The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-11
WOMEN AT A FREE LUNCH.
Injury to Trade Caused by Misapprc-
hension of Existing Facts.

4
women in black frocks and white aprons was
of itself sufficient 70 chill the ordinary human
emotions, says the New York Sun. Then
there seemed to be something restful in tie
long white marble bar. the white marble
sarcophagus behind it, and the nicsle-plated
fittings from which tho syrups and soda were
drawn. Altogether. therefore. the soda
water counter was the one peaceful spot in
the mad world of bargains and odd-tigurc
prices. To it the fustered women flocked to
compose themselves for little while, TO reclx-
on up the useless things they had bought and
the necessaries they had forgotten, and above
all TO make one last despairing effort To calcu'
late IL their change was right.
did you see those cut glass bottles Mt 10
cen 4" asked tho dark lady in mournful
| tone NJ she sank woarily upon one of the
stools in front of the counter. II was dying
70 buy one, but there was such crush that
! couldn't get within three rows of them"
"Are you waited upon 90 asked the naughty
young woman ON the other side Of the count.
or, supcrcil!ously.
"Did you ever try poxing peoples legs with
an umbrella when you wanted to get through
a crowdf asked the light lady.
Are you waited uponf" asked the naughty
young woman, wearily.
mo" replied the dark lady, "I'd mover
dare TO do such thing"
"Aro you waited upon:" asked the naughty
young woman, i'm periously.
"Oh, there's nothing daring about it," re-
turned the light lady. "You Just poke your
umbrella between the ankles of the woman
in front OF you, and she trips over it, turns
10 see what it is and you slip in ahead OF her
L., Int
about it,
young woman, sadly.
"But doesn't she get cross ?" asked the dark
lady
Are you waited upon - asked the naughty
young woman, firmly.
"Whats OH" said the light lady. "Give
me vanilla ice cream soda"
"Do you always take vanillaf" asked the
dark lady.
"Twof" asked the naughty young woman,
patiently.
Most always" answered the light lady.
Ibid you see those odds and ends Of ribbon
at ten cents yards p Some were actually
worth dollar and two dollars yard"
Two" ask ID the naughty young woman,
despairingly.
And those sterling silver cuff buttons at
c,nts eachl" exclaimed the dark lady with
enthusiasm.
"Two'" asked the naughty young woman,
rebelliously.
What? Oh" said the light lady. "She
wants TO know il you are going to take va.
nilis, too"
Il don't know" replied the dark lady.
Would youi'
"Well," continued the light lady, ''what-
ever you do, go and look at the wash sill ks
at 20 cents yard from Is"
The naughty young woman stood specchless.
Well" said the dark lady, reicnting, Il
suppose may rs well try it, too"
'And tell me-" went on the light lady
"do you want any Then she stopped
suddenly, AS her eyes followed those of the
dark lady. When the naughty young woman
had moved away to get the Soda the dark
lady had looked after her and her eyes had
lighted upon a plate Of fancy sweet crackers
on the counter The light lady looked at the
plate and then at the dark lady. The
naughty young woman had her back turned.
"Do you like vanilla?' asked the light lady
loudly, as she stole cracker. The naughty
young woman turned suddenly.
did you say vanilaf' she asked.
"Yeb," said the light lady, with her mouth
full OF crackers, with guilty start. The
naughty young woman turned her back again.
There are great many bargains here"
said the dark lady, loudly, as she in turn
stole cracker. The naughty young woman
turned suddenly again.
will you have cherries in your soda 2" she
asked.
'Nobe," said the dark lady, her mouth full
of cracker, with guilty blush.
The naughty young woman brought over
the two glasses of soda, and then, 40 1t seemed
10 the two customers, loolSei first at them
and afterward at the plate Of crackers with
peculiar expression. The two customers grow
uncomfortable. The naughty young woman
took up the plate Of crackers and presented il
To them.
Won't you have some crackers2" she
asked.
NO" replied the dark lady. scornfully.
III do not care for any," said the light lady.
There is no charge for them," the naughty
young woman urged.
"The ideal" exclaimed the dark lady.
'I guess / can pay for crackers when
want any" retorted the light lady. Then
they swept out of the store. The young wo-
man stared after them with all her haughti-
ness gone.
''what ails them all 2" she asked In be
wilderment as the fioorwalker came bustling
up There's two more customers gone away
mad"
The foorwalker shook his head sadly.
Somehow women don't seem TO catch on
TO the idea Of free lunch at a soda water
counter" he said. II don't know why so
many OF them should be offended about IT,
Perhaps.we oughtnt to have tried to establish
1t. Any way, the next time don't offer them
any cracker, just let them snook them when
they think you re not looking"
Fitchburgs New Church.
Fitchburg. Mass Feb. 1.-THE new