The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-17
RUMsEY's MUsTAcHE.
Result of an Attempt to Let Hair Grow
on His Upper Lip.

In addition to his bashful tempera-
meut there was another reason why
Rumsey had never been able to ac-
custom himself to the society of
women, says the N. Y. Sun. This
was his youthful looks. He had been
twitted so often by his friends, and
sometimes by the women too, that he
had long ago given up the idea of
society in disgust.
And so he complained of lonesome
ness to a few of his boon companions
and sought their advice, and was urged
by them to form the acquaintance of
some nice young woman, to whom they
would be glad to introduce him, he
emphatically declined.
One, night. however, his chum in
sisted on taking him to see a young
woman who, he was assured. would
treat him just like one of the family,
and would never dream of making
sport of his juvenile appearance.
Rumsey yielded to his chum's ex-
hortations, and went with as good a
grace as possible. When the young
woman entered the room he shook a
bit at the knees, but got along quite
fairly through the diligent efforts of
his chum, who was gifted, as Rumsey
thought, with extraordi nary powers Of
convers alton.
He was so much encouraged by his
success at this visit that he called
again very soon. During the second
call he became so much emboldened
that he ventured to tell the young
woman that he had dreamt the night
before that he had kissed her.
She looked very hard at him for
few moments-so hard, in fact, that
Rumsey wished he had not allowed the
enthusiasm of the moment to carry
him away. Then she asked, quite
irrelevantly it seemed to him, why he
had never let his mustache grow.
Rumsey replied that if it would
afford her any pleasure he would let it
grow Immediately. She said she would
like to see him with one very much.
1T makes young man look so hand
some you know" she added. He
promised to have full-grown mus
tache before he called again.
When will you call again, then, Mr..
Rumsey?"
Rumsey answered that he guessed
about two weeks would give him
plenty of time. So that night he set
about his self-imposed task BY neglect
ing to shave his lip. He wondered
why the idea had never occurred to
him before. 1t would make him look
five years older at least, he thought,
and would be very strong and thick.
At the end of the first day after his
regular day for shaving Rumsey was
pleased to see his upper lip dotted all
over with number of blackish specks.
At the end of the week they had
reached length of an eighth of an inch
at least. The next weeks progress
was not quite so rapid, but of course
he couldn't expect much in two weeks
time. She would understand that,
and if she didn't he could explain.
1t would be first-class mustache, he
thought, if it wasn't so confoundedly
light colored and would only grow in
the middle.
At last, when the night for the call
came, Rumsey carefully shaved the
rest of his face, so as to give all posi-
bic prominence to the growth on his
upper lip. Bumsey awaited the en-
trance of the young woman in pain full
trepidation. Would she know him
right awayP And would she thank
him for having kept his promise so
well? All his doubts were dispelled
when she entered the room. Her first
words settled them.
why. Mr.. Rumsev, how very mean
of you not to keep your word. You
promised to have a mustache by the
time you called again, you know, and
now you haven't one."
The next day, when Rumsey went
around to the BARRIERS Immediately
after breakfast and threw himself with
sigh into the chair, and the barber
asked him if he wanted haircut, he
answered. broken-heartedly that he
did-and shave, too. if he didn't
mind.