St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-14
SIGHTS IN A CROWD.

One fine evening last week l attended
an opening" at large department
store. Quite crowd was present, and
when became tired | was compelled to
rest my weary frame OH very hard re-
volving stool, which was high enough to
leave my feet dangling helplessly in
mid-air. This stool had an unfortunate
habit of revolving whenever it wished,
instead of waiting for HAT from the
occupant. As certainly as friend came
tospeak to me, | would unceremoniously
turn my back in the notwithstanding part
OF the conversation. l could not make
them understand that this snubbing
was entirely unintentional, and fear |
made some enemies. l was too tired to
voluntarily desert my position, although
that stool momentarily threatened to
deposit me i'll an untidy heap on the
floor. l tried TO figure out a course OF
conduct to pursue if the worst came
should just calmly pick myself up and
try another seat. or would it be better to
faint and create a sensation? A sensa-
ton would be thrilling, but my courage
forsook- me when my Imagination con-
Jured up the vision OF my anatomy, en-
closed in my best dress, stretched upon
the floor. while crowd of sympathizers
deluged Inc with ice water.
a.
Just then my mind was diverted from
the heart-rending spectacle by little
ten-year-old voice remarking. with a
very important inf1ectlon, "You don't
know what we have got up to our
house," then another little ten-year
treble guessed "a doll" This guess was
scornfully denied. and then Squeak No.
2 continued to guess most everything
from rubber ball to white elephant,
but in vain. Then up spoke No. with
a very important air, Il knew you
couldn't guess. We've got the measles !"
So saying. she gave her feathers ali
extra shake and departed to spread the
enviable news. leaving poor little No
completely crushed by a sense of her
own inferiority; but as she moved away
she muttered, "She needn't be SO stuck
up; last winter Our Tommy had the
diphtheria.
forgot my unsteady position and be.
came interested in my surroundings.
Next to me stood a young woman, talk
ing to a saleswoman. Ibid you know
Miss Thomas was sick at our house?'
she queried; ''dreadful SICK" she con-
tinued; "can't live through the night;
how much are those ribbons9 how dear,
She was unconscious when | left. and
they sent me down town for some med
lcine; thought l would stop in and let
you know about it. What lovely faus
Well, must really go now" Where
upon she and her intellectual facilities
betook themselves out into the weather.
Then party of boys and girls, about
high-school age, wandered by, and a
pert young miss challenged Charlie
to come up stairs and | will buy YOU
a dolly in tin Kitchen" At this brill
liant sally her companions nearly went
into commissions. and feared the boys
would choke inside their No. IL collars,
but they Gained down without accident,
except that Charlie" dropped his Eng
lish and talked American for few
minutes. The girls stopped at the glove
counter, examined every pair in sight.
tried on a few pairs. altogether too
small for them, and then decided they
could buy them cheaper across the
street, and the long-suffering clerk said
never word aloud.
~
| saw friend in the distance, and
with the assistance of the floor walkers
and the proprietor was safely landed
once more on terra firma, otherwise my
feet. Upon a platform an orchestra
was stationed which [ thought pIayed
music that was truly melodious. but to
my great chagrin afterwards learned
that the class of people who were ex- /
pected did not materialize. consequently
the musical programme was changed
from the severe classical one which
had been prepared to one composed of |
tunes better suited to the common ear.
Not only did l make the mistake Of :