The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-06-17
HE SHUNs MIRRORS.
SEVENTEEN YEARS stscE THIS MAN
saw HIS HsftecIicN.

Tho Result OF bet Made with Young
Aady-whst His Experience Has Taught
Him-win Not Tell What He VIII Re-
ceive IL He Wins, and He'll Win.
Did it ever occur to you when you have
made that easily spoken answer, II can't"
TO some proposition that II you only made
up your mind and put down your foot you
could as readily say, 81 will, and, what's
more, adhere TO the resolution II you
have never thought of this and you have
The time and inclination to consider what
manor woman either, for that mat.
ter-can do when he Is determined 1t shall
be done, read this story;
1t is about man who, when he was IL
years old, said to friend who had been
bantering him that he would not volun.
tarily look at his reflection In a mirror for
30 years. Think Of that length of tlmel
1t was just as long as Rip Van Wrinkle
slept, and you know how he changed in
that period. Seventeen years OF that num-
Der have come and gone, and this man of
strong will says he has kept his promise,
and this too, in the face OF all manner OF
devices on the part Of his friends to make
him take glimpse Of himself.
This man who does not SEQ himself as
others sec him is well known in business
circles. There is nothing about him which
should make him refrain from having as
much use for mirror as any other man
About 80 years old, of the average height
and well built, his dark face is an intelli.
gent, attractive one, his mustache is well
trimmed and his hair, which Is somewhat
spare at tho temples is as nicely parted
and as carefully brushed as that of any OF
10 tta1 In,
the most approved fashion, and indeed his
whole appearance is that of tho we'll groom
cd man who spends an hour or two every
morning before his dressing case, making
sure that everything is just so before he
presents himself to the gaze of the public.
In the days Of his youth he must have
boon a very handsome boy, and there is
little doubt that he took as much pleasure
from his own image in the glass as any
youngster. 1t may be that he was given
to gazing at himself too frequently, for it
was from this penchant that his resolution
grew.
He was visiting young lady acguaint.
ance one day, and she caught him looking
into mirror every few minutes Sho
knew him SO well that she felt at liberty
to remark:
'I'll wager that you could not keep
your eyes from u mirror for an hour"
Perhaps his pride was touched by the
innocent words. At any rate he replied:
II can, and not only for one hour but
for enough of them to make 20 years. -
This was seemingly soprcpoSterous that
the young lady offered TO make wager
for anything he pleased then and there,
and SO the bargain was closed. There are
few who know what are the terms of tho
bet and there may be nice little ro-
nance hidden behind it all. But thut's
not the subject of the story. Enough it
is to know that he says that from that day
to this he has never glanced into n mirror
Or in fact, ut any surface that would
cast his reiieCtion-and those who know
him well do not hesitate to say that this
is undoubtedly so.
1t was IA little inconvcnient at first,
must admit, he said to nc the other day,
for knew my hair wasn't parted well,
and that my necktie must be all askcw.
But after few days the awkwarlncss
passed away, and you may easily imagine
that at this time the last thing ever
think of is looking into a mirror"
He has been shaved in barber shop in
mn up town street off Broadway for many
years, and his popularity is known TO all
tho BARRIERS. He was in the proprietor's
The man of razors took "a small hand
glass, held it close to his face and sudden
ly exclaimed:
ooh, look!"
But that was an old game to his custom.
CT. Keeping his eyelids shut ho turned
his face to one side, cautiously opened one
eye and then slowly moved his head until
he could see that the barber held some
thing In his hand.
II guess not, :" no said MS he put out his
hand and showed the glass aside. II have
been tried that way too often in the last
II years to be caught now"
He has gono to the Same tailor for years,
and he never looks at himself as he dons u
now suit. His tailor knows what he
wants, Is aware that some Of his friends
would inform him IL his garments did not
fit him as they should, and in addition to
MI this feels that he is put on his honor 10
do tho right thing by customer who puts
faith in him And no one can truthfully
Say that he is not a well dressed man. So
1t is also with his halter. lie looks at the
style of the hat he desires to wear after
having made careful selection but he
leaves 1t all to the tradcsman and to his
friends as to whether in shape and other.
wise it is suitable to his face.
what has all this taught you2"
"That q man can do many things if lie
will, which may seem almost impossible TO
him at first blush Ii has helped me in
many ways. ! was very heavy smoker,
II or 10 cigars day being my average.
My doctor asked Inc TO stop on the first Of
the year and not to smoke until Feb. l.
did it without any trouble. No. it was
not New Years resolution, and probably
that was tho reason it was not broken
| After tho first month he told me | could
have n cigar after each meal, and l don I
eat more than three meals n day"
''Whcn tho 90 years Is passed, will you
look into a mirror"
II will indeed, and | think | will take
moro pleasure out Of it then than If
had been looking at myself all the time "
Does the lady with whom you made
the wager know how you haze kept youl
yowfn
Now, now my hoy Well, ] don't mind
telling you that she docs and that She has
often asked ne why l did not give up my
foolish resolution. But | said it was f0l
70 years, and il VIII beif can make it So, .
And what will yuu win from the LADY,
"Ah, that is eutrc nous New Nort