Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07
THE MENpAclrv OF VANITY,
A Drummer Adopts = Method to se,u.
Disputed Point.

A Drummer Adopts a Method to Sem.
n Disputed Point.
From the Washington Star: A Sta,
reporter was contending the point that
however vain a person might be, es.
pecially a 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 stylish
fellow. but he had the nerve that ia
sometimes ascribed to that peripatetlc
fraternity.
Come with me-" he said. "and I'll
prove my point"
1t was about II o'clock In the morn.
ring In an office on street.
"How?" inquired the reporter.
"I'll show you how. II 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 abou,
the place for fifteen or twenty minutes
the writer asking for an explanation
Of the strange manoeuvres every time
he had a chance. and getting no satis-
factory answers. Finally the drummer
overheard lady tell clerk she want
cd her packages sent down to the train
in time for her to get thcm there and
carry them home with her. The next
minute, as she turIed 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.
81 don't believe you remember me-"
he said in hurt tone.
"Your face is quite familiar. but |
don't quite place you"
Don't you remember" he explained.
'that l met you at the German am
bassador's not long ago. and also at the
dinner dance at the Brices. and again
ut the Assembly,"
She hesitated moment. looking him
over as she did SO.
"why, yes." she said, smiling very
pleasantly. 81 remember you quite well
now. but I wasn't expecting to see you,
don't you know. and didn't recognize
you at first. You know how 1t is in
Washington"
She smiled again and he smiled and
chatted with her while. then they
parted. and the drummer came back 10
the writer and took him out on the
street.
Now. what do you think OF IT." he
asked.
think of what?"
"Of my proof that was on the right
side OF that discussion"
II don't see any proof. You merely
met lady whom you bad met before
and recalled yourself to her. There
wasn't any proof in that"
wasn't there?" and the drummer
laughed. Think minute. You know
don't know anybody In Washington
outside of three or four merchants
sell to here. and them only in busi-
ness way. never was at the German
ambassadors In my life. nor any Of
those other places mentioned. I
have read Of them In the newspapers.
that's all. And the lady? Why she
doesn't live In this town at all. Didn't
you hear her order her packages sent
to the train to meet her? never saw
her before. Just the same when she
saw well-dressed man identifying her
as a member OF the fashionable set o.
the capital. and knew the clerks and
other women were hearing 1t, too, she
let 1t go at that and never said word
to correct me. She never was at any OF
those places any more than l was. but
she was too vain to deny It. even
though she had to lie to maintain her
position. See?"
The writer saw very clearly. but he
never would have seen II the proof had
not been presented in such unmistak-
able form,