Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-03-31
A Blue Man.

by reputation, Mr.. Kellner-of Kellner
g. Schwartz-the eminent dyer. He is
a worthy but obstinate man, and is Of
poor but German origin. When he
once conceives a prejudice against a
man, he can never be induced to over
come it. Long ago he conceived a
most violent prejudice against Mr..
Walker, who Is, according to the testi-
mony OF his friends. a really unobjec-
tionable young man.
The facts. seem to be that Mr.. Walker
some years ago was overheard by Mr..
Kellner in the act Of speaking IN DIS
respectful terms of the trombone, an
instrument to which Mr.. Kellner has
for years been unhappily and habitually
addicted. Greatly outraged by what he
considered an indirect attack on his
reputation, Mr.. Kellner Indignantly
told Mr.. Walker that he was a scoun-
drel, and forbade him ever to cross his
threshold.
This prohibition was an extremely
painful thing to Mr.. Walker. He had
been for some months a warm admirer
Of Miss Kellner, and had been accus.
toned to spend three evenings in
week in her society. Knowing the in
exorable character Of the indignant
dyer, he foresaw that he must either
abandon the young lady all together or
resort to strategy and deception. Be-
ing naturally a straightforward and
honest man he greatly disliked to de-
celve even an unreasonable father. but
he yielded to necessity and the imper-
ious nature Of his passion.
In accordance with a system Of
clandestine interviews, under cover Of
darkness, in the back yard, Mr.. Walker
met the dyer's daughter three weeks
ago, at about 9 o'clock in the evening.
The latter had secretly issued from the
back door, and her lover was awaiting
her under the shadow Of the projecting
caves of the wash-house. A large tub
and long plank happened to be con-
veniently at hand, and, placing the
plank across the tub, the youthful pair
sat down to sweet converse
The plank was halfinch one, and
seemed to be sufficiently strong to bear
the weight of two people, with large
margin of safety. When, however, the
weight Of Mr.. Walker and Miss Kellner
was concentrated on the precise centre
Of the plank-that is to say, immediate
ly over the middle Of the tuba con-
tingency which the maker of the plank
did not have ia view occurred. The
plank first bent and then broke, and
Mr.. Walker, falling backward, was
plunged, head and shoulders, IN sthe
contents Of the tub. With great pres
ence of mind he kept the young lady's
head out of danger, but he could not
prevent her from assuming a sitting
position with her lap partially submerg-
ed.
The moment the unfortunate lovers
effected their release, the lady fled into
the house and Mr.. Walker climbed the
fence, the charge from old Mr.. Kellner'f
shotgun happily failing to hit him. He
went home, and as soon as he had III
the gas he was horrifed to find that bis
face, hair, neck and hands were dyed
deep and brilliant blue. When he
realized the fact that be had fallen in Q
tub full of Mr.. Kellner's 4" Indestrusti-
Bile Ultramarine Blue, he fell back
upon chair, feeling that he was ruin
ed man.
Of course, he tried every means u
wash away the stain, but soap and ho
water were IN vain. He remembered
Mr.. Kellner's boast that his dyes coul'
not be washed out, and he gave up th
attempt. He sought out a faithful
friend who was familiar witt water
colors, and implored bis aid. Th
friend could give him no hope. He did
indeed, offer TO cover Nj. Walkers fac
with film of transparent yellow, whic
would have the effect of changing hi
tint from blue to deep and beaatifu
green, but this handsome offer was de
clined.
So, too, Mr.. Walker refused to ca
on Mr.. Kellner and ask him for som
chemical which would remove the blue
To do this would have been to impl
cate Miss Kellner in an indIscrec
though innocent act. Mr.. Walker pre-
ferred to go to a blue and lonely grav
rather than to incur the slightest rlsl
| Of injuring the reputation of his adore
one.
c Physicians are divdedm opinion a
r to whether Mr.. Walker will fade
B. course of years. So far his color
# pre-emnently fast, and neither water
y sunlight nor sulphurous acid has tn
5 slightest effect upon it. Fortunatel
n Mr.. Kelluer has never learned tn
II truth. and imagines that Mr.. Wake
a has left town, driven away by emor'
for having blasphemed the trombone
The story is, of course, very melaI
IS choly one, but as it affords a clue
II the possible origin of all contemporal
g blue men, it deserves the attention
ol chemists and anthropologIsts.
IS
s AN IDIoT's WONDERFUL MEMOIR
Ie The Pennsylvania State Trainir
Ie School contains an idiot boy with