The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-04-12
SEEING THE ELEPHANT.
An Unsophisticated Young Mans
City Experience
He Finds Accommodations and Amuse-
ments in Chicago Como Rather
High-How City Sharpers Man
age to Thrive.

"If you tell me what time the next
train leaves for Iowa without charg-
ing me for it I'll be much obliged"
said stranger, evidently from the
country, to the Herald reporter at the
Northwestern depot u day or two ago.
He was young man scarcely more
than twenty-five, whose rather hand
some features were well Drowned by
the sun.
When the reporter had impaired the
desired information, the young man
continued: --.---
May be you thought it strange
that 1 said without charge but if
you had had my experience during the
past two days you wouldn't t wonder at
it Besides. am dead broke, and if
hadn't taken the precaution to buy
d return ticket before / left Clinton
County I'd have to hoof it home"
You've been extravagant, have
you?" asked the sympathetic reporter.
"Extravagant amt the word, 'tisn't
strong enough by half. I've been the
prodigal son, only I've got beyond
him, for haven't got the husks of the
pigs with which to fill my empty
stomach. II hasn't been my fault.
though, for IL I'd been left to myself
I'd have been economical enough.
Come 70 think Of it, It's my fault after
all 1t all comes Of my not being able
70 say no. But l never could / do
honestly believe that if a girl were 10
ask me 10 marry her L couldn't re-
fuse her, even If 1 were engaged to
another young lady"
The beggars took charge OF you,
eh?"
Il guess you'd scarcely call 'em So
Let me tell you about it. l. is my first
visit to this big city, and 1 came in for
a good time. When I'm home | shave
myself. Ny beard hadn't got twenty
four hours old, but my hair didn't
seem TO set according TO the style Ihad
noticed on the cars and along the
street as had walked, grip in hand,
up TO the hotel. So l stepped into one
Of the tousOrial parlOrs and took
vacant chair, ~ which stood a rosy
checked fellow with n baby mustache,
hair parted in the middle and a lisp in
his voice When he had cut my hair
and as you see he has cut so close
70 the scalp that I'll not need comb
for three months-he wanted me TO
stand n shampoo | said / guessed
not, upon which he fred away, telling
me that he knew of this, that and
t'other one who got the cancer, bald
head, scald-head and other troubles
from failure TO keep his scalp clean.
ard added that mine was in the worst
condition of any persons he ever saw.
/ told him TO go ahead TIL say moth
ingof the pain Of that operation, for
il is over now, and l shall never try il
again. l neglected to say that he
talked constantly, never stopping for
"a second. He then forced a shave on
me, that he did. Bay rum, sir?' he
asked. when he had carried me
through that torture. / nodded Then
he wouldn't release me until | had ac-
quiesced in a demand that / have my
mustache dyed. Most people would
think fellow would be satisfied with
that robbery, but he wasn't. He lit
orally forced me into taking hair 10
tion, a cake of pomade and a bottle OF
bay rum. 1 turned two shades whittier
than the powder he'd spread so freely
on my face when asked for my bill,
which was seventeen dollars.
"Oh, that'n never do" objected the
reporter.
That's what 1 said, but the boss OF
the shop said twas always ten dollars
for n dye. The lotion. pomade and
bay rum were five dollars, hair cut
seventy-fve cents, shampoo the same;
shave. twenty-five cents bay rum on
face. ten cents" -
but fifteen cents is yet unaccount-