The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-23
THE ExPRBssMAN's NERVE.
Breaking q Mirror Was Not a Crush
ing Calamity for Elm.


ing Calamity for Elm.
From the Chicago MatI
J. Wyatt McGaffey, secretary of the
Chicago Society Of Artists, last night related
this
Down on one of the south side avenues
resides Jack Blythe, with his wife and twin
| boys. 1t SO happened that last week Jack
| had determined TO remove from his fiat to
one few blocks away, and he made up his
| mind to oversee the job, but word came
| from the firm that sudden press of bust
| ness necessitated his running down to st.
| Louis
Left to her own resources, the good wife
secured the services Of an expressman, and
everything went swimmingly until the last
load was being delivered at the new home.
One of the chief ornaments of Jacks
library was pier glass. 1t was a handsome
piece, greatly priced by Jack, but the fates
so willed that it should become victim to
the ruthless hand Of the expressman, for he
slipped, knocked it against the balustrads,
and its beauty was forever spoiled.
"A feminine shrek and masculine
ejaculation followed the crash of the glass.
then silence for moment while both
viewed the ruins. The lady was the first to
speak.
You will have to pay for that glass
Right here came into play the express
mans natural nerve, hanked by suavity
and politeness, and reinforced by an APP
parent contriteness and humility of spirit.
MADAM, l acknowledge my careless
ness. aud am deeply panied at the result Of
it, and would be cnly too glad to replace
the glass we're my circumstances such as to
permit of it, but my paying for it is en-
tirely out of the question
why eau you not pay for its queried
the indignant lady.
Maha 7 will ctafa fha
cisely as | can, and you can then judge Of
my ability to make good the damage to
your property. am married man, have
three children, and receive the muni6cent
salary of 81 SO per diem for driving this
wagon. Your pier glass was a valuable
one, costing perhaps $50. 1t would take
my entire salary for space of about six
weeks to remunerate you-a thing which.
you can readily perceive, would be impos-
sible for me to accomplish without serious
Inconvenience to my family. However
much desire to replace it. and assure you
that such is my earnest desire, must again
state that it is without the pale of posi-
bilitY.'
Then shall make your employer pay
for it,
"'Madam, allow me to inform you that
everything he possesses is in his wife's
name, and without tedious suit at law you
could accomplish nothing
'The little woman was cornered A law
suit was out OF the question, for then Jack
would know all about the mishap, and the
thought uppermost In her mind was to have
the glass duplicated without his knowledge,
necessltating its replacement Immediately.
The expense was a minor consideration.
"'Pll tell you what I'll do she said, you
take the dimensions go down and get the
glass and set it, and then will pay the bill
The expressman was silent a moment be-
fore replying.
"'Your proposition is a magnanimous
one, madam, but 1 am forced to reject it.
You forget that am not working for nv
self. My time belo S to my employer. To
go down town would take very nearly two
hours, and this | could not conscientiously
do without his knowledge and consent
This was too much for the now thor
oughly indignant lady. She could see no
way out of the difficulty, and had recourse
to woman'S last and most powerful argu-
ment-tears-whichs seemed to have the de-
sired effect on the expressman.
81 will do 1t, madam. What my en-
ployer will say do not know, but will
take all the chsuces to accommodate you.
| will return as soon as possible
sin due season he returned and set the
glass. IL fitted admirably, and but for the
debris no signs of the accident remained.
The bill, made out on the stationery OF Brit
tie, Ward a. Co. for just $50, was presented
and paid.
And now for the sequel. Glass, you
know. is one of those articles In which there
is AZ immense profit TO the retailer, and
wholesalers quote il subject TO several dis
counts In this ca.e the expressnan got 30
per cent. Off the list price. he representing
himself as a dealer. and 20 per cent more
Off for cash, leaving him a net profit on the
deal of s25-a pretty fair days work for an
expressman ia dull times"
Kidney affections Of years stauding cured