The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-30
The Velvet Period.

A couple OF Old rOosters were standino
smoking hve.cent cigars, one evening
when young fellow passed along with a
velvet coat on, and before he had got out
or sight an old fellow Of about sixty years
passed the same place, aud he hal on a
velvet coat. One OF the two old roosters
Knocked the ashes off his cigar and then
said:
ut catches thcm all sooner or later" +"
What DO you meau2" asked the other.
why, the velvet coat PERIOD" said the
hrst Old rooster, as he took h,s cigar back.
and pulled on it to keep 1t going, ''Every
man, some time In his life, either as boy or
mGn, sees a time when he thinks tho world
Will cease to revolve On Its axis If he does
not have velvet coat, and he ls bound to
have one If he has to steal the money to
buy 1t. 1t is had enough for boy to have
the period to come on, but it Is Infinitely
worse to escape 1t In youth aud have it
attack man III middle life. but It always
hits them sometime. Now you wouldn't
think to look at me-, that ever had the
velvet coat fever, but had 1t once in its
most Violent form. About twenty years
ago, at the time Of tho oil excitement, r
made little money III oil and got to
thinking how ! could show how [ was no
ordinary son OF u man. and all at once IT.
struck me that velvet coat could do II
Tor ME, ana had snryeyOr measure me,
and had a velvet coat made, l was anxious
To have 1t done so l could put 1t ON and
20 around among the boys, but when It.
was done and brought home, ! ,.ll at once
lost my grip, and could hardly get up
courage to put it on. let it Law for a
week. until my people got to making fun
OF me about being afraid to wear IL, and
finally put IL on aud wore it down Town
after dark. Only a few people saw it,
and l went home satisfied that the worst
was over What wanted was the com-
munty to get accustomed to It gradually.
After awhile wore it to my Office on days
that was going to be busy, so | knew
wouldn't have TO go around town. After
the boys in the office got 80 they CO lld
witness my coat without gong behind a
partition to laugh at NO. L concluded to
wear 1t on the street. We'll. there was an
organ grinder with monkey out on the
sldo walk when | went cut, and the bcastly
Italian hud on un old velvet coat like
mnc, only soiled. The monkey was
Jumping around picking up pennies, and
all at once he saw me. snall never for
gct the expression on that monkeys face.
lie seemed to take me for his master, and
clearly reallzcd that his master had pro.
Cured new coat without asking tho con-
sent Of his little brother. There WAS n
look of pain III tnou yh the monkey felt
hurt That such duplicity had beGh practiceu
upon HIM, aud then the monkey w0ulu
look al the clothes III which he was dressed
up, with contempt, and then he would
look at my coat with envy. never felt 90
sorry for monkey In all my life. could
stand 1t to hear strangers say, as | passed
by, what blank fool Is tha!2' out to see .
that poor mo lkcy grieve over tho style
was putting on was too much, and re-
solved If ever got that coat home would
put 1t whore it could never be seon again.
The organ grinder became alarmed at the
actions OF the monkey, and Jerked on the
chain, causing the monkey to turn a back
summersault and the poor ANNUAL came up
standing Ill front of his master. He looked
ut him, and seemed toDc al once treasured
and to feel that the appartlon was only
horrid dream. and thea he looked over hla
shoulder to where | stood, to make sure,
and there l was In all my glory Then
tito monkey was iiisa sn;: .;cga:: &c make
up faces at me, and got out of there and
went home, with shouts OF the monkeys
audience ringing In my ears, and took Oft
my coat and Have 1t to tho man that took
care of my horse, and never SEQ a velvet
coat, other on boy or man, but [ think
what confounded fool made of myself
IN my Oscar Wilde days. Ii you have
boy, teach him TO 90 through the velvet
coat period young, and he will thank HIS
stars"