The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-15
TIE ADJECTIVE VENDOR.
illustrating tho Past and Present
Styles il These Words.

=.
@triag was made of long adicctives,
and when the vendor sold one from it,
he linked on another taken from his
pack. In that way the string never
grew too short to fastcn about him.
The adjective vendor was Il wdc-awalic
man. lie had travelled far, and had
friends in all parts of the world. lie
had now just returned from the Arctic
regions, where he had been to collect
oddities with which to rcplcnish his
stock. He was glad of the sun OH the
street corner. and finally decided to
take up his station there for the day
Good people ALI
Give me 4 calli'
he sang out, as he arranged his stock
on = little counter by the side Of the
walk
Here's for young ladies! The latest
goods for gents! just imported Here's
for the magazines! Fresh adjcctives!
Give us call"
"Oh! the dear things" exclaimed a
young woman who was passing. She
looked longingly at the vendors wares
81 do love them," she mused How
much is that one with the frillcd cdgc?''
Not much" said the vendor, with Il
courteous smile. "But will it become
you?"
May take it home to try?" said the
young woman.
Free of charged" answered the ven
dor, with deep bow.
'"rhose snowy goods have all gone
out, if she did but know it," he muir
INJURED to himself. ''Shc'll appear like
a fool, but that's not my affair"
An old man drew near, and putting
ulo 81 l,,,
"Fshaw!" said he, 'thcsc gimcraclls
are nothing like the ndjcctivcs of my
day. Tho world is growing foolish"
and with Il motion of disgust he moved
on.
II must look UP something for him."
thought the vendor. 1T will pay"
''Adjectivcs, STRIP
This remark was addressed to IN
erect, prim gentleman, who had not
apparently noticed the vendor.
IL never use them" said the stiff
gentleman, without turning his head.
The vendor shrugged his shoulders.
But he was soon consoled for the re-
buff. He spied bevy of schoolgirls
coming down the street. He drew his
fleet together, and down he went in so
rdeer Il bow that the cap in his hand
swept the ground.
Good morning, ladies. Those on
Ethat side are for gents" he added,
Shastily, as he perceived his customers
thocking to the wrong side of the coun-
ter.
"These are the thing, of course"
sad q short, round miss with prom
inent chin. Have you the latest from
llale?"
YES" said the vendor, butt he looked
ibewildered. The world, it seemed, had
been marching on during his stay in
the Arctic regions. But he was
ready, shifty man.
"If you like those rough goods,
ladies, can show you any variety.
The gents sometimes use them strung
together, but you only want an odd
one now and then, I judge"
mo. indeed" said the former speak
err. 81 shall have mine strung together.
What do you say, girls?"
The girls bounced upon the vendors
goods, and rolled them over, and turned
them over and talked them over. Such
great, hard articles as they chose!
Some of the gentlest Of the buyers
could hardly grasp their purchases,
but that only made them laugh tho
harder.
''Kittie's got the nobbicst lott" they
jail exclaimed, as, laden with purchases,
they departed up the street. Kittie
was the short maiden, and she had
truly chosen the longest and the most
bizarre OF the articles for sale.
The vendor Of adjectives was tired.
He sat down upon the curbstone and
wiped his brow.
WHO would think it!' he murmured
to himself
Bat he was above all a man of bust.
ness. His stock needed Encouragement.
He must bring out goods from his pack,
to take the place of those that were
sold. While he was busily working
group OF young men lounged up to
watch him. They were the gilded
youth of the town.
The vendor did not at once accost
them. lie was no longer certain what
would please them, and he did not like
to show his ignorance. But he soon
caught by the expressions of their faces
that the latest novelties from the Arc
tic regions were the objects of their adj
miration.
Hang IT," cried one-''thesc are
Stunners!''
Thought the vendor: ~ will put up
the price"
The vendor began to be very happy
before night descended and put an end
to his traffic. His gains were cnor-
Vnous. All day the youths and maidens
had been ioclling TO his counter He
had tucked away the grave and solid
goods, and had displayed only the most
tempting novelties
When he went to bed that night he
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