The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-04-14
SCARRITT'S WEDDING GIFT.

1t was all the fault of Scarritt' S
philosophlco-inventive mind. | said
to him one day:
Scarritt, you will invent something
yet that will make enemies of all the
friends you have.
Not if they know how to use it,
he replied My inventions are all
as simple as A B c. Ah&zchild can
use them, once they understand what
they are for.
1 always liked Scarritt We went
through college together, and he
still kept the disposition which had
there gained him the reputation of a
jolly good fellow.
But Scarritt; he would invent
things. His inventions were peculiar.
That they were original. nobody
denied; that they were useful, nobody
admitted.
He had invented a machine tor
picking poultry, but the machine
cost more than hired help, and it
was slow, though it did its work
we'll enough.
Another invention OF his was d
combination sal: and pepper shaker.
1t worked to perfection, if you didn't
care which condiment you sprinkled
upon your food; but if you desired
pepper, it was sure to render salt and
! vice versa.
He had contrived combination
sleigh and carriage, which would
have been a bonanza, except it cost
a small fortune to have it manu-
factured at all. So that while, aim,
ing at economy, Scarritt had achieved
only luxury.
Yet, !Scarritt was not discouraged
He went happily forward, inventing
something new and ingenious every
little while. 1t was the general
opinion of his friends that in time he
would invent something really great
and very possibly, without malice
aforethought
But this story is about wedding
gift.
After sufficiently ardent court
ship of Nanette Cartwright, | had
offered myself and been accepted ;
first by the young lady herself, then
by her more formidable papa, and
through these two by the entire Cart
wright family. 1t was then decided
by Nanette and myself that we would
be married in June of the following
summer.
l began at once the construction
of a cottage in the suburbs. 1t was
to be ready for us when we returned
from the honeymoon. This modest
home was not too far away from my
business, and at the same time it
held all the charms of the country.
l was careful to provide it with all
modern conveniences, however, and
that was, primarily, the cause Of
Scarritt's wedding gift.
| was dining at the club one day
when Scarritt, looking especially
radiant, joined me at the table.
You look happy, Scarritt. | re-
marked; not going to be married too
are you?
On, no, Beason: but I've just got
patent for my combination lock
and burglar alarm, and l feel a:
good, or even better, than bachelor
about to become a benedict.
All, that is good luck-althougf
1 can't say l would trade places witt
you.
Well every man to his taste. Blu
my lcck is better than wedlock t.
me. | have all arrangements made
Tor its manufacture, too and insid'
OF thirty days l will have it on th'
market.
What are its special teaturesl
Simplicity of construction is one
You push a button and it locks al
your doors and windows. Thel
} if anyone tries to effect an entranc
] it sounds an alarm and registers tn
] point of attack, so you know JUS
) where to look for the marauder-
} who is generally gone when yo
= look tor him. Anyway, he can't ge
in, and its an elegant thing, espe
cially for suburban houses, wher
the constabulary is either inadequat
or entirely wanting.
There is certainly large field fo
such an invention. | SAID, encoura,
ingly. l may want to put one int,
my new house in the suburbs. Wha
do they cost?
Don't know exactly, but I'll max
you a rock bottom figure on one
replied Scaritt
OF course, never intended to bu
one of the things, and from thu
time until my wedding day l banishe
the subject completely from m
mind.
1t was at the wedding receptio
that Scarritt came to us with h
hearty congratulations and goo
wishes, and went on to remark.
have little present for you, bl
couldn't exactly deliver it here, s
have sent it to your new hom
and it will be ready to receive yo