Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-24
AN INTRICATE PROPOSITION.
With Which Major Mac Greatly PMsslec
His Wife.

His Wife.
TSan Francisco Chronicle
"Did it ever occur to you, my dear,
that person going overland would have
to mail two letters day from the train
in order to have one letter a day return
to San Franciscan asked Major Max the
other evening, after the cloth was re-
moved from the table and his wife was
pouring his glass of two thirds benedic-
tine and one-third curacao, which the
major contended was the only civilized
drink with which to prepare for the after
dinner cigar.
Mrs. Max passed the major his cordial,
and waited moment before replying:
"Why, no; it seems to me that if person
travelling east mailed letter each day
by westward bound train, letter
would arrive here each day."
Mrs. Max answered cautiously, for
to deplore the fact that she was illogical,
he really derived much comfort FROM his
superior comprehension, and was some
what addicted to studying out intricate
propositions with which to puzzle the
lady.
"You think so, do your Queried the
major, as though about to be convinced
by her, while in truth he only wanted
her to commit herself more decidedly,
that his victory would be the more sig
nal.
"Why, yes,'' Mrs. Max continued,
somewhat assured, eff you mailed a let
ter on the first day out, it would get here
the next day; If you mailed one the day
following it would arrive here day after
the first, and the letters, being mailed
twenty -four hours apart, would, of
course, continue to arrive here day
apart. They couldn't grow further apart
on the road, could they, MAORI
Mrs. Max wound up this sequence of
feminine logic with triumphant accent,
and felt sure she had posed the major,
for he did not reply until after lighting a
cigar Then he said, slowly, "You post
letter the first day out"
eyes"
s'That letter arrives here the day after
you leave?"
Certainly. One day gone, one letter
received"
Exactly. Well, the next day-a little
curacao, straight, please-the next day
you post another letter from the train,
and"
"And that arrives here the day after
the first, of course, making two days
out and two letters received, and so on to
New York. Eth, major?''
If Mrs. Max had not been examining a
new pattern of lace she had in her sleeves
she might have noticed the satisfied smile
the major had as he leaned back in his
chair and said: "The second day out you
would be at Ogden?'
eyes"
"Wouldn't it take as long for letter
to return to San Francisco as it had taken
you to go to Ogden?'
81 suppose 500
ssThen the second letter would arrive
here two days after you arrived at Ogden
and four days after you left here?"
Mrs Max looked up and said, hesita-
"Well, don't see how you make that
out"
~ did not make it out, Mrs. Max. l
only asked if l was right
ssNo, you are not; if you postI a letter
on returning train each day say that
letter must arrive here each day, and
don't care''
"Mrs. Max, how long does it take to
go to New York;
"Seven days, suppose"
"Then letter day would be seven
letters You would post your sixth let
ter on your sixth day out, and it would
take it six days more to return, being
twelve days after you left here. Now,
as you had only mailed five letters before
the one which arrived on the twelfth
day, how could a letter day have ar
rived?"
Mrs. Max thought moment, and then
asked with considerable warmth: "Do
you mean to say, Major Max, that if a
person going to New York posts letter
on San Francisco bound train each day,
that it takes two weeks for all those let
tiers to arrive here?"
at certainly would" replied the Ma
jor,I glowing comfortably behind his
cigar. He knew Mrs. Max acknowledged
her defeat by the way she rang for the
tea, but she would not ask for further
explanation.
There are in Nicollet county so pianos and