Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15
ELI PERKINS TALES.
One Way in Which Max 0Rell Was a
Great Success in America.
ENGLISHMEN ASHAMED OF TRADE.
Lady Granville Gordon's Descent From
Court to Bonnet Making.
FUNNY EXPERIENCES In HER SHOP
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE prsrArcH.,

/
LONDON. June IA party of JohI
Bullites at the Savage Club last nigh
wanted TO know what Max O'Rell was doinf
In America so told them this story:
"As Max O'Rell came into the train
after his Portsmouth lecture. polite youns
man stepped up TO him and said: Il beg
pardon, but are you the gentleman who de-
livered the lecture last night?' I am said
Mr.. O'Rell, with some pride. We'll, I wan
ever enjoyed myself more than when you
| were talking
You are very complimentary, said
Max, blushing to his ears-'very compli-
mentary. am glad my humble effort wal
worthy OF your praise and the proud
O'Rell took the young man warmly by the
hand.
"'Yes, continued the young man, 'youl
lecture gave me immense pleasure. You
see am engaged to Portsmouth girl, and
her three sisters all went, and had my girl
in the parlor all to myself. Oh, 1t was q
happy nighti-the night you lectured in
Portsmouth When are you going to lecture
| there again?'
1t is amusing to see how abject the So
called trades people in England are in the
presence of royalty, and how they bring dis
grace upon their own calling. The tradA-
men are only parodies on men. They love
to kiss the feet of an aristocrat and are per-
petually admitting that they are only cellu-
loid, while an ignorant, drunken duke like
Lord Profigate is pure ivory. They con-
slider 1t disgrace for a man to take even
mental interest in trade. The other day I
stumbled into q large carriage mandatory
in bennington. The proprietor bowed and
scraped as if 1 were duke when priced
$500, two-wheel dogcart (about the same
price you would pay for 1t in New York;.
II am deeply interested in the trades" I
said, sand speaking of carriages, should
like to know what wages you pay journey
man carriage maker in England?"
II beg pardonP' he said, turning red in
the face.
81 should like to know the wages of your
blacksmiths, woodworkers and painters,
and
"Ahp' be stammered, st thought you
were a gentleman; 1 did not know you were
interested in trade"
A DOLLAR TWENTY A DAY.
My voice was in good trim that day and
would have filled the Chicago Auditorium,
and I gave it all out in free lecture to this
bass wood hunkey. Then I went among the
skilled workmen, who informed me in the
gentlest manner that the cringing, red
faced rank worshipper paid them about
81 20 a day.
Between Mayfair and Oxford street is a
pretty shop window with sweet lace curtains
and three of the snartest bonnets in Lon
don. This shop with the sign Madame
Lierre, is kept by Lady Granville Gordon!
Think of it-a titled lady making bonnetsI
1 called there with my wife and she found
she could buy bonnet for IS and it was
shown bv the lady herself. OF course there
were other bonnets, running up to SIG.
have not seen a bonnet in London that could
not be bought for $40. In New York bon
nets get up to $40 and $50, but only about
$40 is bonnet; the rest is chain lightning |
and carbonio acid gas. When 1 asked |
Lady Gordon, if it was not disagreeable to
her to show bonnets to every one and if it
did not change her social position, she said:
CAN'T GO TO COURT.
"Yes, but I am philosopher withal. |
Of course. being in trade, I cannot go to
court without a special permit from the
Lord Chamberlain"
''Could you go to court if you should give
up business?
'CerLalnlys n1auaUe GllSe, VINO uSeQ TO
keep q shop, retired, married the rich Mr..
Isaacson and is now welcomed at court My
little girl, when she grows up can be pre-
,ented, but not by me, unless I shall have
retired on tortune.",
"Do you mind telling ne how you hap
pened to go into business?" I asked.
you know we Americans are very
curious"
Certainly" said the Lady Milllner,
smiling, II needed money. l started with
$500, but have prospered and now have
more than Thousand customers. 1 used to
20 to drawing rooms before 1 became bread
winner, but good bank account is better
han Queens drawing room to me-"
did your lady friends all stand by your
"Not all, but only three deserted me-"
"Of course you have many curious e1-
'eriences?" suggested.
A TITLED MILLNER's EXPERIENCES.
80, yes. One day an over-dressed woman
anne in and 1 attended to her personally.
She was irritable and hard to suit, and
lnally said. 1 want you to send me the
orewoman. 1 don't want to be annoyed by
. shopgirl who gives herself airs On
eaving the shop she asked whether Lady
Gordon ever came there hersels.'
That was her Ladyship who attended
'ou first said the attendant.
go, dear she said, and to think came
ere on purpose to see her, and then sent
er awayP
ION another occasion" said Lady Gordon,
a rich tradesman's wife made a bet that
he would bring a titled lady to her house
n business. Well she wrote note request
ng that Madam Lierre would wait upon her
q person about bonnet. I fell into the trap
nd she had the. pleasure OF introducing
lady Granville Gordon TO numerous friends.
We all chatted quite freely, but before 1
1T she called me aside and said:
You have such sweet tastel Do send
le tomorrow the best bonnet YOU can make
mo matter what price She won the bet
everly and never knew it till months
lterwards." ELI PERKINS.