, 1891-03-05
The WRONG com IN THE SLOT.
Trouble a Washington Youth Had in OBJ
tanning an Opera Glass.

tanning an Opera Glass.
Attached to the backs of every alternate
parquet chair in some of the theatres here
IS a little peculiar shaped nickel plated box,
put there for the benefit of the occupant
Of the seat behind the chair 70 which this
Is attached. Inscribed upon the box is the
information that by placing a dime in the
slot and turning the thumbscrew to the
right a 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
comfture OF a very fresh young American
who essayed to play a sharp trick on the
opera glass scheme and its schemer.
"Ahl ] intended to engage a pair Of
glasses outside, don't ye know, but I'll
just try a pair of these in the box; they
say they are very good-eXcellent, don't ye
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 of his overcoat, 70 the
annoyance Of a dozen or so behind him, in
stead Of having don so in the lobby,
When taking his seat he found 1t neces-
sary to stand up again to search in his
trousers pocket for the necessary dime.
lie found what he wanted, and placing a
leftover piece carefully back in his pocket
SIT down aud dropped the one he had in
hand in the slot.
He turned the screw according to direc-
tlons, but the box failed to keep its part Of
the contract, He tugged this way 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
spiratiOn gathered on his plastic brow and
triCkled down his burning cheeks, yet no
opera glasses. He next bent over n
peeped up under the box to ascertain il
there wa not Il catch or hook or button
which needed attention as a part Of the
opening process, but neither catch, hook,
nor button were there to need attention.
He calculated something about a 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 a rest, which was more than his
friend did for him. She made "A num-
Der of serio-comic remarks about the in
Renuity 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 intermissiol he tackled the
box again and picked at the slot with a
blade OF his penknife with a view OF com
polling the box 10 do what It ought to with
that dime, and let him have the use of his
glasses. Finally, after resorting to many
unsuccessful attempts 10 get II open, he
began tapping the box sharply with the
head OF his umbrella, hoping to jar the
dime into its proper place, but it WIS 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 a fierce mustache, turned and
asked the young man why he did not send
for a number Of government contractors
and get estimates on having the box re
moved. and save hat dime from total
loss"
This sally had the effect Of producing a
general snickering in that locality, in
which the lady he was escortiug Joined,
and just as the bell rang up the curtain on
the second act he drew the other piece Of
money from his pocket, slipped it into the
slot, gave the screw a twist and got the
glasses without further trouble. The next
morning there were found in the box a
dime and a three cent piece. 1t was the
little, Insignificant looking but proud and
provoking three center which caused all
the trouble and amusement by refusing to
perform the services Of a common every
day dime.-Washington Star.