Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25

1.-THE fact that sold liquor on the road
once saved my nfe,'' said a commercial
traveller to Star reporter.
IT was in Bell county, Kentucky. having |
gone to collect a bill from a customer who
had gone out of business and moved into
the mountains.
while riding along on horseback. hav-
ing left my samples at Pineville, I was
stopped by a mountaineer, who asked:
"Whar you goin', Stranger"
told him, and he disappeared. In few
minutes 1 was stopped again. this time by
two men, and asked the same question
Being allowed to proceed, I rode on, won
dering what 1t all meant, when half a
dozen men stopped me and said:
Stranger, / reckon yo' had better go
with u.s."
They plotted me along for several miles,
no one saying word Finally, we stopped
at cabin, and I was soon surrounded
with men.
Il reckon he's the 'spotter.' one Of
them remarked, and then I realized my
why" I said, IT am no revenue officer.
I sell liquor myself. If some one will go
to Pineville, I'll give him an order by
some consultation, this was agreed to, and
I was kept prisoner for day, while the
messenger went to Pineville and back. The
contents of the sample case satisfied them,
At a reception, recently, q certain young
man got into trouble by joining In con-
versation when he knew not with whom he
was talking. He was standing near the
punch bowl, and two ladies close by were
speaking dwell, Mrs. O'Flounce" will
do.
"Oh," said one woman, "only think of
having such a name-O'F1ounce!' And she
Shn ldpra
"Ughp' exclaimed her friend, shuddering
alphabetically.
But, goodness, ladies. that isn't any
thing" put in the aforementioned young
man; Just suppose her name were smith
or Brown
drawing herself to her full height and look
ing at him through her lorgnette, my
name Is Brown
The conversation turned upon books. the
guest complmentiEg the hostess upon her
magnificent library.
yes" chirped the guests wife. you
have a lot of books, and a whole set
Of encyclopedias have you read them
alp"
ANYBODY who watches the evolution of
fashion can discern on the horizon of style
the hustle cloud The very full skirts de-
naand some support, and as appendages at
the lower border have been found Ineffective,
pads at the waist line of gowns. Then the
short jackets, with their innumerable con-
volutions and their jaunty air. give the eff
feet produced by a hustle and are recognized
as making a fashionable contour. There
fore, when the spring advances and jack
cts are laid aside, in order to produce the
Necessary stylish hump, the hustle per Sc
will be called into requisition and the FEM
mime world will be launched on the same
sea of folly which 1t was Shipwrecked
some years ago. 1 have the word of fash
ionable woman just from Paris to sustain
this Prediction, and 1t remains to be seen
If the American woman will put a quencher
on this absurdity, she did in the case of
crinoline, will she follow blindly in the
path at whose termination stands the ridicu-
lous Grecian bend.
- 4 *
whats in a name" had an amusing il
lustration a few days ago when a few
friends were being entertained at luncheon
by popular hostess. After her guests had
assembled and Just before the luncheon
was served. she slipped into the dining room
to see that everything was attended to prop
erly. where she was confronted by the cook.
in a great state of excitement. In answer
to her inquiries as to the cause the bewil-
6ered Hfberlian poured out her tale of woe:
well, mum, L had everything fixed in
regular order to serve, and that last lady
that came sent down to the kitchen a bucket
of hash, for surprise to yez, and 1 don't
know when to send it on"
"Hashr' exclaimed madam.
Yes, mum, here 1t Isl and the agitated
servant produced from the pantry pail Of
delicious terrapin, ready for serving, which
one of the guests, known as terrapin ex-
pert. had brought as an addition to the
feast
A well-known detective told me a good
story. the truth of which he vouches for.
"one day." he said, "a lady came into
my Office. evideatly in deep trouble.
You a detective"
eyes, madame
We'll, I want your services in a very
delicate matter she said, her voice sink
ing to a whisper, as she glanced nervously
about to see that no one was present that
could hear the conversation.
My husband she continued when sat
isfed no other visitors were in the room,
has a suicidal mania He appears to be
IN perfect health. eats well, sleeps well,
has no cares or troubles that I know of
and yet I have to watch him carefully in
order TO keep him from committing suicide.
His mania, for, of course, know 1t is that
with him, is so subtle that no one would
suspect IL for an instant But he las
laudanun secreted around the house. ]
have found several walls of 1t, and fear
that there Is moro that have not been
able to discover
and 1 agreed to visit the house in the guise
Of an invited relative of the wife and
study the affair. 1 was greeted most cor
daily by the husband and within twenty
four hours admired him greatly. A
lighter hearted, nerTIer, happier man !
never saw. Three nights later was
awakened by the screams of the wife ard
hastily arising and dressing ran down
stairs. meeting Ner In the hallway, holding
an empty bottle labeled 1audanum'
rushed to the mans bedside. but too late.
He was not YET dead. bur never recovered
consciousness. Tho seeming grief CT the
widow was heart-rending. but caught a
CLEAN in her eyes that convinced me she
had poisoned her husband, and her ruse in
having me in the house hac been as bold as
1t was successful, for not a word of evil
dence could / have produced that she had
plotted the murder of her husband. Two
months later she was married again and
went to Europe"
y
You would have been amused at Mrs.
-, the wife of Representative from
one Of the southern states, / forget Just
which one. I struck up an acquaintance
with her in the House gallery ono. day las: