The morning call., 1892-09-11
He DID NOT DECORATE.
Horatio G. Pingeldy's Reason for MOI
Observing Admission Day.

Horatio G. Pingeldy's Reason for Not
Observing Admission Day.
SANTA Rosa, Sept. 10-A careful can
vass of the town disclosed the astound-
ing fact that one man right in the
heart Of the city failed to decorate his
place of business. This was Horatio G.
Pingeldy, the wel[known and popul ar
undertaken of Santa Rosa. Day and nigh t
calls cheerfully answered. En- balming a
specially.
Every other place in town was poem in
harmonious colors. mostly red and yellow.
But Pingeldy's store was shrouded in
gloom. There was absolutely nothing in
the way of decoration, not even so modest
or inexpensive a design as spray of ever
green relieving the s0mber front OF his
coffin repository.
At first the committee on decoration gave
the undertaken the benefit of doubt, and
eharitably supposed that he had forgotten
the occasion and would burst forth in bloom
later on. But Pingeldy did not bloom so
that you could notice 1t.
SO late yesterday afternoon the committee
waited upon the derelict. 1t was the inten-
ton to approach him gently, and, in q few
soft well-choseH words, point out the error
Of his way and induce him to reform ere it
was too late.
"You are probably aware, M Pingeldy,"
began the spokesman, that during grand
festival of this character everybody is sup
posed to be in it. We are panied to observe
that you are not decorated to any great ex-
tent"
Yes" remarked Mr.. Pingeldy with a
softly sarcastic uppercnt information.
This manner OF reply startled the COM
mittee and they gaZed upon the undertaken
in grieved establishment.
well, what are you going TO do about
ii 81 he asked with An evident desire of rush
. la.aG -HN -.
a coffin full OF roses and japanese fans in
my front Window"
IF il had been cholera epidemic IN
stead OF an AdmisSiOn-day celebration that
struck the town." sneered the spokesm an,
you would probably have greeted the
plague with brass bands and icewater.
Your a nice patriot, you are. It's a won
der YOU didn't poison the reservoir. Come
on, gentlemen Of the committee. / reckon
we can pull through with the celebration
without the assistance of this mercenary
person. There's nothing in the show for
him."
AS the committee turned to go, Mr..
PingelGy held up his hand to stop them.
Though outwardly calm, the undertaken
was pale. and his bosom heayed as IL tor
tGIed with the pressure of great wrong.
Gentlemen of the committee" he MUIR
INJURED. in husky accents, you do me a great
injustice. know 1 was hasty and brought
it on myself, but the unhappy past Is still
green in my memory. viii you hear me.
gentlemen"
The gentlemen said they would and Mr.
Pindgeldy proceeded:
'Ten years ago we had a similar celebra-
ton here and 1t was loo loo. Do you re-
member itp'
Unfortunately none of the committee
were living IN Santa Rosa at the time, but
they had read accounts of the parade and
things in the papers.
Of IL ua nm ha
taker. You were not here. and one feature
OF the parade which deeply concerned me
was suppressed by the papers. Otherwise
would not have been honored with this
visit. However, I'll tell you how it was.
when we secured the celebration | was
as enthusiastic as anybody in the town.
For several nights l laid awake evolving
decorative designs, and the one | finally
decided upon was hummer. First / took
my hearse and gave 1t fresh coat of black
paint Then l wound the spokes of the
wheels with bright ribbons, draped red.
white and blue bunting along the sides aud
stuck hags IN the plume-h0lders on top. In
side OF the hearse was one of my finest
mahogany caskets with a gates aiar al the
head. l was proud OF my work, gentle
men, and counted on making sensation in
the parade"
Ibid YOU" exclaimed the committee in
chorus.
"Wel. should smile," said the man Of
funerals, though his expression showed
that he felt more like weeping
when the procession formed / fell in
line near the head just as it started but
before we had gone twenty yards the City
Marshal chased me into an alley and
yanked the decorations off my turnout
before knew what was up"
Now, then, you inspired idiot he
hgwled, crawl back into your grave In a
hurry. or III lock you up, you insipid
maniac. Gitp"
Gentlemen of the committee" continued
the unhappy undertaken, 81 got back with
great rapidly. 1t was all done so quickly
that no one knew what was the trouble but
myself and the marshal and a few Others
They kindly kushed the matter up. Since
then have come to the conclusion that my
business will not permit of display on occa-
sions Of this kind. My motives are liable
to be impugned II do decorate. and If
don't my loyalty is doubted"
This explanation was satisfactory to the
committee, which Immediately apologized
to Mr.. Pingeldy. That gentleman was quite
Modified, and expressed desire TO do the
square thing by the celebration so far as it
lay in his power.
''Pye got couple of hundred yards OF
Grape here" he said, (which / might string
around on the front of the shop iIy0u think
that will help any"
But the committee graciously excused