The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-13
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{ GOSSIP OF THE Town. !
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CS~0>N0NO
He was a quiet, unassuming and
obliging man, and little deserved the
shock he received. 1t was only a day
or so ago, when the gentleman in ques-
ton was walking up Main street. The
streets were wet, the rain pouring
steadily down and drenching all who
ventured out in it. The gentleman had
been out in the storm, and his feet
were wet and his gloves soaking with
the rain, and these two facts helped
matters along. AS he passed up the
street he came in front of Prices gro
Gerry store, and was accosted by a small
boy who was standing under the avn
ing in front of the store. SAY, mister
asked the boy, will you please get me
that piece of string? 1 can't reach it.
The string alluded to was hanging
from one of the iron rods which sup
ported the awning. 1t was an innocent
looking piece of string, and the gen
, tleman saw no reason why he should
not give it to the boy. With outstretch-
ed hand he walked up and caught hold
of it. There was a flash of fire,
crack, a yell of pain, and the dignified
gentleman was sitting in pool of
water in the middle of the sidewalk.
His hat had dropped to the ground, and
! his umbrella went scudding off before
the wind down the street. AT the same
time there We're such shouts of juvenile
mirth and screams of laughter that the
attention of the people in the vicinity
were attracted to the spot.
The gentleman on the pavement pick
ed himself up, gathered together his
hat and tuadles, and went limping
down the street in pursuit of his UNI
brella. The innocent piece of cotton
string was still hanging to the rod,
! tempting all who came in reach to
touch it. But the string was proof
against all assaults, for it was charged
with 6, strong current of electricity
from the arc light which hung near it.
Just how the connection was made is
not known, but certain it is that string,
which was dripping wet, was alive and
bristling with the electric fluid Many
were the victims that suffered from
contact with that piece of string.
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The other day a young man and his
best girl came into the city from some
point out in the farming districts He
| was dressed in his best Sunday-go-to-
, meeting clothes, and she was radiant
in bingham gown of a decidedly scar
let hue. He wanted to show that he
| into a drug store for a glass of soda,
like the city chaps do. While drinking,
they were casting furtive glances about
the store in order to see what was go
ing on and if they were watched. He
had taken her to town, and he was
proud of his ability to show her the
sights-he had been to the city once
before, and knew all about the ms and
outs Of such places.
iS II old and tl-11o Ona
that pride goeth before fall and
this was no exception to the rule. AS
the young couple, fresh from the lucern
fields Of the country, slipped the foam
ing soda, a man came in and bought a
cigar. Biting off the end, he picked up
the china handle of the electric cigar
lighter, placed his cigar against the
wire, and after a few puffs walked
away, smoking the weed. The young
couple had watched the performance,
and were struck with wonder when
they saw the red light burn up at the
top of the machine.
@ 9 @
The girl giggled, and then asked in a
whisper: Did you ever see anything
like that before, John?" Johns pride
would not allow him to tell the truth
and show his ignorance before his best
girl so he replied: "Oh, that's old. I'll
show you how it's DONE With that he
walked UP and bought a cigar With
the air of an old-timer he bit off the
end and picked up the china handle
He had heard of pressing the button
so he pressed his thumb firmly on the
end of the handle as he lifted it to-
wards the end of the cigar. He did not
know where the light was going to- APP
pear, but he thought he would be able
to see it. AS he lifted the fatal handle
his thumb pressed against the end
there was a buzzing sound, the light
flared UP, and with a yell that would
} have put to shame an Indian wal
whoop the unlucky hayseed dropped
!. the handle and jumped high into the
air. There was a faint smell of burn
ing flesh. and the boy went rushing
through the door with a. letter brand
ed neatly on the ball of his thumb
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1t seems that the new tangled ideas
are bound to get people into trouble
at the most unexpected times A pretty
} girl walked into a. drug store the Other
day and purchased some little articles
She was a pretty little miss of about
16, and her dainty fingers were just the
kind TO get into some mischief, limo.
cent though it was. She saw no reason
| why she should not handle the things
on the counter, and undoubtedly there
was no objection to her doing so. Buthel
waiting for the change, she walked
over to look in o showcase in which
was kept the supply of cigars On tor
of the case was one of those automatic
cigar cutters. 1t was an innocent look
ing continuance, and when the eyes O.
the little lady lighted upon it she i'm
mediately proceeded to investigate II
the top of it was a nice little rounC
hole. 1t struck Miss Curiosity as al
f exceedingly smooth and round littl
; hole, and she Just could not hell
thrusting the end of her pretty littl
: finger into the opening. AS she did S,
4 there followed a snap, shrilI shrek
and the little lady tainted away. Tn
: automatic cutter had acted under tn
pressure, and the cruel blade had Gu
l off the tip of her finger She was re
vived, her finger tied up, and with al
/ the majesty Of offended dignity sh
swept out Uf the store
DR.. DAYS ILLNESS.