Evening journal., 1898-02-08
THE BITTER WAS BITTEN.

THE BITTER WAS BITTEN.
If you want to see the funny things
In life don't go around with a pair of
field-glasses looking for them. Just
stand by the wayside as the Wayfarer
does. and observe with the naked eye
what is passing around you, and you
will realize that it is indeed but a step
from the sublime to the ridiculous.
For instance, the Wayfarer was
standing in a large grocery store at
Seventh and Market streets yesterday
/ afternoon. There was not a rush of
| trade. Behind the counter and near
the front window stood rather pretty
] little blonde saleswOman, looking out
at the streams of persons walking up
| and down Market street, and, no doubt,
wishing that she could, like her more
i fortunate sisters, be promenading up
and down the street in the bright sun
shine and crisp air. Farther back in
the store was young man of slender
proportions, and wearing the prettiest
little moustache imaginable. A few
customers, and a large stock of the
good things of life made up the picture
already begun.
The door opened. Two women en-
tered. One OF them was about 40 years
of age, but well-preserved for her
years, and wearing the brightest face
and costliest wraps in the place. With
her was a younger woman. They were
| related, for the younger one called the
older one Aunt"
They walked towards the counter
for the purpose of buying some gro
. ceries.
"Oh. don't those look nice" remark
: ed the aunt to the niece, pointing to a
tray containing large brown cakes
which were about the color of Graham
bread. 81 must certainly taste one OF
them, for they look so appetizing."
Picking up one of the cakes she bit
Il, and then made a grimace of dis
gust
= Holding the bitten cake in her hand
she walked over to the clerk who wore
, the pretty little moustache and
asked:
Wont you please tell me what
these are?"
Certainly, madam; those are dos
< biscuits"
She laid the cake down with a vim
] that astOnished him.
And just to think, I tasted it," SHE
exclaimed.
3 The clerk laughed, the lie blond,
smiled, and the victim of her own Gu
riosity swept out of the storIl with th'
following words dropping like Goals o
e fire on the drum of her car:
r you soak them in water and fee,
/, them to the dog whenever y0u think h
is hungry, and"
3. But the door slammed, and the con
d nection was broken.
II
e THEY WANTED TO KNOW
e This morning the Wayfarer was sit
ting in one of the leading jewelr
stores on Market street. Trade wa
dull and the proprietor had a fey
minutes for conversation. 1t was glid
. ing along pleasantly when two youn
n girls entered. They were gigglin
II softly.
y The proprietor walked to the end c
'O the counter and asked them what n
le could show them.
q Il would like to see your chains,
you please" said one of them.
Is Always willing to advance the pros
IN poets Of a good sale he brought ou
en- his line OF wares and spread ther
vi upon the showcase.
ID "That one is Sc; that $3.50; that
III and that $3.50" he said, indicating tn
ne various chains as he spoke.
1 ne TWO lOOhcQ lutul over tdlelulll
~ and finally one of them said to tn
a. jeweler:
n I'VE don't want to buy. You se
sy sisters beau gave her a chain like ths
e, one, and we saw your name on the bo
ch it was packed in and we made up OF
O. minds that we would find out no
much he paid for it, so that we coul
TX tease her about it,"
They were dismissed courteOusl
X but without much ceremony, and Il
broken conversation was resumed.
Instances OF this kind are not COZ
us fined to the sisters of the recipients
the gifts. II is often the case that II
girl receiving a present from an al
ar mirer resorts to this method TO asCe
re- tain how much he paid for IT, But Il
no boys are guarding against that now
days. When they purchase gifts an
ch suspect the recipients Of being owe
oW curious as to the value the jeweler
ID given the cue and requested to douh
lat the price on all inquirers until tn,
$50 prove to his satisfaction that they a
ng there for business and not for the pu
lte pose of ascertaining the price of the gi
ID bestowed.
ON