The Osceola times., 1882-03-04
CUPID'S VERY LATEST.
New York Mercury.l

An increasing phase of city life, that may
escape the ordinary observation, is a method
of clandcstinc correspondence. gradually
developed, until its important bearing on
morality and public deconcy cannot iall
TO be recognized. Readers of the Mercury
have no doubt notcedin certain shops rows
of numbered drawers, placed generally in
corner little out of the way, and yet not
too obscure or inaccessible. Their use
might be the text of an interesting study IN
sociology. They were the small beginnings
of q letter box system, which now seems
likely to be q strong rival to that of the post
Office, but which has its peculiar assocla-
tions, more or less incapable of sustaining
the full light Of publicity.
CIGAR STORE MYSTERIES.
4 reporter year or 80 ago obsefDcd
sign in a corner cigar store, "Prlyate Letter
Boxes" 1t piqued his curiosity, and he
made inquiry concerning the meaning. 81
let those boxcs,' said the proprietor, "for
what seems an nconsderable sum, but they
bring me a good deal in the long run. You
see, there | have thirty of them. At dol
lar month, that is twelve dollars year
each, or three hundred and sixty dollars u
year for ALL But that is not all. They
bring to me and hold for me custom which
otherwise ight not get, and in this way
| they are worth to me at least a thousand
dollars year, probably agreat deal more
! "But how can you compete with the post
Office in this matterr' The cigar deale
! winkcd. and gave a Cuban shrug to his
/ shoulders.
"Ah! there are great many little in
| trigues going on that nobody knows any
thing about except those who are imnedl-
atcly interested in thcm," he continued
'"There are hundreds, yes, thousands OF peo-
ple in the city. who would be only too glad
To have some place apart from their homes
and places of business whore their letters
may be delivered, especially letters OF q GER
tain or an uncertain character
HIGH-TONED PATRONS.
what kind of people are they who pat
rOnize your
"What kindi Say, do you want to hire a
boXg What do you wanti A cigarE The
| tone had lost some Of its sclf-cainplacenry,
and had grown suspicious.
"Ah. yes, that's what came in for. ci-
gar, if you ylcase," The cigar was bought
and lighted.
Now. then" continued the reporter, 81
| don't know but might like one of those
| boxes. STILL You know, would like to be
sure as TO what kind of company am put
! ting myself in
.'Oh. as to that there's no cause to worry
| yourself. You couldn't be in better If you
| belonged to Grace Church, and,' soto yoce,
IL don't know but you do
"The best people, then, are among your
patronsY
'Some of the best, so far as social position
and apparent respectability go, and some oi
the wealthiest, too"
"Who, for instance !'
II can't tell you that. How long wsud
my custom continue if gave away my Gus
tomcrsg'
CUSTOMER.
At tins moment a young man entered who
was clad in the height of fashion. lie look
ed uneasily at the reporter. as one woult
glance at an unwelcome intruder, and ther
turned a longing eye toward the corner
where the numbered drawers were. Making
a pretence Of relighting cigar which hat
not gone out, he fingered little, and thef
sauntcred out. The proprietor did not give
him any sign of recognition, but as the
young man turned after closing the glas,
door, the eyes of the two met.
"Thats one Of them, dare say" suggest
ed the reporter.
"That !" was the response, with well sim
ulated wonder; 81 never saw him; don'i
know who he is
sight Of the young man with the tine raj
mcnt, who, by chance, Of course, re-enterct
the cigar store which he had left only q few
moments before. When he again came out
he was tearing apiece of paper into yer,
small fragments, and had an air Of immense
satisfaction.
The investigator found in certain bal
rooms and in some hotel Offices similar pos
ties rcstantcs, but the patrons were not al
ways of the same choice character. Tn,
system, which was begun for the conycn
ience of few, probably, in cotcrie o
"young bloOds,' who all knew one another
and were pledged to keep one another's Sc
crets, had multiplied itself Extensively. Up
on various flimsy excuses the reporter gain
ed access to number Of shops consccratet
to the trade in feminine knicknacks and fin
cry. The uninitiated observer finds no d iii
Guilty in believing that every one of the fai
danes who enter these minor shrincsof Ju
no Is attracted by some rich parure display
ed in the window or is bent upon SOM
severe errand of prosaic utility. How
DECEIrFUL ARE APPEARANCEs,
and what a world of rare romance may lurl
within the portals of a common pin-and-nee
die store Watch the young lady glancini
carelcssly at tischus and ribbons, and mari
how she gradually approaches the door a
the rear end Of the counter. Suddenly sh,
is gone--whithcry Patience Pretty sool
see reappears, radcnt or sombrc; a littl,
flurricd. perhaps, If she is still somcwha
new to the intoxicating excitement of lirta
ton; says a little word TO the salcswomal
by way of rcsuming and finishing an inter
ruptcd conversation. and then walks brayell
out in the street and is again lost in th,
crowd.
What did she do in the back room? Sh
opened tiny little drawer with n numbe
or letter on II, with tiny ornamental Ike,
which she took from her purse, and foun,
there either emptiness or a missivc. SUP
pose her church-going mother. or her vine
gary maiden aunt should enter the shop
which is a fashionable one-while she il II
its inner apartment. what would happen
Nothing at all extraordinary. The youn
lady can survey the salesroom through
hole in the inner door and wait her chanc
of exit, or 90 out by n rear way, or bold
!, come forth and assert that she has just bee