The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07
MY RDELwErss.
lNex York Graphie.i

lNew York Graphie.j
 it is not such superiaSiveiy beautiful flower, the edelweiss. But its modest blossom is, in song and story, 90 closely associated with r nance and sentiment that it finds favor in all eyes. Parsicu- lariy do the ladies delight in it. And happy the swain who, by Eivalling the members of the Alpine club in agility and perseverance, or peEchance by timely bribery, shall secure cluster of the plant for his fair friend. Of the edelweiss and the Jungfau and the Rigi vas thinking as I walked down Broadway one morning. Quaint sights in Derne and Thur, pleasant hooks of Lucerne and Locarno were projected upon the camera of memory. The air of Murray Hill was as br: cing as the atmosphere of the Up- per Engadine, and felt phiIanthropic. l recalled with feeling akin to remorse the smallress of the fees had given to certain guides and servants, and vowed if l ever visited Switzerland again my votive offerings should be greater, especially to the head waiter. One of the fundamental duties of travellers is to keep on goo terms with that important functionary. So faithfully is the precspt followed, gen. erally speaking, that many tourists come home having learned little from their trip in Europe save few head waiters' names and the culinary ffsees de yssfsfasee of a dozen hotels. Thus was l ruminating upon the goodly folk of Switzerland when whom should l meet but a group of Swiss peasants, just ashore from the Normandie. Among them was a tall, bony young fellow, strong and supple as mountaineer. He wore, among other articles of national costume, a broad brimmed hat in fact he seemed all hat, and at his band what might one be- hold but large cluster of edelweiss. Here indeed was a souvenir of Alpine peaks and valleys, a veritable fragment ot Swiss flora. What a choice object to take home to the Family! The Family dotes on Switzerland, and everything per. chalets. The Family would rejoice to welcome this stranger from the land of glaciers and jodeling. l had found treasure. So into the little crowd of inn migrants l pushed and, and attacking the tall young man in easy hotel French, l made known my desire. All his friends began talking at once, some urging him to sell. others declaring with a profu- sion of gesticulatipn that they would be late for their train if they delayed upon the way.
 G "l Sill ye you dollar for the edel-
 "H How much is that in my money ?" he asked.
 Five francs" replied.
 Not enough ]" said he.
 !" Make it ten," rejoined.
 !" It is done" said the Swiss.
 My edelweiss was secured. Without examining it carefully placed it gently in the folds of a silk handkerchief and went upon my way with a light heart. What a treat l had in store for the fam fly. Yielding to that inclination for ex- aggeration, which is. one of my bevy of besetting sins, felt sure that 1 should in- sinuate l had paid an enormous sum for 1t. ] knew this would be wrong, but felt that l should do it. waited till after dinner to present my little gift, when we were all assembled in the draw
 Here" began, "is something re- ceived today. Ordered it from Europe, you know"
 "Dear me, what is it? And where is the boxs You should always save the box.",
 By the way, what an attraction a box per SC seems to possess for the fair sex. Yet, odd as it may appear, can state from personal experience that Tiffany refuses to sell empty boxes. What a paradox!
 This stringent rule was occasioned by an over-demand from impecunious young men had habit of buying their boxes in Union Square and their jewelry in the Bowery.
 Instead of making an evasive answer 1 produced the handkerchief containing the frcSvaiIe. As the wrapping was un- rolled there arose an exclamation ot de. light, "Ohl It's edelweiss p Where did you get it?" asked the family, scrutinizing it under the ultra maroon lamp-shade.
 "I sent to Geneva for it." said I. cit very likely came originally from Inter- laken or Lucerne or"
 "Or the shop of the Bon Marche in Paris" rejoined the family. "Can't you sec it's made of wool ?"
 A child could tell it is artificial. And you paid large sum for iti We'll, l will take twice the amount and 20 | shopping tomorrow"
 So spoke the family, with discernment beyond her years.
 l have perused this story of my igno- miny in order to inculcate the ethicalles- son that one should always speak the &Nr1s in thA $m