Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-18
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
The Countrymnn, the shoeblack and the
Apple-speciacles and Opera Glasses
Hayseed at the Exposition.

The Countrymnn, the shoeblack and th,
Apple-spectacles and Opera Glasses
Hayseed ut the Exposition.
THE countryman is very much with US jus
now. The last days of the Exposition are at
tracing great numbers of him and his sister
and his cousins and his aunts.
On Smithfield street yesterday morning q
strapping travelstained farmer leading little
! girl accosted a shoeblack thus: Here, boy
lem US yer brush fer ninuter'
The boy sharp-faced. cute little fellow
handed over the brush, though he looked a
little askance at the dusty CLOTHES of the
farmer. The latter took the brush and swept
off the layer of yellow dust from his shoes
Then he bade the girl put her feet upon a store
step and proceeded to brush the dust off her
shoes. That done he gave the brush back to
the boy, and saying 'Thank yer" began to
walk away. The shoeblack's face grew very
dark, and he planted his small self in front OF
the burly farmer.
''See yere, boss" he said. saint you goin' ter
nay meT'
The farmer laughed and said: ''Pay yer fer
what7 Brushin' me own shoes and the gal's?"
"Bet yer lite, yer will, /" replied the shoeblack
sternly.
into his overcoat pocket. 1t reappeared with a
large red-cheeked apple in its embrace. He
gave it to the boy, and while the latter was
staring at this odd payment, he hurried away
and was soon lost in the crowd.
For fully two minutes the shoeblack stood
staring at the ruddy apple Then he said ap-
proximately: "I'll be BANKED" and sank his
teeth into the Juicy fruit.
y.
SHoRT-sIGHTED people are always at dis
advantage in a theater. Indeed, SO is everyone
who is obliged from any defect in the sight to
wear spectacles. Opera glasses are difficult to
manipulate while spectacles rest upon the nose
of the operator. I have heard some very pain
full remarks proceed from the mouth of an
otherwise v;rtuous young man while he has
been trying to get his speetacles and his opera
glass into common focus.
To the relief of these unfortunates comes
very well-known iron manufacturer of this city
with novel arrangement. He has invented
an opera glass with a spectacle attachment.
Behind the small end of the opera glass is
frame into which eyeglasses may be easily
slipped, and as easily removed again, so that
the lorgnette can be used one minute by
faultyeyed and the next by whole-eyed man.
patent has been granted on this simple, yet
ingenious contrivance, and 1 hear that $4,000
has already been offered to the inventor of it.
S.<
THERE were more people at the Exposition
yesterday than the big buildings could comfort
ably accommodate. Two-thirds of the visitors
bore outward and visible signs Of being truly
rural
In the picture gallery overheard one tawny-
skinned son of toll say to another: 'Pm burned
if can see anythin' but picters here Bill ~ and
the pair made their escape from the gallery as
soon as they could.
fss
The chaste delights which the approaches to
the Exposition afford to eye and nose and ear
have never been described properly.
Duquesne way from the corner of Sixth street
to the Exposition itself is sierra of smells de-
cidedly not sweet Yesterday afternoon man
who stood in cart outside livery stable got
good deal of fun out of shaking hay with
pitchfork over the heads of pedestrians. The
hay seed fell on city and rural visitor alike. No
body who passed that way could avoid receiving
the infallible emblems of country origin. Just
as well, perhaps. Evened up the crowd.