Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-11-11
oeN,,.s M 4 ,evopLE.
Origin OF a BIT of SLANG That Abiass
Near Boston,.

Origin OF a Bit of slang That Abi4es
Near Boston.
In one Of the suburbs Of Beacon there IL
. local bit Of slang which always puxsles
strangers. Whenever a .barG 43dnds Arivcn
or argument over some slnRlT4natter grows
heated some one Is sure IL sSSI ,facetiously,
"Oh, we'll, you might thf6kE in the pud-
dler' or "Tte puddle is thrown In" 4
New York woman who has, for her hus-
bands sins, moved into the shadow Of
Bunker hill, after hearing Of the puddle
from butcher, baker and candlestick
maker, finally went to q friend and asked
for on explanation. Hero is the story:
This particular suburb of Boston Is hon.
orcd by being the home Of . literary wo.
man known to fame. Like mnpy another
genius, she has marked eccentricities. In
this particular case genius ~testifles to It.
self In an exceeding great care of pennies.
Frugality isn't the ordinary hall mark Of
tho artistic temperament, but this case 10
exceptional, and the tradespeople have
been heard to wonder how one could find
time to write immortal books when one
consumed 90 much valuable time In hag-
Cling over an extra 3 cents pound on
rib roast.
The home which ia the shrine Of genius
70 . charming one. but 1t 10 on the very
outskirts of the town and crowns q high
hill. The view from the hilltop is in.
spring, but the climb is q wearying one,
especially In bad weather. Perhaps the
site was chosen as allegorical after the au.
thor had arrived. When the dwellor up
On the hilltop was obliged to come down
among the profane crowd md go into
Boston, she drove back and forth to the
station In her own carriage, but one rainy
day she came out from the city, and,
through some mistake, her carriage did
not meet her. She waited and fumed and
finally asked the only cabman what hs
would charge to take her home.
Fifty cents, num-" said cabby.
"Absurdr' snapped the celebrity. "I'u
not pay any such price"
every we'll, num-"
Bcended to argument.
than Is cents"
"Well, num-. your house Is the last ono
in the town, and there's tho bad hill to DO
climbing"
There was, silence for another five min
utes. Then genius inquired:
"How far will you take me for 26
~oentsp"
"Hah way, num-"
She closed her umbrella with q snap.
Every well, I'll ride Is cents worth"
Cabby drove for Is minutes and then
stopped. A head appeared at the window.
"You haven't gone half way ~..sS.:,,
"Indade and I hev, num-"
"You won't take me any fartheri"
"Not fer the price,"
every well, drive me IS cents worth"
The cab logged on for five minutes, then
stopped again. This time 1t was on the
town side Of an immense puddle which
stretched not only across the road, but
across the gravel path rs well. The car
riage door opened, and genius picked up
its skirts for descent, then caught sight Of
the puddle. taltered, stood with n foot
on the step and looked up the hill toward
tho imposing house. The. cabman thought
the so cents was his, but. he didn't know
his passenger. She stepped back into the
cab, but thrust an irate face out Of the
window. .af " ~.".. ..:e
"The very least you can do after such
extortion is to throw in the puddle" she
said.
The cabman was overwhelmed. HI
drove across the puddle, SGT his fare down
on the muddy path and drove slowly back
to town, whore he told tho story that sinoa
has become town property.-New York
! Sun.