The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-08
Mr.. GRAY WAS 4
HU.NAyCH.A MELLON IL. |.
Entangled Through=a Friends Joke.
WAS GREEN, WHITE AND BLACK
Visitor to Richmond Victim Of a f'i;aa
Ilumor, and for Time He Had irou-
bles Of His own-Wha' the
liultl-colo,s Lid 70.

H.. as :,7,a,Sirss o. % farce
coined vs5ySf 81 has&Iots of color IN IT, sias ;
green, black and white, hsu'ii,s ca
siyelv. r,hrc,ce, sc months ago it began as
a joke. on THURSDAY it came 70 SOME
what an abrupt end, with q stro1is eie.
ment OF tragedy bout It. me ta.e -
vouched for BY IaeIlloer=s Oh ..is, 80
monwealtlI Club who mas d cer tii.l loea
OF humor s-audsfs fond Of eXploltli.S IL
and was related to Il party OF friends IN
the lobby Of NLurpny's Hotel YESTERDAY.
Three months ago Mr.. John Gray,
highly connected. socially and financial
~, visited this city from West virginia
He was here for a couple OF days. and
during that time was entertained s. dt
nearly all The. Clubs in the city. %Ihroug
the friend, in the Commonwealth sCllip
the story teller, he was invited to. a dim
ner at a swell homo on West Franklin
Street on ono of the two days he was
here and to an afternoon affair OIL Grace
Street on the other.
When Mr. Gray was first introduced to
a. gentleman in this city na was intro
duceG as NJ. Gray. There was some
conversation about color names in gen.
eral, and this suggested something to the
clubman. Therefore tho next person TO
whom Mr. Gray was introduced his name
was given as Mr.. Black. It happened
that this man was to be his host in the
evening, and thinking nothing OF it Mr..
Gray laughed not dreaming for Il mo-
ment OF the advisaloiity OF correcting the
name.
HE BECAME NI.R. BLACK.
On MR. Gray's arrival at the dinner
party he was introduced by the host as
Mr.. Black. He was surprised, but the
clubman smiled, and fearing to offend
his most Mr. Gray became temporarily MI
Black. lie was so introduced TO a dozeu
people, and holding UP his part OF the
joke he let it so a that.
After this dinner the then Mr.. Black
was taken to the Commonwealth Club
by the cluoman, where. to carry the joke
a, little further, he was introduced as
MI White The clubman thought it was
about the funniest thing he had ever
heard Of but Mr.. ray-Black-White had
a protest.
Look. here he said, "do you think
I'm a rainbow? You want to stop this
thing.
| The cl,lbnlan laughed and nothing
| further was said about it at the time.
| Mr.. t:rav was Mr.. White for all the time
| he was at the Club and was SO introduced
| The complication was getting somewhat
! deem. but no one thought of it leading tc
| anything serious.
| At the afternoon function on the toll
! lowing day Mr.. Gray was introduced by
| tho clubman as Mr.. Green, whereupon
| the clubraan burst out laughing. Inc
l. ladies wercj delighted to meet Mr.. Green
| and wearing a smile Mr.. Gray became
Mr. Green, He Remained Mr.. Green IN
| til the next day, when, III trepldatioh, NJ
! left Richmond.
MORE COMPLICATIONS.
From that time until last "Wednesday
| Ja oft a had moi
| thought of the matter. On Wednesday
he 'phoned his friend. the clubman and
| received a card to the club. He journeyed
| thither and was amazed when waiter
greeted him obsequiously:
l.. How de do, Mr.. White
| My name is Gray" he corrected, ana
| thence he went into the club.
/ "Why, hello, Black. old man. how are
you?" asked a gentleman a moment
later, coming forward 70 shake hands
| with him. 1t was his dinner host OF the
| previous visit Mr.. Gray began TO se'
/ worried He said nothing, however
| thinking totirst see the clubman and thel
| explain. The waiter who had first greet
ed him IS Mr.. White heard ms secohe
greeting, and his jaw dropped half foo
in an,azement Mr.. Black he remained
however. that night at the club.
| THAT is the curiousest gentleman /
ever seed the waiter > liloquiZe0. Ills
/ name is White. he says its Gray, ant
now that gentlemen calls his Black. He
is q curious gentlemen.
Mr.. GREEN AGAIN.
/ On the following day CIR. Gray called
at the home in West Grace Street which
had extended it's hospitality to him on his
former visit He sent in his card Mr.
John Gray, and the lady Of the house
| came down.
! "Why, Mr. Green, I am delighted tc
see Won" she exclaimed cordially.
Mr.. Gray is indebted to convenient
chair fer not falling backwards. Tle
lady continued:
~ thought there must be some mistake
when your card was brought up. dom
know q Mr.. Gray. and I presume tina
YOU sent the card by mistake.
Mr.. Gray wiltcd. He was ready tt
swear on a moments notice that he wa:
any color of the rainbow. y rapid menta
-t-,,,, p,ny