The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-28
Lady Hopes Hair Brush,


damp murkiness of that degree which
gives to this greatest shopping street of
| the metropolis the peculiar, dun somber-
ness so dear TO the Londoner and so
distinctive of the thoroughfare. Carriages
were banked against the curbstones. and
everywhere were the tall hats and black
| cockades of coachmen. footmen. and the
| miscellaneous f1unkies of Mayfair and St
James.
Down this gantlet of plate glass on the
one side and of liyeries on the other an
| american, filed with the thoughts of
home, could have been seen walking one
| afternoon about four week ago. To the
London shop-keeper the sight of a we'll
dressed American, walking, may be more
Inspiring than a siIver-mounted carriage
with coat OF arms on the doors. The
great American dollar, transformed into
the ugly coin and currency of the British
realm, is the Londoner's quarry in the
summers season, and as this representa-
tive of despised Western democracy
loitered in front of shop window more
than one British heart palpitated inside,
expectantly.
Tn another American who knows his
own country Chicago" might have been
read indelibly in the mans dress, gait
and manner. Such easy assurance, and
at the same time such absence of self
consciousness, could not have been the
product of an Eastern metropolis.
Had he been following, even a Scot
land Yard detective would have seen the
man was going home. Here and there he
entered a shop, looked, priced and bought
of the things portable that should be as
little remembrances to his friends.
As he walked. leaving a trail of coin
he oft Of
great jewelry establishment caught his
eye. and he went in. There was a stam-
pede of statesmen in his direction. A
floor-walker finally fastened him to a
staid, middle-aged salesman, who had
only slippery hold on his his a cir
cumstance that seemed 60 weigh heavily
upon him.
Going home, I presume, sir?" remark
ed the salesman as his customer closed
on one or two preliminary purchases.
The reply was so democratically gra-
cious that the salesman was led to con-
fide that he had been to ''the States
about five years before; but it required
some little questioning to discover that
the sum total of his American expert
ences had been acquired in the mesquite
section of Texas.
II am from Chicago" said the custom
eTs HONlHS toward a case OIL SpleHulQiy
finished purses and pocket-books.
20, indeed, sir!' was the rather shop
worn expression of interest so common in
the British capital.
But if the conversation dragged there
after the customer proved a most salts
factory buyer. He had to be pleased only
in the article; the price took care of it
self. AS he bought and bought a look
of SNUG British satisfaction settled deep
er and deeper into the countenance of the
salesman
It was while under the influence of this
commercial benignity that the salesman
invited the gentleman to inspect the stock
Of toilet articles on the other side of the
house.
Looking through the beveled plate bar
riers of showcase the eye of the Amer
lean was attracted to a magnificent hair
dressing set inclosed in a still more mag
nificent case. The covering was of heavy
Russian leather Of a dark bottle-green.
It's edges and corners were protected by
a lacework- Of oxidized silver, with here
and there a monogram thrown into the
pattern. The lock was formed outside In
the shape of an elaborate coat-of-arms,
and in the center of the lid this minia-
ture coat-of-arms was duplicated. in bold
Inside, imbedded in the soft sickness of
pale, yellow satin, lay brush and comb.
The comb was of heavy tortoise shell.
with a back of solid silver, riveted with
gold. The chasings, enamelings, and jew
eled richnesses OF the silver brush point
ed Enthusiastically to the fact that the set
had been made toaorder.
Pretty 'andsome. sir-don't you think
so?" questioned the salesman, who had
followed the gentleman's eye.
Whose Is it?' was the non-committal
reply of the American.
THAT, sir?' questioned the clerk in
some surprise, that belongs to the Lady
'Ope, SIR"
Visions of May Yohe--of West Side
vaudeville in Chicago-of the famous blue
diamond of the Hope family, and the
court-in-chacery verdict, forbidding its
spendthrift over to sell the s120,000 gem
all this passed through the mind of the
Chicago man as he looked.
Suddenly he Strengthened up and IN a
matter-of- course tone, which left the al
ready pleased salesman no chance Of re-
fusal, he said:
LET me see the set, please?"
Eyes, pretty NICE conceded the Chi
cago man, looking over case and con-
tents.
Just beyond the showcase was a stretch
of handsome wall cabinets. finished In
mahogany. At intervals a long, narrow
strip of beveled mirror was let into the
wood, marking boundaries Of the showing
stock.
Looking into one of these strips, the
customer picked up the comb, laying his
hat on the showcase. Carefully he fol-
lowed the divide in his hair, combing left
and right with infinite pains.
The salesman stood transixed with hor-
ror.
Laying down the comb and picking up
the brush the Chicago man just as care
fully passed it's snow white bristles
through mis- hair. Then, with sigh Of
satisfaction, he reached for his hat.
Lady Hope will call or will send for
these soon, I suppose?" he said, suavely.
IL think so, sir-I-"
We'll, say broke in the customer,
blandiy, when she does. will you kindly
tell her that Jake Kern of the West Side
already has had two swipes with EN-"
He's Been There Before.