Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-04
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
A Prize Story About Some English Candles
Prer nature Crocus' Fate.

Pre1 nature Crocus' Fate.
IN certain he lusehold the other night the IL.
Illuminating tas failed early in the evening
As usual in sue lb emergencies the supply of oil
happened to hatye run out, and there was moth.
ing for it but tc fall back upon half dozen or
namental candl les which had been on parade
duty for many, many weary months.
1t added rath' or to the merriment of the gath.
ering-for a snl all card party was on hand-this
enforced twill ,ght. There was enough light to
serve the whist players and when the last rub.
Der was lost an won, enough to light the way
for several inge snious raconteurs. Stories were
told by the do2 zen, and at last a committee of
three ladies of good taste and good judgment
was chosen to dlecide who told the best story.
prize-suitat'ly enough, the volume Of De
Maupassant's 'stories called 1.-THE Odd Num-
ber"-was pro- missed the winner. There were
stories upon every conceivable subj ect told.
Romantic tales, bloodcurdling yarns and jocu-
lar narratives. But the prize winner was a
story upon the monosyllabic text, "Candles."
"a
HERE is the sstory.
"a few ye .ars ago." said the historian, "a
young man of his city, who had good looks. a
sufficiency OF m oney and lots of pluck to carry
him through, -rossed the Atlantic to do Europe.
With some trivial exceptions he did it. The
adventure f,.aye to tell of is the least romantic
of all that occurred to this dashing young
Pittsburger. He was In England for some
time, seeing the leisurely way that is the best
way. Country and city caravanseres called
him their own for greater or less periods. The
customs at EnglisSh hotels are much the same;
SO are the prices. 1t was one Of these customs
that disturbed my friend.
HE found wherever he went that the waiter
who showed him into the parlor. if it was even
ing when be arrived, almost invariably lit all
the candles in the chandeliers, which usually
contained n large NUM- ber of the old-fashioned
lights. These candles, always figured in the
bill, although they had been used for but 20
minutes and no more, So one night as this
trick was played upon him he determined to
get even. He took all the candles ana put them
in his valse-the one he carried with him
wherever he went.
I'm the morning he was called late and had
but minute or two to make his train. He
had paid his bill the night before. so he rushed
off toward the station. AS he got on to the
platform the train was in sight There were
many stylish passengers about, including some
Americans. 1t was among this crowd he
landed, and the jar of his sudden halt, sup
pose sent his valse flying, open, and candles
began to rain upon the platform. They were
plain white wax candles, slightly singed at the
top. My amiable young friend did not at
tempt to pick up the candles; nor did he even
attempt to explain to anybody what they had
been doing in his valise, He confscated no
more candles after that.
50
Up through the ground crocus fair
Its orange blossom shyly poked;
But King Frost frowned with chilling air
And the poor little crocus s'croaked.''
HI.