The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-04-29
verbeck's Jokes.

verbeck, the weil-known prestidigitateur,
once took 1t into his head to frequent Golf |
feau in rather Questionable quarter of
Paris. The establishment wore not very |
prosperous aspect, the staff seeming far more
numerous than the customers. At the con-
clusion of his first visit Verbeck, after paying
his Is centimes for being shaved, with some
ostentation dropped a two franc piece into
the receptacle for the po,rrtoires. A loud
and general "Merci, Monsieur" naturally
greeted this princely proceeding, the garcons
wing with one another who should show the
generous client the most attention. On the
succeeding day Verbeck made his appear
ance In the shop about the same hour, and
was received with marked respect. One as
sistant got new cake Of soap ready, an
other produced napkin Of ivory whiteness,
while a third carefully stropped the best ra-
zor In the place. The patron himself offer
ed his new customer paper, and even the
lady of the house stepped down from her
| compton TO ask whether Monsie ur would like
foot-warmer. Verbeck, however, calmly
paid the 25 centimes and dropped a. into the
tronc as before. . On the third day, even
\ greater Difference on the part of the master,
mistress and men. Two pots of flowers had
been brought down from the patronne's
| room to deck the toilet in front of which the
open-handed customer was in the habit of
seating himself. On the fourth day the hair
dresser's youthful daughter paid him pref
ty compliment, at the end Of the operation
the IF. falling into the tronc as usual. Sat
urday the day on which the tiretire had to
be opened, the excitement became excessive
The proprietor in an unguarded moment de,
cided on closing the shop an hour before the
usual time, and all made up their minds thai
the wealthy customers silver should forth
with be spent in neighboring gdrgote. Sc
far so good. On opening the tronc however
TO the disgust of the expectant circle, not
single piece of silver was to be found! As
natural result, everybody began TO suspect
everybody else, the mistrust Oft gdrcon
| gradually centering on the unfortunate pa
tron. The mistrust deepened into hints, ant
the hints into open charges Of nalversatioi
Of the moneys placed in the supposed cul
prlt's keeping, and the position Of the latte
mad become far from enviable when Luckily
Verbeck thought It time to reveal his idehtl
ty. Having explained that he had alway
I substituted sou for a IF. piece, by sleight
hand, when seeming to drop the silver Int
the box, and having compensated the gareon
by the present Of louis, mutual apologize
: were exchanged between employer and en-
T ployed, and the postponed visit was made
/ the wine shop.
t On another occasion Verbeck was the au
/ thor of practical joke the victim Of whic
= was a gdrc0n at well-known cafe. On eI
?. tering Verbeck called book and an evenin
Y paper, and was speedily served with the Jon
ID nal and the beer. Scarcely had the walt'
y turned his back than Verbeck remarke
it "Be a little more attentive, my man!
e asked you for bock and you bring me ma
d dgran % The gdrcon was rather astonishe
10 feeling almost certain he had served his Gu
q toner with q book, but thinking he had po
70 sibly made a mistake he said nothing al
G. quickly returned with another book. He III
Is not taken three steps, however, before VI
beck again called him back, and somewh
sharply observed, "This is rather too muc
garconl / have twice requested toci
"But, sir, have just" "You can see
- yourself that you gave me baudroise.
:. rant glass Of ale !" The astounded ser
=. tor fetched third book, which was simil
ly transformed into glass of currant syrr
This time the gdrcon loudly protested
" the proprietor had to intervene, Verbe
:, stating his case SO calmly and piausibly q
- the wretched garcon was on the point OF
ing cashiered on the spot, when his tormt
tor interviewed aud ayowed himself.
=. showed that he had carried three little ma
- filled respectively with coffee, milk, a
= syrup, the contents of which his manual d
~ terity had enabled him, under cover OF
newspaper, to transfer in turn to the glas
~ equally dextrously emptied Of Its content
ON ON brought him each time by the victimi
=, waiter.-Figdro. - .-