The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-07-23
MR. ARMoUR,s FlRsr ooAcHMAN.
What Happened When He Gave Elm In
structiOns to Order an Outfit.

WHAT happened Nhen he dnVo HIM In
structions to Order an OUTFIT.
Il heard a story about P. d. Armour
the other day" said board Of trade
man. 1T was regarding M incident
that occurred some years ago. 1t was
about the time that gorgeous turnouts
became fashionable and Mr.. Armour
had Just purchased costly carriage
and a pair OF high steppers to draw it.
1T was the. caper then-and is now,
for that matter-to have a real i'm
ported coachman. To sit behind a
coachee who had driven duchess
carriage was the wild ambition of South
Sidedom. Well, Mr. Armour was right
up with the procession. He imported
an Englishman who was strictly proper
as to side whiskers and legs and who
had been employed in the hold kentry'
by the Duke Of Seven Dials or some
equally important parsonage.
'tOf course the new man had not
brought his masters livery with him,
and his wardrobe when he took pos
session of the Armour reins was not
particularly smart" In fact, II was
shabby. When the great pork packer
ended his first drive behind the i'm
ported coachman he looked az the lat
ter with an expression almost akin to
contempt and called him to approach.
Haven't you any better clothes
than theseF he inquired.
eli ave not, your honor. Wen
Hi was at 'ome Hi wore is grace's liv-
cry, hand couldn't ave brought that
with me; hand, hif your honor pleases
-beggin' your honors parding-H Hi
thought your honor would find me in
your honor's livery
81 haven't got livery-how could
find you in itY
Begin your honor's parding again
Hi would be 'appy hif your honor
would give me livery, said the coach
man.
" I don't care whether it's livery o.
not, but you must dress decently. Yor
can't drive my carriage in toys like yot
have on now Here continued Mr.
Armour, go down to this place and tel
that man to make you whatever clothe
may be necessary, and he gave hin
the address of Matthews, the fashion
able tailor.
"A week or SO later a bill from Mat
thews came to the Office. The clerk
read it and whistled softly, and passed
it from one to another to admire Tina
Englishman had played the old man
carte blanche to the limit There wa
box coat that was charged at 800.
top coat for $1l0 A livery suit TO
$95. And there were gloves ant
brooches and waistcoats and more 'liv
cry till the bill footed up about $500.
''rhe old man had not yet come +
the Office, and the boys speculated a
to what he would say and do when h
saw that bill All agreed that it woul
be something out of the common. An
It was, but not as we expected it. Tn
old man was younger and more veht
ment then than he is now, and whe
necessary he could inject a great des
of forcefulness into his utterances. q
many a clerk in the office knew.
1.-THE bill, with Others, was laid o
his desk, and when he came in the boy
stood around In silence and expec
ancy waiting the explosion. The 'ol
man finally reached Matthews bill
He kind of started at first sight OF I'll
figures, but then All amused expressio
and later broad smile came on h
: face.
"'Come here, Favorite, come her
Webster, said he, calling to him h
3 two chief lieutenants and holding u
the bill for their inspection. Whe
: they had inspected the bill momer
in silence the old man laughed till b
] sides shook, and said. with an air
$ satisfaction, That's the kind of coac
i man to have; he knows his bushes.
Tfl,.oo-.< T..v,ao