St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-01-30
A Scotch Tip.

A trif1e often has large purchasing
power. 1t is not necessary to learn this
from the tall official in gorgeous uniform
at the entrance of some Italian palace,
where a few soldi make the man all
your own. 1t is justified in Scotland,
no doubt, by the adage that many lit
ties make a mickle. This reminds me
of visit made to Hollywood, where we
were shocked by what we foOlishly sup
posed to be a case of mira dig. AT the
entrance we were solemnly assured by
seneschal in magnificent raiment,
stiff with gold embroidery, that, owing
to the presence of the encouragement
the palace would be closed to visitors
for several days; adding, however,
''But you are Americans, travelling, L
see: / must speak to the lord chamber
lain" Tbereupon his magniticence
moved away, knee breeches, stall, and
all, and during his absence we will sup
pose that he was clOseted with the
amberlain, instead of chatting in
corridor with his crOnies. In due time
he returned with the air of Roman
general fresh from the field of conquest,
and with the manner of one graciously
comforting high favor, he announced
that, in consideration of the clrcum-
stances, we should be admitted to view
the palace without delay. Understand
ing that the circumstances included a
tip, we handed over the money, and
supposed the financial part OF the bust
ness ended. Next we were turned over
to tall and extremely dignitied indi-
vidual of middle age, faultlessly attired
in an elegant broadclOth suit "a person
who, so far as appearances went, might
have been the encouragement him
SELF His forehead was massive and
high, and his bald head had the elegant
polish of billiard ball. 1t was rOOmy
enough for a fair sized handful, while
it must have resembled the Uranium of
Eschylus, upon which the eagle drop
ped the tortoise, thinking it rock.
With solemn and impressive dignity
this parsonage led us through the most
interesting portions of the antique and
romantic pile, indulging in high histOri-
cal retrospect, and waxing eloquent in
connection with those apartments assO-
ciated with the memory of the unfOrtu-
nate Mary Queen of Scots, not emitting
to point out the place where her favor
lite, RizziO, was murdered. Indeed, the
spun vi IhC hooI aPpOdiOu oS oiouSH IL
had been rubbed up afresh, for the
benefit of Americans, with bit of CORY
beef. Finally we babe our impressive
cicerone adieu, with many thanks, and
were about to depart when deep flush
stole over that noble brow, the seat of
so much high philosophic thought.
Then the dignity relaxed: "Ahem !!
yOu-ah-yOu forget the-feew In a
confused manner we commenced fun
bling in our pockets, not knowing what
to proffer, thinking, too, that enough
had already been paid for furnishing
up the spot on the floor. To end the
embarrassment, l dropped into the
functionary's jewelled hand the first
coins l could come at, the value of
which he computed in a trice, saying,
"Threepence more, if you please"
With fresh bushes the deficit was made
up, and we departed from Hollywood,
cogtating whether or not the noble ge-
MUS after whose head our great Scot
had patterned his own would have
deigned to think of the tip.-B. f. De
Costa, in Harper's Magazine for Febru-
ara.