Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-06-04
THE MENDAClTY OF VANITY,



From the Washington Star: A Star
reporter was contcnding the point that
however vain a person might be, es-
pecially woman, her vanity was not
strong enough to destroy her sense
of truthfulness. The opposite side was
| defended by a New York travelling
| man, commonly known as a drum
| mer," and he was not only a stylish
fellow, but he had the nerve that is
sometimes ascribed to that peripatetic
| fraternity.
Come with me-" he said, land I'll
prove my point
1t was about II o'clock in the morn
| ing, and the conversation was occur
ring in an Office on F street.
"How?" inquired the reporter.
"Ill show you how, if you'll come
with me-
The writer agreed to the proposition.
| and the drummer escorted him to dry
| goods store where women congregate,
and led him inside. They moved about
| the place for fifteen or twenty minutes,
| the writer asking for an explanation
| of the strange manoeuvre5 every time
| he had chance, and getting no salts
| factory answers. Finally the drummer
overheard lady tell clerk she want
| ed her packages sent down to the train
in time for her to get thom there and
carry them home with her. The next
minute, as she turned away, he rushed
up to her with his hand extended, and
the lady shook hands with him.
How do you do?' he said in the
friendliest way.
How do you do?" she responded, but
with some doubt in her voice.
II don't believe you remember me,
he said in a hurt tone.
Your face is quite familiar. but
don't quite place YOU"
Don't you remember" he explained
that I me. you at the German am.
bassador's not long ago, and also at the
dinner dance at the Brices, and AGAR
at the Assembly,"
She hesitated moment, looking him
over as she did SO.
why, yes" she said, smiling very
pleasantly. Il remember you quite vel
now, but wasn't expecting to see you
don't you krow, and didn't recognize
you at first You know how it is il
Washington"
She smiled again and he smiled ant
chatted with her a while, then the,
parted. and the drummer came back t.
the writer AMI took him out on tn
street.
Now, what do you think Of it," h
asked.
Think Of what?"
"Of my proof that I was on the RICH
side of that discussion"
II don't see any proof. You merel
met lady whom you bad met befor
and recalled yourself to her. Their
wasn't any proof in that
Wasn't there?" and the drumme
laughed. Think minute. You know
I don't know anybody in Washington
outside of three or four merchants
sell to here, and them only in a bust
ness way l never was at the German
ambassadors in my life, nor any O
those other places l mentioned
have read of them in the newspapers
that's all. And the lady? Why sh
doesn't live in this town at all. Didn
you hear her order her packages sen
to the train to meet her? I never sa,
her before. Just the same when sh
saw well-dressed man identifying he
as a member Of the fashionable set {
, the capital, and knew the clerks an
other women were hearing it, too, sh
} let it go at that and never said a wor
to correct me. She never was at any {
those places any more than l was, BIZ
she was too vain to deny it. eve
though she had to lie to maintain he
} position. See?"
: The writer saw very clearly, but b
never would have seen IL the proof ha
not been presented in such unmistal
!. able form.