Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-04-28
THE FLIPPANT YOUTH.
He Had Pretty Scheme nut He Was
Introduced to PO-
litcness.

The young man who is prone TO flip
pancy was entertaining his friend in a
downtown restaurant with loud dis.
course upon the ease with which I'M
scrupulous customers can impose upon
gullible CO restaurateurs.
"Now, let me illustrate to you," said
the flippant youth, as the friend at the
other side Of the table looked in
amazement at the rapidity with which
the ''other fellow" devoured the edibles.
Suppose, for instance, that come in
here and order a fine beefsteak. I say
tothe proprietor (amd the flippant youth
glanced around to make sure that half
a dozen persons in the rear Of the room
were included among his Hsteners):
Can you give me a good tenderloin
steak?'
'The proprietor, of course, will an
swer: Yes, sir I get the steak, eat
and enjoy it, and walk out without pay
ing the bill What recourse has the
proprietor? None at>all. I asked him
if he could give me the steak, not if he
would sell it to me. See the differ
ence?'
ct see,' answered the more reflective
companion, laconically. After a mo-
ment's hesitation he asked: "But sup
pose the proprietor won't tolerate such
a customer? Suppose he insists on pay
me1it?"
"Then I don't come back again, and
he loses customer" was the smart fell
lows reply.
'Then the proprietor simply can't
do anything? Has no recourse?"
"None, say" and the flippant youth
asked for another help of bread, butter
and pickles. "Let us suppose" he con-
tinued, "that the proprietor wouldn't
give me an opportunity to get the bet
ter of him. Imagine that I go into a
restaurant, call the proprietor, and say:
Can you give me nice porterhouse
steak?'
eyes, if you pay for it, he answers"
ella, ha, ha," laughed the quiet COM
panion, as he dropped a cup Of coffee he
was lifting to his mouth; che has you
there
''Not at ALL" loudly retorted the flip
pant youth. "What do do then? Sim
ply get up and walk out, insulted, and
never return"
"Oh." drawled the conquered compan-
ion. 81 Sec"
''Now," continued the flippant fellow.
enthusiastically, what can the restau-
rant man do? catch him coming and
going"
Everybody in the establishment had
by this time become an interested lis
tener to the remarkable conversation,
and all wondered at the clever idea of
the fippant youth. Suddenly a demure
little man, who apparently had not no
ticed what was going on, blurted out:
II have an idea"
"Oh, you have!" exclaimedt the startled
young man who had been dealing out
wisdom in generous chunks, "well, let's
have it,"
:. Suppose" began the demure little
man, slowly, "that I go into restaurant
and ask the proprietor: We'll, can you
give me nice porterhouse steak?' and
he answers. suavely: why, certainly;
about how much would you like to pay
for it?' Then what would
"Oh, never thought of that," apollo
getically answered the 1lippant young
man. "But say, who are ysu, anyhow?
Who asked you to join in this CONVEX
sation?''
ooh, I'm the proprietor" the demure
little man quietly said.
That flippant boy is one of the most
polite young men who patronize that
restaurant now.-St. Louis Republic.
Giving the Jury n Chance.
Judge Wheaton A. Gray. recently ele-
waited to the supreme court commits
sion, was hearing a criminal case in
Fresno, and on warm day, at the end
of long harangue by the prosecuting
counsel, he noticed one of the jurymen
asleep. AS soon as the argument was
completed the judge addressed the jury
in his peculiar manner: "Gentlemen
of the jury, the prosecuting attorney
has completed his argument; wake up
and listen to- the instructions of the
court."-San Francisco Argonaut.
Mere Matter of Convenience.
Watts-Do you always ride home in
a hack?
Lushforth-Oh, no. Sometimes