The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-06
THE WRONG COIN IN THE SLOT.
Trouble Washington Youth Had in OBJ
tanning an Opera Glass.

trouble Washington Youth Had in OBJ
tanning Opera Glass.
Attached to the backs of every alternate
sarquet chair in some of the theatres here
is little peculiar shaped nickel plated box.
put there for the benefit of the occupant
Of the seat behind the chair to which this
IS attached. Inscribed upon the box is the
Information that by placing dime in the
slot and turning the tnumbscrew TO the
right pair of opera glasses can be had for
use during the performance. One of these
little boxes in one of the uptown theatres
was the other evening the innocent cause
Of considerable amusement and the dis
comfiture of very fresh young American
who essayed to play sharp trick on the
opera glass scheme and its schemer.
All l intended TO engage pair of
glasses outside, don't We know, but I'll
just try pair of these in the box; they
say they are very good-excellent, don't We
know" said he, loud enough to be heard a
good distance around him. The play had
just begun, and he was in a hurry. He
stood up to take off his overcoat, to the
annoyance of dozen or SO behind him, in
stead of having done so in the lobby.
When taking his seat he found 1t neces-
sary to stand up again to search in his
trousers pocket Tor the necessary dime.
He found what he wanted, and placing
leftover piece carefully back in his pocket
Sat down and dropped the one he had in
hand in the SLOT
He turned the screw according to direc-
tions, but the box failed to keep its part OF
the contract. He tugged this wav and
that until he succeeded in getting the
wraps all on the floor, and the attention of
those around him called to the dilemma
into which he was getting himself. He
worked and squirmed and twisted until
his face grew red and large beads of per-
SEPARATION gathered on bis plastic brow and
trickled down his burning cheeks, vet no
opera glasses. He next bent over and
peeped up under the box to ascertain If
there was not catch or hook or button
which needed attention as part of the
opening process, but neither catch, hook,
nor button were there to need attention.
he calculated something about CON
founded nuisance" and vigorously turned
the screw backward and forward and shook
the box until it ratified like an old bicycle
lamp, and all without avail. Then he sat
down and gave the short balance of the
first act rest, which was more than his
friend did for him. She made a num-
Der of serio-cOmic remarks about the in
genuity of slots and the open generosity
OF some wealthy people who gave away
vast sums OF money for charitable pur-
poses without the least expectation of re-
ward in this world
During the intermissio1 he tackled the
box again and picked at the slot with a
blade of his penknife with a view of COM
pelling the box to do what it ought to with
that dime, aud let him have the use of his
glasses Finally, after resorting to many
attempts to get it open, he
began tapping the box sharply with the
head of his umbrella, hoping to jar the
dime into its proper place, but it was not
the dime that got Jared. The occupant of |
the chair TO which the box was attached, a
gentleman with straight, strange looking |!
hair and fierce mustache, turned and /
asked the young man why he did not ''send /
for number of government contractors |
and get estimates on having the box re- |
moved, and save that dime from total 4
loss "
This sally had the effect of producing a
general snickering in that locality, in
which the lady he was escorting Joined.
iuu JUST as tne Dell rang up the curtain on
he second act he drew the other piece of
money from his pocket, slipped it into the
'Iot, gave the screw twist and got the I
glasses without further trouble The next |
morning there were found in the box a
lime and three cent piece. 1t was the
title, insignificant looking but proud and
provoking three center which caused all
he trouble and amusement By refusing to
'erform the services of a common every
lay Washington Star.