The Indianapolis journal., 1883-04-20
a "PERsoNAL" PARADE.
Thirty silly Women Place Themselves in
Humiliating Position Before Brute anC

Humiliating Position Before a Brute and
Fool.
Chicago Tribune.
Not long ago personal advertisement ap-
peared in a Chicago paper worded somewhat
as follows:
DERsONAL-wANTED. THE ACQUAINT-
i ance of a refined, prepOssessing young lady,
by a gentleman of drst-ciass standing, with
means. Object, matrimony. Address Y.
Forty-one answers were received by Mr.. X.
OF all kinds and styles-some daintily writ
ten and expressed, others misspelled and fold
ed with grimy fingers, but all containing the
assertion that it was the first time the writer
had ever replied to personal, and few
words of description, such as; Il am slender
and blonde" plump with black hair and
dark eyes," ETC., one concluding with the re-
mark, 'i am strckly Verchuous if you are
trifing don't anser." Many gave their full
names and addresses, while others concealed
their identity behind a P, o. or fictitious ad-
dress.
Mr.. X. replied to one, and requested the
writer TO meet him on the steps OF Nc
Vicker's Theater the next afternoon, carry
ing magazine in her left hand as a means
of Identification. Punctually to the minute
she appeared and stationed herself on the
steps, gazing anxiously around for the ap-
pearance of the gallant unknown. He, in
the meanwhile was observing her from dis
tance, but was far from being impressed
with her charms. Calling a friend, they
passed and repassed her, coolly criticising
and quZzing her appearance, but not allow
ing her TO suspect that one of them was
the gentleman she expected.
After half an hours solitary watching and
waiting she abandoned her post, and, ming
ling with the crowd, disappeared.
Mr.. X. viewed several of his correspondents
in this way at distance, but as all fell far
short of the standard of beauty and refine
ment he desired, he concealed his identity
from all, and concluded to wind up the affair
with grand dress parade of his forty-one
fair friends, and invited half a dozen gentle
men to witness it. He then wrote polite
note to each of the addresses he had received,
apologizing handsomely for his non-appear-
ance, with the plea of unexpected business,
TO those with whom he had already made an
appointment. He begged each one to meet
him at o'clock Friday afternoon, on the
north side OF Randolph street, between Dear
born and State and taxed his ingenuity to
suggest separate and distinguishing mark
by which each one could proclaim her iden-
tity. One he requested to carry blue veil
in her hand another to wear a green ribbon
at her throat, another to carry parcel
wrapped in newspaper, etc.
The stretch of sidewalk appointed for the
meeting was in plain view from the windows
of Mr.. y. S office across the street, and at the
time appointed the friends invited were on
hand promptly to see the parade. AS the
and excitement reigned in the Office. First
icame a stylishly-dressed little widow, saun-
tering carelessly along, carrying under her
arm huge newspaper parcel at which she
glanced from time to time with evident dis
gust. Then appeared from the other direc-
tion tall, dignifed young lady, who wore
at her throat green bow large enough to
decorate an entire st. Patrick's Day process
sion The blue veil also duly made its au-
pearance, carried by an elderly, dowdily-
dressed woman, who was so determined to
make the acquaintance of her correspondent
that she fingered on the block till dark, wav-
ing her blue banner at times as if to summon
the recreant knight to her side. But all in
vain; the shades of night fell at last like a
pail upon the city. and upon her hopes, and
as Mr.. x. passed her on his way home to
dinner she was just turning to abandon the
spot.
Thirty ladies of all ages and styles ap-
peared in response to the appointment, and
the fun ir the Office waxed fast and furious.
The notes were spread upon the window
sills, with the appointed signals penciled
upon each, and the gentlemen enjoyed the
piquant situation to the utmost, shouting
with laughter at the appealing, inquiring
glances cast by each lady at the gentlemen
hurrying past, with such complete and
comieal Inconsistencies of her twenty-nine
companions in misfortune. One young lady
had been requested to twirl her glove in her
IlSub anu as sue HdQ COIHe III All G16
way from La Grange to keep the appoint
ment, she was evidently resolved that there
should be no mistake as to her identity, so
she marched back and forth for three
quarters of an hour twirling that glove with
energy sufficient to have raised 200 pounds
fifty feet, if properly applied, or to have fed
half dozen electric lamps
The parade and the maneuvering were pro-
nounced grand success by the spectators,
and continued with no break in the ranks
for about thirty minutes Then the widow
pitched her newspaper bundle into the street
and walked briskly off, the rest following
her example in the course of the next half
hour. When all but the damsel with the
blue veil had departed the gentleman threw
all the notes into the fire, and they separa-
ted, after passing vote of thanks to Mr.. x.
for his delightful and novel entertainment
Thus endeth the history of the personal,
every word of which is true. with the excep-
tion of the locality mentioned, as will be
certified by any one of the gentleman specta-
5ors in the office, or of the forty-one ladies
Who answered the advertisement