The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-05-26
Verbeck's Jokes.

Verbeck, the well-known prestidigita-
teur, once took it into his head to fire.
quent coiffeur in a rather questionable
part of Paris. The establishment wore o
not very prosperous aspect, the staff
seeming far more numerous than the
customers. At the conclusion of his
first visit, Verbeck, after paying his %
centimes for being shaved, with some
ostentation dropped a two-franc piece
into the receptacle for the pourboires.
A loud and general "Merci, Monsieur"
naturally greeted this princely proceed
ing, the garcons vieing with one another
as to who should show the generous
client the most attention. On the sue
ceeding day Verbeck made his appear
ance in the shop about the same hour,
and was received with marked respect
One assistant got new cake of soap
ready, another procured napkin of
ivory whiteness, while third carefully
strapped the best razor in the place.
The patron himself offered his new Gus
toner a paper, and even the lady of the
house stepped down from her compton
to ask whether Monsieur" would
like foot warmer. Verpeck, how
ever, calmly paid the 25 CEN
times and dropped couple of francs
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 own 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
hairdresser's youthful daughter paid him
pretty little compliment, at the end of
the operation the two francs sailing into
the tronc as usual. Saturday, the day
on which the tlrelire 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 that the wealthy customers silver
should forthwith be spent in neigebor-
ing gargote. So far good. On opening
the tronc, however, to the disgust OF
the expectant circle, not a
single piece of silver was to be found!
As natural result, everybody began to
suspect everybody else, the mistrust of
the garcons gradually centering on the
patron. The mistrust deepened into
hints, and hints into open charges Of
n alversation of the moneys placed in the
supposed culprit's keeping. and the posi-
ton of the latter had become far from
enviable when, luckily, Verbeck thought
it time to reveal his identity. Having
explained that he had always substi-
tuted sou for two-franc piece, by
sleight-of hand, when, seeming to drop
the silver in the box, and having COM
pensated the garcans by the present of a
louis, mutual apologies were exchanged
between employer and employed. and
the postponed visit was made to the wine
shop.
On another occasion Verbeck was the
author of practical joke, the victim of
which was q garcon at o well-knOwn
cafe. On entering, Verbeck called for q
book and tho latest evening paper,
and he was speedily served with
the journal and the beer. Scarcely had
the waiter turned his back than Verbeck
remark. d, "Be little more attentive,
my man! 1 ask you for book and you
bring me mazagran" The garcon was
rather astonished, feeling almost certain
that he had served his customer with
book. But linking he had pos
sibly made mistake, he said moth
ing, and quickly returned with an
other book. He had not taken three
steps, however, before Verbeck again
called him back, and somewhat sharply
observed: This is rather too much.
garcon! l have twice requested book. y
But, sir, I have just n n n" you can
see for yourself that you gave me bava-
roise. 1 want o glass of ale!' The as
founded servitor fetched third book,
which was similarly transformed into a
glass of currant syrup. This time the
garcon loudly protested, and the propri-
etor had to intervene. Verbeck stating
his case so calmly and plausibly that the
wretched garcon was on the point OF be-
ing cashiered on the spot, when his tor
mentor interviewed and avowed himself.
He showed that he had carried three lit
tie TASKS filed respectively with coffee.
milk and syrup, the contents OF which
his manual dexterity had enabled him,
under cover of the newspaper, to trans
fer in turn to the glass-equally dexter
ously emptied of its contents-brought
him each time by the victimized waiter.
: Figaro.