Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-23
AFATAL FIDDLE.

London Truth.
OF rather d common type, but not on
that account undressing, was Philip
Pottinger PiPps, Of Her Majesty's Pa
per-fastener and j-pen Office But what
ever may have been his faihngs, lie had
this advantage over the majority Of
junior government clerks-he was a man
with an ambitiOnj two ambitions, In fact,
and these were q to become permanent
under-secretary Of tine paPer-fastener and
j-pen department, and o. to move in
''sOciety'-to bask In the smiles OF
duchesses, and to become that (to him
delightful animal, ga man about town, "
a man "WhO goes everywhere"
Now Mr. Philip POttinger Pipps was
gifted, not only with a soaring ambition,
but also with q very fair share of the
common sense necessary for the direC-
ton Of his efforts to rise; and before he
began operations, having sat himself
down to count the cost, he came to the
conclusion that In the attainment of his
official ambition, the pre-attainment Of
his social ambition would be Of material
assistance to him. He had reflected that
in this selfish and sOrdid world Of ours
'there is nothing for nothing, and pre-
ciOus little for siZPence," and fully real
lied that he must make himself useful,
to gain an entrance into the society to
which his social status die not entitle
him, and with this object ia view ne de-
voted himself to the development Of his
one accomplishment to wit, violin
playing.
he was fair amateur player, but
nothing to rave about, and he knew ez-
actly the limits of his own skill-R
knowledge, however, which he kept very
carefully to himself, for cOnversatiOnally
he was am artist OF the haute CONNIE, and
his musical talents did not lose by his
recital of them.
To attain the other object of his am
bitiOn-the -secrstariat of the pa
per-fasteuer and i-pen department-he
counted on the Rll-pOWerful assistance
OF his "chief," who was q very great
man indeed, and who looked cOndescend-
mgly and approvingly upon the aspir-
ing Pipps, to that gentleman's inward
and outward satisfaction. The 'chief'
was a collector pur sang-a brio B-brac
hunter, a cOuneisssur, an amateur dealer
In articles Of virtu of every sort and
kind and It would be difficult to name
any article capable Of collection that he
had not at some time or other collected,
and further, that he had not at some
tims or other bought and resold at a
profit. If any one had called him a
'dealer" he would have been furious,
but it was whispered about that In buy
ing curiOs from Sir Dash Blank, K. O.
b, the maxim caveat emptOr applied
with more than customary force.
One msrning the WOuld-be under
secretary had been finally interviewing
the great man on the subject, and was
Just leaving the room with every cause
to feel satisfaction at the result of his
interview, when his eye fell on an old,
woIm- eaten, leather violin-case, under a
chair in the corner OF the room.
sob 70 said Mr.. Philip Potbinger
Pipps, 81 see you have a fiddle there,
sir. I didn't know that you were a vio-
linist also"
'sNor am I, - replied his chief; shut
collect hddles among other things, and
that one has Just come in. 1t is a very
fine Guarnerius; look at it and see what
you think about IT. )"
In a moment the fiddle was out Of the
case and under the scrunity Of Pipps.
P. P. PiPps, esq, didn't know q ''StFad"
from a AIireoourt ''ahop-un" really, but
he posed as a finished C0nnoiEseur, and
now his eyes dilabed with admiration
and ezcitemen las he restored the instru-
ment to its case, exhRustng In its honor
his vocabulary Of aPpreciative ecstasy.
As he left the room his chief raised one
eyebrow, and laughed softly to himself
but our connoisseur didn't see him.
Two days later a great official recep-
ton was held at the suburban Office, and
the chief OF the Paper-faateDer and
i-pen department. having promised
Mr.. Pipps all his support In
his candidaturs, took him to this func-
ton, and not wanting to be bothered
with his protege. presently introduced
him to the g0Odnatured and mondaine
little Countess Of Barsacras The de-
light of Mr.. Philip PolHngar Pipps
knew, very naturally, no hounds EE6
was Ehe beginning OF his social a1lc
sud already he fanCied himself
under the boredom Of ths i.gEsat 9e