Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-06-01
HELPLESS AS A PAUPER.
Experience of a Philadelphia who Was
without Small Change.


without Small Change.
speaking about having money in
your pocket and yet feeling as help
less rs If you were paupcr." said Il
Philadelphia to some friends who
were discussing the subject, reminds
me of small experience l had in that
line little while ago. l was in the
northern part of the city, and in a
great hurry to go to Seventh and
Market streets. In my pocket was a
twenty dollar gold piece and no other
money-not even nickel. Fully per-
suaded that no car conductor would
change the coin for me, l entered
saloon and ordered glass of beer,
throwing the yellow piece upon the bar
as | did so. The bar keeper turned
from the keg rack, placed the beer be-
fore 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 cant work that here; it's been
tried afore.' protested that the coin
was genuine. that it was all / had and
that wanted change to pay car fare
but it was no use. In his own words,
he was onto the game and left the
place filled with my own rage and COW
cred with that bar-keeper's suspicion.
''On the next corner was drug store.
l went in with the twenty dollar piece
in my palm, and upon thrusting it be-
fore the clerk. asking him whether he
could change it. he replied sneeringly,
and in tones which implied that he
felt hurt at me for taking him for a
green-horn: We'll. not this time
"Once outside the place. it occurred
to me that if | had made a purchase
there would have been no trouble in
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 show case. and politely
told the salesman, if he would change
it for me, l would be only too glad to
buy two dollars worth of his goods.
The smile that crept into his face per-
suaded me that had conquered him.
In reality l had only put him on his
guard. He merely SAID as he turned
to wait on another customer: And
I've had 'em offer to buy five dollars
worth, but we're not in that business
Nothing but the fear of being arrested
on the double charge of assault and
battery and showing counterfeit money
prevented me from throwing a tobacco
scales at that heartless wretch.
''At three other places the coin was
refused curtiy and suspiciously, and
finally fully realizing what an absurd
thing it was to do, | hurried over to
the conductor of II Columbia avenue
car that had stopped on crossing,
and showing him my solitary coin,
asked him if he could make change for
me if got aboard. He didn't even
answer me, but as he yanked his bell
to go ahead | heard him say gruffly to
a fortunate possessor of nickel who
stood on the platform: Guess that fell
Ter thinks | own the road
Now, not one of the people who re-
fused to make change for me touched
the coin; the sight of it was enough
for them and it made them suspicious.
What did l doP Why. walked from
Columbia avenue and Eighteenth street
to Seventh and Market and the big end
of my twenty-dollar piece went to pay
for the supper and theater tickets.
had wagered on being there at the APP
pointed time. That's what a nickel
cost me when didn't have it "-Phiia-
detDhia Press.