The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-01-27
STRAY SHOTS.

hNdht'3 aud loOh uSI SOIne uellCaCleS
and also some flowers, among the
latter calla lily. Her kindness was
fully appreciated, and during the con.
versation the invalid lady remarked
that she was passionately fond ot
flowers, and especially so of lilies, and
she hoped that when she died some
one would be kind enough to send
four callas to place upon her casket.
The visit ended and several weeks
passed by, and then the information
reached the benevolent lady that the
invalid was dead. Remembering the
request that had been made, the
former decided to comply Herewith,
and going to her conservatory found
that there was but one calla in bloom.
But this did not change her purpose,
for there is hot house in that town
and thither she wended her way, taking
with her the one lily. 1t was in mid
winter, and intensely cold, and before
she reached the hot-house the flower
was frozen and withered. This necessi-
tated the purchase of four lilies instead
of three, for four there must be, prob
ably one for each corner of the casket.
She obtained them and then started
for the house of mourning on her
errand of love. Reaching the place
she solemnly approached the front
door, not observing the absence of
the usual Grape badge of affliction,
and rang the bell and waited a few
moments, meanwhile thinking up
some words of consolation and SYM
pathy. But she never was given an
opportunity to use them, for when the
door opened and she saw the sup
posed corpse standing before her,
alive and happy, she had the presence
of mind to simply deliver the flowers
without attempting any explanation,
and so perfect was her selfcontrol
that she did not even upbraid the
woman for not being dead, nor ask
her a single question as to how it
happened that she was not really de-
funct. She just came away, but ever
since then she has been quite careful
to ascertain the facts beyond the
shadow of a doubt, before sending any
flowers to a funeral.
1t is not always safe to talk unless
you know to whom you are talking. A
travelling man, an agent for-well, no
matter what, somebody might recog-
nize him-was in town recently, and
was transacting some business with
gentleman whose hired girl had been
out very late the night before. As
they were walking along one of the
principal residence streets, and were
just opposite fine home, the agent
exclaimed, "There's girl lives there
that met last night. Had her out
until two o'clock this morning. l tell
you, she's dandy" "What !" said
the business man, "In that house
Why, l live there" And the girl was
bounced that day.
This is not sermon on profanity;
it is only plain, common-sense
talk on the subject from a business
point of view rather than from
moral standpoint. Everybody
knows it is wrong morally, or at
least ought to know it. For years
the profanity of street corner loafers
has been an annoyance and nui-
sance in this town. Gangs ofyoung
men collect at different points on
the street, and the ears of every lady
who passes by, are assailed with
profane language of the worst kind.
Little or no effort has ever been
made to stop it. The law imposes
a penalty for every oath uttered.
but it has never been enforced in
Bloomsbury. One example would
be a wholesome lesson. Efforts have
been made to stop selling cigars OIL
Sunday, and to prevent the increase
of liquor licenses, but this public
profanity goes on undiminished and
unchecked.
Swearing in the presence ofladies
is too common habit. Because the
ladies have not the courage to re-
quest its discontinuance is no sign
that they like it. The truth is that
it is offensive to every woman of
respectability, and instead of being
inspired with admiration for the
"smartness" ofthe man who swears
In her presence, nine times out of
ten she is simply disguised.
There are young men in every
town who scarcely ever utter a
sentence that does not contain one
or more oaths, according to the
length of the sentence. Some of
them are hunting for positions, and
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