Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-12

PRISED.
Prom the New York Times.
s.Here is your watch said the jeweler. as he
tore off small white tag from the ring of a
well-wOrn silver watch and handed the time
piece to a reporter one day last week "If 1t
breaks inside Of a year you can bring It back
and will fix it for nothing | don't think it
will trouble you though, for it was very
thoroughly repaired by one of our best work
men, Il hope not" replied the reporter. as
he paid the jeweler % and left the store with
the watch ticking loudly in his pocket. For
nearly week the watch was model of regu-
larity. recording the eme even to the minute
with the great. yeliow-faced clock in the city
hall tower. One morning however. when it
was drawn from under his pillow. the reporter
discovered to his dsmay that the hands were
pointing 20 the hour of o'clock. 1t couldn't
be afternoon early in the day. He rubbed
his eyes and looked at the dial again. Surely
there must be some mistake about
IT. He examined the hands They were sta
tionary. He placed it to his ear 1t was as
silent a clam Tue watch had stopped inside
OF the first week and in spite of the three-dollar
charge and the years guarantee He shook it.
A few feeble ticks responded to the lar The
stubby second hand moved slowly about omar
ter around in its short circuit and then stopped
as before. He pounded it on the bed and made
some uncomplimentary remarks about the
matchmaker. This evoked another semi-revo-
tuition, which was again succeeded by the same
silence.
After breakfast the unfortunate owner stepped
INTO the nearest watch-maker's. a seventy nine
shop. IN upper Broadway and asked the pro-
prietor what was the matter with the watch.
The jeweler took the time-piece. pried open the
jnsideco with a small can-opener. and peered
Into the works. After cursOry examination
he handed it back TO the owner. at needs
cleaning" he said.
Cleaning" calculated the reporter in aston
1shment; why paid 20 only last week for hav-
Ing it thoroughly cleaned"
81 can't help that" replied the jeweler; ..yOu
were very foolish to take such watch to a
secOnd-ciass workman. The reason it don't run
is because it dirty. The pinions are covered
with dust and the oil is all gum. Leave it here
and Will Tx 1t for you in good shape. Call
again on Saturday and it will be ready. IT will
only cost you $3.50 and you will then have
watch You can be proud Of
Thoroughly disguised with the watch and the
man who had warranted it. the reporter de-
clned the offer. pOcketed his time-piece and left
the shop. A few doors below on the same
thOrourhfare, q brazen watch with a pair of
black hands pointing fiXedly to 1920 swings
from rusty iron bar. The reporter passed
under this sign and entered another jewelry
store fleshy person who was seated at a
workbench facing the window reached for the
watch and proceeded to open it as one would
open an oyster. Placing an eyeglass which re-
seIubes very short telescope to his eve he
critically examined the movements. After tax
ing observations from every position watch can
De held in he ventured an opinion that the
jewel which covers the escapement piniOn was
broken. Yes said he after sundry punches
In the vital regions of the works with small
steel instrument, such as dentists use .'the
Jewel Is broken ANY man that with
half an eye. wonder the watch run at ALL
Have you dropped it anywhere? No? Well,
that $ strange. | can't be mistaken. The JEWELS
certainly broken Leave it with me and will
put in new one. 1t will cost you only S. and
call around some day next week. What name.
please: The name was not given and the
watch was returned
In the block below a tall street clock indicates
the presence of another jewelry establishment
while large show cases filled with costly trink-
cts and brilliant assortment of diamonds and
watches in the front windows attested its claim
as fashionable emporium The reporter went
IN there lan@uid young man. with droop-
ing mustache the color of barley straw took
the watch, and after working his way into the
movement. placed q small lOrgnette to his eve
and glanced over the assortment of wheels and
plnlOnS and springs which were SO nJmerously
and adversely disordered. He remarked: Your
watch is very badly out of repair. The escape
ment does not seem to be doing its work. The
har-sprina is too long. 1t has too much play
VIII cut 1t of aud shorten it," Here he reached
Tor small instrument to sever the spring. but
the reporter Interposed. NO. he exclaimed.
Is he rescued the time-piece. ''dont cut the
spring. guess that is not what ails the thing
for paid 80 for having it repaired and cleaned
only last week. and it ran very nicely until this
morning. when it stopped"
''On yes. interrupted the young man, IL see:
you dropped it and the spring was spread out by
the jar. 1 will undertake to repair it thor
Oughiy for "a. so that you can rely on it. will
give you guarantee. and if it breaks"
the reporter did not remain to hear the rest
OF the sentence. The watch had all the guar
antees it could stand. He had heard BY this
time so many different opinions upon the cOndi-
tiOn OF the watch that he was determined to
learn, If possible what did all it. A few blocks
down the street another jewelcr was found
After several shakes he applied the watch to
his left ear and listened attentively: Ithink, :"
said he, with shade of doubt in his voice.
THAT the handspring is broken" He then
opened the inside case and scrutnZed the
works carefully. Yes" he continued 1.-THE
handspring is evidently broken. You must
have been very careless with the watch and let
II fan No? Well. you have wound it up too
tight. That often is as bad 4 fall. will put
you in new one for So The offer was not ac-
Copied. and the reporter walked out of the
shop with his dilapidated crUnometer in his
pocket TO the great disgust OF the jeweer. At
the next store small. nervous man was exam
lining double row of fiy-specked watches sus-
pended from small iron rack in the window
anu baking III the sun. which filtered through
the dusty window panes. He took the time
piece and reaching into drawer pulled ont n
white tag and proceeded to tie it to the ring.
"Nhat name:"he asked. mo name 'repIied the
owner; please tell me what is the matter with
The watch With an air OF annoyance the ner-
yOus man exposed the works a nd Drobad around
the balance-wheel with what appeared to the
owner to bc almost wIful malice lone of the
plnions l. beGt.the escapcnent is out OF balance
and 1t needs cleaning. 3. call next SATURDAY."
Tie owner protested and the watch was re-
turned
Having had sufficient eE perience in Broadway
he now visited the BOwery. A large gilt sign
over wide doorway and several suspended
Clocks and watches. also in gilt batokened a
'Jewelry palace" and into it the reporter
walked. What Is the matter with this watch:"
ne asked The proprietor. an elderly man, took
The time-piece, shook it. listened. opened it,
gaZed into il and shook his head Hiram" he
caiiet, to curly -headed young man. who was
working at the rear end OF the store, cleaning
Je~eiry with long brush and some white pOw-
DER The young man stepped to the counter
wat lsh de madder NIT dat vatch!" asked the
proprietor Hiram looked at the watch as one
Wonld regard u very sore thumb and shook his
neat Without replying. Moses" called the old
gentleman To second young man. younger than
Hlram Who came from behind the rear partI-
.lon- Moses" said he, ''you dell de shente-
man vat ish de madden nit his watch" Moses
looked at the poor, miserable time-piece with
even more soiemnity than his brother and after
eundry lncnbrioas shakes OF his head, respond
ed: DE cap chewel ish O-vet of blaze If wash