Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
MR.. FERGUsON's MACINTOSH.
Tribulations of a Young Man Who Invested
i'm Waterproof Coat.


i'm a Waterproof Coat.
From the Chicago Tribune.
1t had rained for three weeks and was still
raining when George Ferguson made up his
mind to buy macintosh.
Il want the best you We got" he said to the
clerk at the rubber goods store. IF 1 had
bought it when it began to rain it would have
saved me a whole suit of clothes"
1T would have saved you IS besides your
suit Of clothes" said the clerk, after he had
found a garment that ftted his customer and
buttoned il around him.
How sop
Mckinley bill
George Ferguson paid the double eagle the
salesman demanded and went out.
When he had entered the store. five minutes
before, heavy rain was falling. Vixen he wen,
out with his macintosh on the rain had stopped.
the clouds had almost disappeared ana the sun
was shining.
1T viii be raining again in little while, " he
He took it to the Office where he was EN-.
ployed.
Perfectly dry, isn't it?" inquired one of his
associates.
"Yes."
1t cost him sl.5o to go out with the boys and
He hung it on q hook back of his desk. and
for whole week it remained there un,iis-
tnrbed. There was not q sign of rain in all that
time. He ached for excuse to wear that
portunity.
At last came G cloudy, lowering day. He car
ried the macintosh out with him when he wen,
to lunch and took it home in the evening but
1t rained not He wore his heavy fur beaver
overcoat down town next morning and the
The day following was cloudy again and he
brought his macintosh to the Office and hung
it on its accustomed hook.
In the afternoon ii cleared of turned sod
denly cold and he nearly froze riding home in
North Side car without any overcoat.
This would not do. He removed his lodgings
10 place within hive or ten minutes walk of
the office so that he could make a hasty trip
from one to the other for the macintosh when
necessary. When il looked like rain be brought
it with him to the Office and when it was clear
he brought his fur beaver.
One morning when everything was frosty he
came down with his heavy overcoat on
and buttoned up to the chin. II became cloudy
and somewhat warmer later in the day. and he
left his overcoat at the Office and started
briskly for his lodgings. 1t began TO rain
heavily before he had gone half the distance.
and when he reached his room he WAS wet to
the skin. Then it cleared of, the wind blew
from the north. and when he went back to the
blowing about his ears and tapping the long
skirts Of his garment about his legs everybody
on the street stopped and looked ut him.
And 30 II went on for several weeks. When
ever George had his macintosh at the Office
and his heavy oyercoat at home il turned
colder.
Whenever he had his heavy overooat with
him and his macintosh at the other end Of
the route it rained like all possessed.
When he bought that macintosh no weighed
1888 pounds. At the end Of six weeks lis weight
had fallen to 1917. Dark rings made their APP
pearance under his eyes, his hand trembled
when he attempted TO use the pen. he grew
careless Of his personal appearance and lost his
appetite.
And never drop Of rain had fallen on that
macintosh.
Yesterday morning the sky was clear and he
wore his heavy overcoat About noon il be-
gan to rain slightly and he rushed TO his lodg-
ings, getting the fun benefit of the shower on
the way. He put on his macintosh and went
back to the Office and not drop fell II had
cleared OF.
Twill any Of you give me IS for the beastly
thing" he asked, with a wild look in his eyes,
as he threw the Hateful macintosh on the door
and danced up and down on L.
on his own hook, and George Ferguson went 20
work again with feeling Of contentment to
which he had been long q stranger.
And at the hour at which this chronicle
closes-4:S0 p. m. Saturday afternoon-it looks
decidedly like rain and George has lust gone
out and spent the Is for an umbrella