember''the good advl
YOU gave me sometime since; it has ha
~ an excellent effect l assure you"
Ii Now it so happened that of all tI
', good advice l had ever given Tom, tn
~ was the very first instance
. which he had seen fit to follow it. So
'' could not attribute the metamorphos
W of my friend to my eloquence' Who b
~ a woman ever changed sloven to
flop?
he "Pray, where are you going this eve
ha ing" l continued, "that you must ha
~ a new coat so suddenly !"
"Going! nowhere, in particular, l hs
indeed, some idea of calling on my
friend, Mr.. Murray; no harm in that
hope.