River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-09-15
Deceptions in Silver.
Cincinnati Enquirer.


A man can forget disappointments
most grievous, but his otherwise rigid
vertebra will generally bend when he
discovers that the white metal is peer
ing through the plating on what had
been given him as 'solid silver ice
pitcher" His recollection of the name
of the donor then becomes vivid, and if
per chance there is any likelihood of
his memory tagging on the subject
there are none more prompt at jogging
that memory than the faithful wife,
who was never known to forget such a
gross deception. Several receptions of
this character have been recently devel-
oped in this city. A gentleman called
at one of the prominent jewelry manu-
featuring establishments, and, present
ing a small, bent drinking cup, said he
wished to have its original shape re-
stored. 'It is a sacred memento,' y
continued its owner; "was given to us
on our wedding day; is, as you see, sol
id, and has, for years, been the cup
from which my only child, who is now
dead, quaffed. To us the token is sa-
cred" Before leaving the manufac-
tory the gentleman was convinced that
the only way the vessel could be prop
erly repaired was by REPEATING. Into
the same establishment, a few days
since, walked gentleman airing a
full silver tea-set, all carefully packed
away in a basket. The set, he stated,
had been presented to his wife on their
wedding-day by very wealthy relative,
and was solid. For years they had
guarded it as the apprehensive banker
guards his safe. To them it has prov
ed constant source of worriment and
care, and their homely tastes had new
er permitted its use. They had there
fore, resolved upon offering it for sale.
The gentleman said he supposed the
patterns were somewhat antiquated,
but expected that for old silver he could
realize at least $500 for the set. The
delude1 bridegroom's chagrin was i'll
concealed when his attention was call
ed to certain marks which are quite
likely to betrav plated ware, and which
made him sensible that the property
long believed to be worth at least 81 900,
originally sold for half hundred. A
Cincinnati gentleman was not q little
amused few mornings since at hear
Ing inc ldSb Will anu l6SIhI16ub vi IL
deceased father read in which solid
silver ice pitcher, the gift of q dear
friend, was bequeathed to beloved
child, the identical pitcher which the
gentleman had sold to one of the guests
present at the wedding Of the deceased
years before. The price of the "solid"
treasure was then but $35. The poor
victim of the deception, however, had
died blessing the economical deceiver.
"This solid silver pitcher / purchased
of an Alabama family badly pressed
for funds" remarked proud native of
this city, as he entered Fourth street
store and offered the property for sale
as old silver. 81 paid but SIS for it just
at the breaking out of the war. 1t had
been presented as a wedding gift to the
owners, and | should have had to pay
at least $500. | suppose you can afford
to allow me at least 5000 for what metal
there is in it?" "My dear SIR" replied
the dealer, "your pitcher is worth to
us about 70 cents. The plating upon it
has worn SO thin that / wonder that
even In your confidence the fact was
not long since discovered" There was
then no necessity for argument that
''things are not what they SEEM" 1t is
no doubt in very poor taste for one to
look gift horse in the mouth: it is in
equally bad taste to present as genuine
what will some day prove spurious.