The record-union., 1898-03-04
HE WANTED A PERSPECTIVE
Cause of Wrath Against One Ally
SiOper,

In Harlem there lives a young man.
who up to a year ago or less was con-
tent to be known merely as a clever and
rising business man. reputation which
he was successfully cultivating. Then
something or other gave his ambition
a twist and he decided to shine socially.
To his end he proceeded to part his
name in the middle, and an exceedingly
wide composite part his middle name
made. Next he got his father 10 set
up a stable for him, and began to fig
ure as -and-So, the Well-known whip
and society man" Certain deficiencies
of education and training interfered
with his ambition in some directions.
but his money and horses gave him
certain prestige of which the most EVIL
dent effect was the acquisition of a
manner which his family and friends
described as ''highfalutin,'' chesty"
and "hooperloo." according to their
various vocabularies. That is why they
are making merry over a recent take
down inflicted on the young man.
Not long ago he had occasion to make
inquiries in regard TO the course at a
certain collegiate institution in this vi
cinty, not for himself, as he is several
years past the age al which most boys
go to college, but for a young relative.
His letter was written in characteristic
style, not wholly exempt from faults OF
photography and rhetoric. but very
grandiose anG emphasizing the fact
that It behooved the institution TO take
steps toward securing the honor of the
attendance of member of his family.
So little did the dean of the college like
the tone OF the communication that he
tossed il into his scrap basket without
taken the trouble to answer it.
How it came into the hands of q Ger
tain student of the college, who knew
the writer of the letter does NOT appear,
but that is what happened. He read it
and found in ii an injunction. not a
request, that there be forwarded at
once "a perspective of the school,
Here was the students chance. and as
he IS something of joker he was quick
to eake it. Getting catalogue of the
college with an illustration, giving
view OF the main buildings, he posted
the picture en- a sheet of the college
writing paper. Then ne marked paral-
lei lines CT indication along the back
ground of the Illustration and attached
this legend:
TINS is the perspective"
Below he appended this note:
Dear Sir-Your hcnored letter just re-
ceivad. In reply l would say that II
by perspective" you rean ''prospee-
tus.' YOU can obtain what you need in
the line of instruction III ordinary Eng
lish al any grammar school. Yours
perspectively,
ALLY SLOPER, for the Faculty.
Great was the Indignation of the
youth when he received this letter. He
had never heard OF that patron saint
of iokers. Ally Sloper, and he sent
around among his friends. breathing
threats OF vengeance against thee col
lege in general. and that cad. Sio-
per" III particular. To several of his
acoraintances he showed the note. de-
manding their sympathy for the black
guardcGly outrage to which he had been
subjected Their good offices went far
enough to restrain him from writing a
warlike letter TO the President of the
college. but not SO far as to keep the
matter quiet. 1t has become town talk
in Harlem, and to rouse the deadly re-
sentiment of the youth With the wide
~ parted name one has only to say
to him: Yours respectively, Ally Slo-
per. New York Sun.