Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-01-22
Her Tea-Slore Chrome.
detroit Free Press.1

A dame well along in years yesterday
got into Michigan avenue car with a
pound of tea under one arm and a chro-
mo under the other, and she was hardly
seated before a man leaned forward and
asked:
81 beg pardon, but have you any OBJ
jectiOns to my inspecting that work of
art?"
She handed it over and he looked at it
closely for a long time and then said:
"HOw beautiful and. life-likel If l
ever get rich l shall have at least three
of these beautiful oil paintings. l don't
want to seem impertinent, but may ]
ask if you purchased that beautiful mas
terpiece for less than S5,OOO?"
Yves" she admitted.
"Ahi perhaps they made discount in
order to secure your patronage. Perhaps
you got it for fcrty-five hundred. Cheap
enough. 1 wish had million dollars.
How do revel in these delicious land
scapesp b 1
The woman looked from her tea to the
picture, then at the man, and her eyes
began to bulge out in astonishment-
"Yes, this is indeed a masterpiece" he
Sighed as he held it up. mo one but
lady of refinement and culture could
have selected it. Pray, madam, let me
ask if you recognized the handiwOrk of
GOnzia de Moria in it as soon as you
saw it?"
"oh, yes, she replied, while her eyes
grew larger than ever.
"If 1 had 5000 to spare I should try
and purchase it of you, but as it is, can
only wish you much joy over its possess
sion. Had you noticed that tree in the
background ?"
"Y-yes," she answered, as she leaned
forward"
How wonderfully true to naturel
That knOt-hOle there was never exeelled
by the hand of man. / always identify
the works of, GonZia de MOria by the
knOt-holes in the trees. Will you bear
that in mind in your future selections?"
"And in the foreground you observe a
cow standing under a tree This is
Il ee without any knOt-hole, but what
fOliagel Ahi if only had honeymoon
| ey to enable me to indulge my taste for
such exquisite thingsl See what GOVT
See that expression of cOntentment in
her facet Observe the majestic curve
of those horns! Here is the figure I
was looking forl Ali it is 4. The
cow gives four quarts of milk per day.
GOnzia de MOria always marks the guam
tity Of milk on every cow, and Gus
toners then know what they are buying.
If l should send friend to you to buy
this picture for $1,000. But no. You
are able to hold it. You cannot be
tempted"
I'D sell it for.
~For five thousand" he interrupted;
but alasl cannot raise that sum-
Here in the foreground is an opening i'm
the rocks. Do you know what is in
there?"
| sNo."
"a jugw he hoarsely whispered-aa
jug containing remedy warranted to
take off moies and freekles. Try it once
and be conyincedp
He sank back and shut his eyes. She
sat up very straight and seemed to re-
fleet. She had mOles and freckles, but it
was none of his business. Presently she
stood up, rang the bell, mashed the
chrome over his head and walked out
without a word. Everybody laughed
but the man with his eyes shut. He
opened them after the car started, look
ed down at the ruined chrome, and sad
| ly sighed:
"Ahl masterpiece of Gonzia de MOria,
alasi that such fate should come upon
the-whO's got any chewing tobacco in
this carr