Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-08-24
UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS.
HOW CRY FOLKS GUARD AGAINST
UNPLEASANT ACQUAlNTANCES

Notes of d Home Circle Conversation
Taken in by Charming Fellow-A
Gated view-Notes.
Notwithstanding the true American free
advances of others which perhaps exists in a
greater measure in New York than else
where, there are yet certain bounds of in
hmacy which may not be passed until time
has ripened acquaintance into confidential
friendship. The man one meets daily at the
office, in the store, on the elevated railroad
Or at the club converses freely after intro
duction, and both gives and receives pleasure
by daily talks, but he is not invited to visit
The home circle, nor does he give such an in.
7itation until long acquaintance has famili.
arized each party with the circumstances OF
of the others life.
In a recent home circle conversation the
writer asked the question: Elbow long and
well should one know person before com.
hitting himself to confidential friendships
The answers as was to be expected, were as
different as the natures of those who made
them. II can judge a man tolerably well al
sight," said an impetuous New Highlander,
not yet familiar with metropolitan ways.
eff he has an honest eye and a good face, is
not marked with a rummy nose, and talks
sensibly, I should not be afraid to ask him to
my home. He might turn out badly some
time, and might be ashamed of having
known him, but that cannot be helped. One
never knows the whole of anybody's life bis.
tory" There was an ominous pause after
this ELUSIVE statement 1t was not pleasant
to express less generous sentiments, but the
countenances of the auditors showed thai
they could not agree with him.
AWFULLY TAKEN IN.
''You will find that you cannot go on thai
rule here" said one who has lived longer in
this city. 81 used to feel just that way and
acted accordingly, but now I make it rule
never to invite an acquaintance to call until
have known him favorably at least three
months. If I am introduced to stranger
and like his appearance, try to be cordial
to him during that time. Not hearing
anything against him, Or seeing any
thing wrong about him, I then give him an
invitation. I was awfully taken in once by
one of the most charming fellows in the
world. He looked like prince and talked
like an angel, but he is in Canada now and a
bank down town mourns for him anc several
thousand dollars which he stole. Since then
have not been hasty in making friends"
''Three months is not nearly long enough
said a bright, chatty lady, the sister of a well
known clergyman. "Ben cher brother) and
have to meet all sorts Of people in our church
work, and we always wait year. Most OF
our friends did so with us and they were
right, judging by our experiences. One of
the incest and daintiest of little women moved
into the fiat next to ours soon after brother
was called here, and told him meant to call
on her. didn't go just then because had to
20 home and take care of mother during
sickness. One day after I had got back
happened to pass her door while she was say,
ing good by to a friend, and 1 heard more
slang words in one minute than in all my
life before. You can guess that I decided
not to make her acquaintance"
'You were perfectly right in saying that
year is not too long," said another lady,
picking up the conversational thread
"When we lived on - street we had for
near neighbors as nice a looking couple as
ever were seen. The man went to his bust
ness every morning, and the woman was
singing over her work all day long. My hus-
band thought they were nice, and so did I,
but we learned better before long. One
night they had supper party that began at
10 o'clock and ended at daybreak. Every
one must have been drunk, for they sang and
shouted so that nobody else in the house
could get a wink of sleep. After that we
heard them scolding each other every night,
and at last something exploded like a cannon
cracker between them. Both commenced
divorce proceedings, and the wife was turned
out of the house because she couldn't pay her
rent and the husband would not"
IN A VERY QUEER WAY.
s'No doubt all of you are right from the
point Of view of personal interest" said the
unsophisticated New Highlander, who has not
yet realized that personal interest rules the
best of us in an inordinate measure. sYou
have had bad luck, but most people are good
and well disposed. Now, I've just made
some new friends in a very queer way, and
mean to stick by them until I find they are
not all right. Last night when I was going
up the stairs of my boarding house in my
usual dumheaded, absent minded style, !
turned into the room below mine by mis-.
take Thinking, of course, that was in my
own room was dumfounded at its appear.
ance, with trunks piled up in the corner and
low, sweet female voice struck on my ear as
stood there amazed. There, baby it said,
lis papa and before I could turn her arms
were about my neck. Then she saw what
had happened and accepted my apology,
though not very graciously at first. We are
good friends now, 1 am glad to say, and
laughed over the accident this morning."
A general comparison Of notes was made
of t1,ao I<>Ft ,i,f
sion reached was not perhaps the best, but
most people will think it prudent one. All
kinds of people live in this great city. Not
only are there good angels with good faces,
and bad angels with bad faces, but there are
also good men and women whose counte.
nances would convict them of any crime,
and evil disposed wretches who look as il
they belonged to heaven rather than
Oh earth, and who talk as sweetly as If "but.
ter wouldn't melt in their mouths" Every
man and woman rightly limits the list of in.
innate friends to the rule of congeniality.
Well disposed, decent, law abiding people
very properly avoid those who have not SIM
liar virtues. In large city active and STIR
ring people meet new acquaintance every
day. These ought to be received pleasantly
and politely, but may in common fairness
be compelled to walt until time mas proved
their desirability as friends.-New York
Press.
A Cane for Footpads.
A wicked and murderous walking cane was
displayed in an avenue store the other day.
Its hollow covering was punctured with at
least twenty-five holes, and behind these
were concealed as many sharp steel blades.
The object of the cane was at once apparent.
Suppose an unfriendly hand seized it on
dark night The owner of the stick would
simply draw it backward, and 10! from out
the little holes the knives would fly to do
their bloody, decorating work. No footpad
would grasp that cane more than once. The
principle of the invention Is not new. 1t is
already used with success in a patented
watch guard, the spikes of which spring out
and hook themselves in your pocket when
your watch chain is pulled, WASHINGTON