Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-03-10
WHEN YOU WANT FIVE CENTS
Very Much, Sonnet imcs You Can't
I;aisc II ON u $50 Piece.

Speaking about having money i'll
your pocket, and yet feeling as helpless
rs + you were n raupcr, said Phlla-
delphian Ia some friends who were dis
cusSiug the subject, ''rcminds me OF II
small experience had in that line a little
while ago | was in the northern part
OF the city, and in great hurry to go to
the corner of Seventh and Market
streets. In my pocket was a $40 gold
piece and no other moncy-not even n
nickel. Fullypersuadcd that no car con
ductor would change the coin for me, l
entered saloon and ordered q glass of
of beer, throwing the yellow piece upon
the bar as / did so. The barkecper
turned from the beer-rack, placed the
beer before me, eyed the coin an instant,
looked at me sharply, then reached for
the untouched glass of beer, put it down
behind the counter, and said: You
can't work that here; it's been tried
aforc.' 1 protested that the coin was
genuine, that it was all had, and that
L wanted change to pay car fare-but it
was no use. In his own words, he was
onto the game, and l left the place
filled with my own rage and covered
with that barkeepcr's suspicion.
son the next corner was q drugstore.
1 went in with the $40 piece in my palm,
and upon thrusting is before the clerk,
asking him whether he could change it,
he replied, sneeringly, land in tones which
implied that he felt hurt at me for TAX
ing him for a greenhorn, We'll, not this
time
"Once outside the place, it occurred
to me that if L had made a purchase
there would have been no trouble i'll
getting change. Resolved not to be so
stupid again, made for an inviting
looking cigar store, five doors away,
where | put my luckless coin on the
glass top OF the showcase. and politely
told the salesman if he would change it
for me | would only he too glad to buy So
worth of his goods. The smile that
crept into his face persuaded mo that I
had conquered him. In reality had
only put him on his guard. He merrily
said, as he turned to wait on another
customer: 'An' I've had EN- offer to buy
s. worth, but we're not in that business
Nothing but the fear Of being arrested
on the double charge of assault and bat
tci "ii't oIo'luS CoulIcIIclt ulOIlcy pre-
vented, me from throwing the tobacco
scales at that heartless wretch.
''At three other places the coin was
refused, curtly and suspiciously, and
finally, fully realizing what an absurd
thing it was to do, L hurried over to q
conductor of Columbia avenue car
that had stopped on a crossing, and,
showing him my solitary coin, asked
him if he would make change for me if
l got aboard. He didn't even answer
me, but as he yanked his bell to go
ahead l heard him say gruffiy to fortu-
nate possessor of nickel on the plat
form: Guess that fellow thinks 1 own
the road
"Not one of the people who refused
to make change for me touched the
coin; the sight of it was enough for
them, and it made them suspicious.
What did 1 do! Why;I walked from
Columbia avenue and Eighteenth street
to Seventh and Market, and the big end
of my $40 piece went to pay for the sup
per and theatre tickets / had wagered |
on being there at tho appointed time.
That's what a nickel cost me when l |
didn't have it. "-IhiddeiplM Press.