The morning call., 1893-01-14
MEN ARE CREDULOUS.
A Broker Tells Two Stories to Hits
trate His Theories.

trate His Theories.
New York Tribune.
They wandered from subject TO subject In
listless way over their coffee and cigars.
as men often do when they have enjoyed a
good dinner, until the broker got on his
favorite hobby-the average mans eredulity.
BIS companion, a lawyer. disagreed with
him, and that at once started them on a
lively argument After a few minutes Of
general discussion the broker said:
well, Pll give you an instance. It Is a
pretty good story. anyhow, and perfectly
true, almost incredible as it seems. In the
town where ! was born there lives an old
river captain named Stewart, who is great
practical joker. The proprietor OF one OF
the two hotels IN That place is
rather pompous and conceited old man.
Stewart walked into the office OF
tho hotel one day a few years ago
and drawing out 81 banknote asked
the proprietor if he could change an 81
bill. The old fellow said yes and took the
bill, which. sure enough, had the number
eleven on the corners, and just glsncing at
il handed the amount in change to Stewart.
The Joker had added another figure in ink
to the numbers on the bill, and as the pro-
prietor did not like to acknowledge that be
had never seen an S11 bill before. be had
only glanced at ii casually before putting it
into the drawer. Stewart walked out OK
the hotel and told all the men he met about
About fifteen minutes after Stewart went
away, man walked in aud said to the pro-
prietOr:
"'Mr. Kennedy, l understand that You
have an Sll bill here; may | look at 1t? L
never saw one.
Kennedy produced it. and the man mar
veled over it for several minutes. Before
he got through examining it another man
lad in nd nc lad 70 en- 10
another and another. Finally kennedy's
curiosity became excited, and he thought he
would see what the bill really looked like.
He saw at once how il had been fixed, and
his face was a study. The boys shouted
with laughter, and the old fellow had to ac-
knowledge that the drinks were on him,
and he set them up ike man."
Hum, that was funny" commented the
lawyer
well, here's another instance" CON-
mented the broker; "Stewart went TO pic
ME one day with some men, and one of them
had on a brRnd-new hat he had just bought
in the city. 1t was an almost white derby,
and il at nee attracted Stewards attention
We'll he said, going up to the young
man. you've got one OF those new hats. have
you? Let's look at it.
The fellow took it off with some show Of
pride and handed 1t over for inspection.
I saw one of them hats the other day
in the city, said Stewart TO the littie group
of men who had gathered around him, and
/ had half a mind to get IL, but | was in a
hurry-I didn't stop. They are something
entirely new. They don't burn. you know.
I'd like TO have that hat; what'll you take
for it?'
81 don't want to sell it, answered the
owner, grinning with pleasure at being the
object of so much atteDtion. L didn't know
ii was fire-proof. though. Are you sure
about it?'
"'Ob. yes replied Stewart, confidently.
Sell il to me and I'll show you
No. if you're sure, I'll try it myself.
and the young countryman walked over 10
a wood FIRE, followed by the crowd of men
who had been gaping with wonder at the
reported qualities of the new hat.
How will l put it in ? he asked Stewart.
who stood near by. with lock of intense
interest on his face.
"'Oh. chuck it right in; 1t can't hurt it, ,
replied the joker.
so the innocent victim threw his hat
into the fire, which. of course, made short
work of it. The mans face was cenvulsed
with rage and establishment, and his temper
was not improved when the crowd of men
burst into roar. He looked around for
Stewart, but that gentleman had discreetly
disappeared
"'Ob, come off! Go and tell that to the
marines as your experience You can't
make me- believe such fairy stories,' said
his auditor
Those stories are perfectly straight;
knew the men myself"
"Yo GU did, hey? Well, they're pretty good
stories anyway. Hang the discussion lets
have something to drink"