The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-04
SCapegraCe
of the Family
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From the Detroit Free Press.

There is a bright young man, living
in one of the finest homes in one of
the prettiest parts of Detroit, who is
now there on probation. Any serious
departure from the line of good behaV-
ior marked out for him will lead to
exile. He may be sent to help on
ranch, to do some kind of duty about
an active copper mine or to assist in
wrestling dividends from q boat line
or a railroad, for his father is tinan-
Cially interested in all that sort OF
thing; bit it is certain that he must
go and go on short notice unless he
complies with the rules recently laid
down to govern his conduct
He's bright. genial, tactful and en-
terprising, but all these gifts have
tendency to unite themselves in prac-
tical joking. And he does not measure
consequences in gratifying this pro-
pensity. He hired man to persOnate
an officer and serve a writ command
ing the old gentleman's appearance
in court to answer the charge Of hav-
ing tried to sell the park board Jer-
sey COW on the representation that it
was a red deer. The father never
owned a jersey COW or saw q red
deer, but he few around eXCitedly to
straighten the matter out and was so
laughed at that he offered q reward
for the perpatrator of the fraud Then
the pretended officer betrayed his em-
plOyer and gave the whole thing away.
A severe lecture which the old gem
tlcman gave the boy closed the Incl
dent. The jOvial youth did not look
day older or show the mark of a
care.
The clouds had scarcely rolled by
till there was another storm. one of
a church committee helping to secure
places for the Christian Endeavorers
called upon the mother to thank her
for the libaral response she had made
to the demands Of the approaching con-
vention. Thirty, my dear lady"
said the caller sweetly. Its larger
number than we have been able to
place az any other residence i'm the
city. and we want to tell YOU PERSONAL
! " how highly we appreciate your
I kindness. 1t is more than generous
| and"
But pardon me-" said the confused
matron, Il fear there is some misun-
! derstanding."
Not at all Your son was consid-
| that you would entertain a party OF
! thirty and expressed regret that you
could not take more. 1t was the moss
! encouraging thing that has happened
| since the committee was organized.
| We have assigned you some delight
| full people from Massachusetts"
As a number of relatives had been
! invited by the family to visit them
! during the convention and as the in
vitatiOn had been accepted there was
nothing for the good lady to do but
| admit that the committee had been
| hoaxed, and the air was chilly as the
representative of that body departed,
| Again the youth had a seance in the
| library and a strong intimation was
| thrown out that If he did not curb
| his Cotishness more drastic methods
| would )e resorted to. There is moth
| ing vicious about the young fellow,
who never seeks his fun in dissipation,
! but as a practical Joker he seems to
! be incorrigble, and the best he dp-
peared able to do was to restrict him
self To minor manifestations of his
| weakness for a time. Then came the
l outbreak that brought final warning,