Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22
TIKI. OLD SHOE.
BOSTON COnfeCtIOner'S Joke Oh n
kriC.H.braC Collector.

During the holiday season The confectionery
stores always display among their sweets fac
slmlle representations or articles OF every day
use, shch as DottieS, Joints OF meat, roast fowl
etc, mace or paper Inache or some similar sub
stance. The Boston Sfdr says: rather fresh
tnlng 10 this line is a counterfeit presentment
shoe. and nearly every conrect1oner's window
In the city displays one OF them, A certain
coniect!oner, who is well known as practical
joker, 0y-the-way. determined not to be OUT
zone Dy his Fellows In the trade, exhibited In
his window, a few days SINCE shoe that was
the acme OF general dilapidation in appearance
and so much lid Ii resemble an actual shoe
that nearly every body who has passed his store
stopped al the window 10 examine 1t.
Such remarks as that's smart snap. joe =
- never saw ANYTHING so perfect In my llfe.'
"lt beats all how closely they can initiate real
thlDgs.s Il declare If saw 1t lying in the street
should think II was real" and the like eman-
ated from the groups that almost blocked the
sidewalk TO get a look at 1t. Among those whose
I attention was attracted to 1t was certain gen.
tifnan of wealth and culture a noted con1ois-
seur III orlc Drac and curiOslties generally. AS
soon as he had fully surveye ed 1t from the outside
prietor.
is that old shoe for sale?" inquired he
well, hardly Know myself" answered the
proprietor. Il did not put 1t there with an idea
OF selling II. but merely for an advertisement;
OUT III attracts so much attention as 20 fmpede
paollc travel, ana fear shall have TO axe 1t
In. AS have no use for it otherwise lnau as
al advertisement l presume | would dispose
Off
DO you know whether there is another Ike
IL In the city," asked Mr.. connoisseur.
ITO the best OF ray KNOW ledge and belief >
replied MI. con1ectloner, Its exact dupca G
Goes not exist. iI was MI de ia France The.
was pair OF them Or g;naliy bat the ON
! one got so oaGly br0lteu that IL was worthless
Tor any purpose. and was thrown away"
Nhat value 90 YOU place upon the one ia
your window asked Mr.. connoisseur
Inc original pair" said Mr.. confectioner.
cost Ten dollars 10 import. Presume this
ought TO be worth half that amount"
certainly 1t ought" said Mr.. connoisseur
and II give you That for IL, for It is the best
thing III It's way ever saw IN my nfe'
very well, sir, you can have it," said Mr.
cOnIcctloner, as he TOOK il from the window 10
The great disgust OF the crowd outside and pro-
ceedeq 10 wrap IL carefully In tissue paper. He
linen deposited ii In neal bon bon box wrapped
the Whoe nicely i'll white paper and tied IL
neatly with pink string. Mr.. cOnnoisseur paid
his I'VE dollars ami left the establishment with
The package under his arm, happy In the con
sciousltss or possessing one or the finest speci-
Mems OF fac Slmie work that had ever been sean
In Boston. The crowd III front sazed upon hin
with Kind OF admitting envy as lie passed our
OF slsht Ia the direction Of his palatiai Back
bay home.
The confectioner waited IA DAY o, two In the
hore OF call from his customer, hut as he
Cidii come. the following note was dispatched
10 his residence: My Dear Sir-Enclose,l
please find i've dollars So the amount YOU
paid Inc for the Old shoe. II you still admire
Hells, as nave no further use Ior it. Yours,
1t is needless to say that the old shoe was q
genuine French leather shoe In the last stages
OF dilap.datfon, worthless eyel to make a pair
or hinges Tor a hencoOp DOOR which the con
Iectloner lad picked up on an old dumping
ground. on his way TO business one morning
wien the idea or the Joke Occurred 20 him.