Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-02
A nLrssIyG IL DISGUISE.
An Accident q the Cohen COM
papS's superb Float.


Tho immense establishment OF the
Cohen Company. that Mecca OF feminine
shoppers. which - the delight OF every
womanly heart. was not represented In
the parade. and thereby hangs a singular
tale. Nothing short of IAN act OF God or
the public enemy" as the lawyers phrase
I'D could have prevented this entcrprising
concern from making a splendid showing
In the procession, but providental in
terlcrcnce, alasl did actua y intervene
at the last moment and exclude the COM
pany from the parade. Yes. II was
all due To the rain OF Tuesday-that re-
morseless, pitiless rain which caused such
universal woe. The Cohens. as every
body knew. were making elaborate pre-
parations for their exhibit, ana money
was no object 10 them" but even the
filthy lucre cannot bride a rain 20 stop
until IL gets ready. To make a long story
short tho cOmIdnys float was badly
damaged by the storm though the spirits
Of these entcrprising merchants have
been by no means dampened and in or
der 20 compensate the public they now
propose 10 sell goods cheaper than any
! other dry-goods house In Richmond
/ How's that for evening up?
! or course. 5000 people will want 10
know what happened to Cohen and all
about the unfortunate float. so we had
! best describe il as IL would have been.
The float represented an ocean steamer
under fun Roadway. and typiied the traf-
flo between European ana American
countries. A crew OF six colored men. in
naval uniforms was TO have manned the
vessel, and had the rains not come the
vessel would have proceeded under fun
steam up the streets.
The hull Of the steamer was painted red
/ and white From its masts and rigging
! hoated banners and streamers Of every
| description.
| 1t may be Of interest 10 know that the
| steamer is not mere temporary struct-
| ure, but is being built by certain gentle
men i'm this city. 10 ply as pleasure
| boat between this city and Norfolk. II
( will be launched in the early part Of the
/ spring
The Cohen Company had good reason 70
feel an interest in ships, and TO have their
J concern represented in the parade by d
steamer. as this house recently captured
! the contracts for fitting up the torpedo
! boats Shubrick Stockton. and Thornton
and the "destrOyers" Dale and Decatur.
/ OF course. this award sgnihed a great
zeal TO the firm. especially as the mousse
] had vigorous opposition from hllltl ''4--
Germs throughout the country. The con-
tract will bring a large sum Of money
into this city.
Had the good but unfortunate ship APP
peared i'm the procession it would have
been a winning favorite," as II was ~
feet long ana had width in proportion.
/ But lust as soon as the Cohen Company
found II was a bit bedraggled they dis
carled II altogether. and, as indicated
above. magnanimously decided TO repay
the public for it's non-appearance by cut
ting prices so low that people will almost
hate 10 accept the bargains they oieT.
one lady in discussing the accident
said: well. I'm not surprised. All the
boat lacked was water. anyhow, ana, OF
course. the Cohens who never do any
thing half way. got that. It's Ike them
they're complete in everything
it may be stated incidentally that the
CARGO and vessel were both heavily IN
srred so DO not weep about the natter
O, fair Virginia daughters After ALL tine
accident VIII prove blessing TO You, bul
be- careful not TO get injured in the rush
Tor their bargains. Shut your eyes ana
think of something YOU want for the
house: then hurrs off to Cohen's, and
you'n find it there.