Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-11
THE SILVER THAT Is NOT SOLlD.
Cruel Dcceptions Pract,ced by some C,ncin
natians.

Slk.N ~ NoA SoLAp.
Cruel Dcceptions Pract,ced by some C,ncin-
natians.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
\ man can forget disappointments most
grievouS. but his otherwise rigid ver.ebra
will generally bend when he discovers that
the white metal is peering through the
plating on what had been given him as )
"solid silver ice pitcher" His recolsc-
ton of the name Of the donor then be-
comes1 vivid, and if perchance there is
any likelihood Of his memory tagging on
the subject there are none moro prompt
at jogging tlrat memory than the
faithful wife, who was never known to
forget such 4 gross deception. Several de-
ceptions Of this character have been re-
Gently developed in this city. \ gentle
man called at one Of the prominent icwelry
manufacturing establishments, and, pre-
senting small, bent drinking cup, said he
wished to have its original shape restored
1T is a sacred memento, continued the
owner; "was given to us on our wedding
day; is, rs you see, solid, and has for years
been the cup from which my only child.
who is now dead, quaifed. To us the token
is sacred" Before leaving the manufac-
tory the gentleman was convinced that tho
only way the vessel could be properly re-
paired was by replating. Into the same
establishment, few days since. walked a
gentleman carrying 4 full silver tca-set, all
carefully packed away in 4 basket. The
set, he stated, had been presented 10 his
wife on their wedding day by Il very
wealthy relative, and was solid. For wears
they had guarded it rs the apprehcnsive
banker guards his safe. To them it
had proved constant source OF wor-
riment and care, and their homely
tastes had never permitted its use.
They had, therefore. resolved upon offer
ing it for sale. The gentleman said he
supposed the patterns were somewhat all
tiquated, bat expected that for old silver
he could realize at least $500 for the set.
The deluded bridegroOm's y chagrin was ill.,
concealed when his attention was called to
certain marks which are quito likely to
betray plated ware and which made him
sensible that the property, long believed
to be worth at least 81, 600, originally sold
for half hundred. A Cincinnati gentle
man was not little amused few mornings
since at hearing the last will and tesla
ment Of 4 deceased father read in which 4
solid silver icc-pitcher, the gift Of 4 dear
friend, was beqreathed to \ beloved child,
the identical pitcher which the gentleman
had sold to one of the guests present ut
the wedding Of the deceased years before.
The price of the "sOlid" treasure was
then but $35. Tho poor victim Of the de-
ception, however, had died blessing tho
economical deceiver. ''This G. solid silver
pitcher purchased of an Alabama family
badly pressed for funds, remarked a proud
native of this city, as lie entered Fourth
street store and offered the property for
sale as old silver. 81 paid $75 for it
just at the breaking out Of tho war. 1t
had been presented as 4 wedding gift to
the owners, and should have had to pay
at least $500. Isuppose 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 Is 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 arguing that "things are not
what they SEEM" 1t is no doubt in very
poor taste for ono to look a gift horse in
the mouth ii. is in equally bad taste to
present as genuine what will some day
prove spurious.