The Irish standard., 1889-03-16
SOME CONDOLENCES.
Good Stories Overheard I'm q Washinetsz
Hotel Lobby.

hOC0A AOOUys
''Talking about condolences" said q
young man to group in hotel lobby the
other evening, within earshot Of Wash
ington Stay man, 'sreminds me of something
rather remarkable in that line which hap
pened to me the other day. You have
noticed, perhaps" he continued, shat sew
eral Washington young men wear Egyptian
scarabs as watch charms, similar to this
one on my chain. Well, l met one of these
young men the other day on the avenue,
little antique, he said: DO you know l
have lost my scarab, and am mighty sorry
for it, too. It was a genuine antique, and
can't replace it. I thought at first that
would recover it, as I lost it in sleeping
car coming from New York to Washington,
but all my efforts were fruitless, and so
have given it up Now, here comes the
strange part of it," continued the speaker.
s:The very next day stopped on the av-
enue to have a moments chat with mutual
friend, a well-known official at the Capitol.
Noticing my charm, he said: sWhat is this
little trinket!' I explained, and he con-
tinued: well, do you know, found one
like that the other day, and thought at
first it was mystical society badge of some
kind, and slipped it in my pocket and never
thought any thing more about it. found
it under rather peculiar circumstances. l
went to New York the other night, and
was the last passenger to leave the sleeper
in Jersey City. made hurried toilet, but
something hurt my foot so that had to
take off my shoe, and the little stone dropped
out. couldn't imagine where it came from,
and was going to throw 1t away, but MOTTO
ing the carved inscription, changed my
mind, and slipped it in my pocket
esI think know the owner,'I said, and
soon had the loser and the finder talking
through the telephone to each other, and
the former was rejoiced to hear of the re-
covery of his lost scarab. Now, although
they were we'll acquainted, nothing would
ever come of it at all if both hadn't noticed
n1y charm and told of the loss and find"
snow, that's equal to a coincidence that
I knew Of several years ago." said the
Colonel, land it was right here in this hotel
Office. had an appointment one evening to
meet an army captain who had just arrived
that morning from New York. He was
pretty high liver and was liable to take a.
little too much. He acknowledged to me
that he had what he called jag on the
night before. He was full before he left
New York, and got fuller with some friends
morning he was somewhat unsteady, but
dressed hurriedly ana came up town. He
was very busy during the day, and al
though he walked good deal he hadn't no.
ticed until dinner that he had been wear
ing another fellows boots, and they were
at least a size too large for him. He had
just explained all this to me in answer to a
question as to how he was, when saw
hln look steadily at gentleman
who had stopped in the middle Of the
office to light cigar. All of sudden he
jumped up, hurried across, and, slappin g
the other man on the shoulder, exclaimed !:
why, B., old boy, how are yous !
haven't seen you for ten years. 1t appeared
they were old friends, who had drifted
apart in the changing army life. He
brought his newly-found friend over and
introduced him. In the course of con-
versation the latter said: "A funny and
rather disagreeable thing happened to me
last night and I am suffering from it still.
came over from New York on the night
train. While getting dressed this morning,
I called the porter and said: 'These
aren't my boots.' 'Dey is de onllst ones
lef, boss, all de udder gents is gone, an dey
mus be yourn' There was nothing to be
done but wear them Although too small
managed to get them on, and have worn
them all day. They seem to be shrinking
every hour, though, and hurt like the
DEUCE
SIT was study to watch the face Of my
friend, the Captain. He looked from the
boots to the mans face while he was telling
the story, and when it was finished, he ex'
claimed: well, pll be dashed if you
aren't wearing my boots!' Explanations
and drinks were in order.n