Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-07-19
A RISE IN TROUSERS.


brought me leaf torn from the block
which is always to be found in the ante
room of newspapers offices and upon
which was written, Louis Demare. "
| knew the man WELL We were fellow
townsmen and had come up to Paris to-
gether. Fortune had frowned upon him.
1 would like to say that was out, but
the fellow knew what he was doing,
coming at such an hour. He would only
have to wait on the sidewalk until hun
ger should drive me out. Iresigned my
self to admitting him.
Show him in, Martin" said to the
boy. GAS the gentleman has probably
come to borrow, here is some money. If
ring and ask you to lend me some,
give this to me and say that it is all you
have.
You're dead right to be fly with
him." answered the boy. HE looks as
if he was on his uppers, and his pants is
terrors. !"
Demare came briskly into the Office.
well, old boy" he said before
had time to open my lips, II have come
to borrow. But this is an exceptional
case. am not going to say that l have
not had good meal for q week, nor
that / need so louis to pay debt Of
honor, nor so francs to pay for car
riage ride for two. want just l louis,
for l need precisely that amount. Just
one and twenty francs. have enough to
match that and pay for my breakfast in
the bargain, and he really showed me
three 30 franc pieces "This louis will
return to you this evening before dinner
time. AS my demand may seem little
extravagant, 1 will help you out by
promising that if l do not bring the
money back before Z tonight you may in
struct Jour boys to kick me off the prem
ises if ever show myself here again.
Shall sign that agreement? You know
that l would not for the world cut of
the source of so many benefits by not
keeping my word. l regret that can
not tell you exactly what disposition
am to make of your louis can only
tell you that am to use it in a CONNER
cial enterprise that is daisy-you hear,
Jim dandyP'
The fellow made me laugh in spite OF
myself 1 was completely disarmed. /
gave him his louis, and truly believe
should have invited him to breakfast
with me if he had not been so meanly
dressed. But with such trousers it was
an impossibility.
Promptly at z o'clock the boy an
nounced with show of respect:
"Mr Demare "
Faithful to my agreement, " said he
gayly. ''Here is your yellow boy. AS
know you are busy, I will go, but not
without thanking you most heartily"
"Was your Jim dandy success?' ]
inquired
Decidedly" said he, showing me
handful of money.
"Allow me to compliment you," !
said. "You must have been playing the
races"
81 am not foolish enough for that, !"
ne replied.
noticed he wore new trousers, which
must have cost him $4 or $5. That ex-
planned the increased respect of the Of
fee boy. Surely the fellow had not
wasted his day.
The next day he brought me an ar
ticle on some of our city institutions. 1t
was interesting, and accepted it.
When he went out, l noticed that he
wore new trousers and different ones
from those he had worn the day before.
Two days later he called for the pay for
his article. He came up to shake hands
with me on going away. Mechanically
l glanced at his trousers--he had on a
third pair, and they were perfectly new.
| met him often in the succeeding days
in the office and outside, and on every
occasion he wore fresh pair of trousers.
Curiously enough, he always wore the
same coat, which was shabby in the
extreme.
l gradually contracted the habit OF
looking at mems trousers. After vague
examination, lasting for several success
sive days, of the neither garments OF all
the employees about the Office from the
proofreaders down TO the janitors,
discovered to my stupefaction that none
of these persons of slender incomes wore
the same pair of trousers two days IL
succession. Some of them even changed
twice day.
/ became convinced that / was thu
victim of a special hallucination, and
resolved carefully to conceal my NAL
ady, as it would have rendered me ex
remely ridiculous. Still felt that i
would AFFECT me greatly, as it would in
duce melancholy and become a mono
mania.
~, GUN the trousers filed before my eyes
dhey We're OF all colors and of all shapes
some some htted their wearers, others were
nttle too small or a little too large
they We're evidently ready made goods
but what an enormous quantity of trou
sers my diseased imagination seemed :
have seenl
! seriously thought of making m,
VIII Dut' persuaded Of my infirmitv.
knew 1t would DO worthless ana Irc,',
only lead to exposure VIII, the ',saa.
est secrecy | consulted specialist Sa' ="
specialist in trousers, but in man.o
disorders He showed no surnr;ss e1ss :. .l.s
form OF mental disorder, talked ~ q nsn ~,