The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-12-27
SERIOUS BLUNDERS.
they WILL HAPPEN JUST AT
f THE WRONG TIME.
The Spanish Ladies and Their Vase
But That Was Nothing to What Hap.
.psned When George Crocker Sat Down
Is Josiah Belden's Parlor.

.sPerhaps you have never noticed
It," said w. H. L. Barnes to a com
pany of friends with whom he was
passing an evening not long ago, "but
If you begin to talk about felon on
your thumb you will find that nearly
everybody has had one. It's just the
same with every other kind of Ca
lamity."
Four of the half dozen ladies and
gentlemen Immediately emphasized
the attorneys assertion by showing
felon scars upon their digits, says the
San Francisco Examiner, and the con-
versation at once turned upon the
subject of peculiar condolences, pleas
urable and otherwise, but Barnes told
the most interesting story of all.
II had been invited to make some
sort of speech az q Masonic ban
quet," said he, ''and had dressed my.
self in my best bib and tucker for the
occasion. I always did have an idea
that / was irresistible in evening
dress, this with smile of mock COM
placency, and 1 felt as if it would be
really too bad to waste all my sweet
ness on lot of men, even though
they might be Masons of high degree.
It so happened that on my way down
town had to pass the home of two
most delightful little Spanish ladies,
people of the old school, direct de-
scessdants of famous family, though
somewhat reduced in circumstances.
They were clients of mine, and I felt
privileged to pay them an unprofes-
sional visit.
1'Now, these dear ladies occupied a
comfortable little apartment filed
with many relics of their earlier pros
perity. Among the articles of virtu
cherished in this household was a
beautiful Sevres vase, which occupied
prominent position in the parlor on
pretty but unsubstantial center
table. 1t was the feature of the room.
''In the midst of their household
treasures the two little Spanish ladies
sat all unconscious Of my approach,
and l was equally unconscious of the
impression I was about to make. The
dim light from mantel lamp was
each other, but, coming in out of the
street as I did, it seemed as if I we're
entering dark pocket.
Both ladies met me at the thresho Id
and invited me with all their native
grace of manner to enter. As 1 ad-
vanced into the parlor l stumbled
clunsilv over leather hassock, fell
against the frail center table, upset
the beautiful Sevres vase upon the
floor and broke it into thousand
pieces.
''You can imagine my consterna.
ton" continued the narrator. 1.-The
ladies did their best to put me at my
ease, but that was out of the question
They hustled about picking up the
pieces of their shattered household
idol, assuring me meanwhile that i
was a matter of no consequence at all
though their chins quivered with ar
emotion they were far too polite tt
express in words. / don't think
ever felt so mean in my life There
were two reasons why I could not offel
pay for the broken vase. One wa
that I hadn't the money; the othe
was that the ladies were not people t,
whom 1 could offer recompense of tina
kind. OF course they said and dil
everything to save me from mortified
ton, but for once I had nothing t.
offer in excuse for my awkwardness
and, as soon as ] could do it decently
bowed myself out, both the littl
ladies' escorting me to the door an
renewing their assurance that the los
of their $500 vase was not wort
mentioning.
''Just before I reached the Masoni
temple met Dick Pease. He notice
my distraction and asked me what i
the world was the matter. So
4 poured my tale of woe into his viii
ing ear, and the story he told me in tn
line of solace went long way towar
proving that, no matter what happier
to a fellow, something just as ba
probably happened to some one elst
g Seems to me you're making
mountain out Of a mole HILL sal
Pease. wait till tell you the Q,
perience George Croker and 1 had
Z New York last winter. Josiah Beldel
you know, made his millions out her
and went to New York to spend then
He had bought a nice house on Mad
son avenue, furnished it up beautifu
ly and was enjoying life as only a rio
man can. George Croker and ha
pened to have nothing to do one Mig
and he suggested that we 60 aroul
and call on Belden and we did. v
found tho wealthy Californian sittil
in his parlor with other members
his family and they seemed real
glad to sec US. The parlor was full
beautiful things, but perhaps theme
notable feature was a handsome pia
lamp with a eut-glass globe and
shade as big as an umbrella. JOSH
pushed an easy chair toward me a.
asked us to make ourselves perfect
at home.
Z. Now, you know George Crock
is no sylph. When he began to 10
around for a place to sit he want
something substantial. There was