The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-08-21
The Living !.
Wax i Figure.
How a Hero Got Unbiased
Opinions Of Himself.

lection, especially with ladies, sir.''
Major Bailford Noel might well
have blushed, but he only laughed
and pulled his mustache as he gazed,
with amused criticism twinkling in
his dark eyes, up at the waxen pre-
sentiment of himself.
He and his friend Jimmy Barnes
had come early to have look at the
thing in advance of other sightsee-
ers. He had not proposed the idea.
AS he himself would probably nave
expressed it, he wouldn't have had
the colossal cheek" but courteous
note from the management had Of
fered the privilege, and Jimmy
Barnes had advised its acceptance.
And Major Bailford Noel;
bronzed young man in an immacl-
late frock coat, trousers with beau
tifully crisp folds down the front of
the leg, tall, shining hat and par
ticularly smart gloves, stood staring
up at another Bailford Noel dressed
in shabby khaki, provided with sew
eral realistic red stains.
"Glad they like me-" was the only
comment with which it occurred to
him to cap the compliment. seBut
I bet if I could stand in that wax.
chaps place for an hour I'd hear
things about myself that would
make me feel small"
"You don't quite understand yet,
my dear boy, what pet the British
public's been making of you these
last few months or you wouldn't
be so beastly modest" said Jimmy
Barnes, who had only beer restrain
ed from going out and trying to be
hero on his own account by the
fact that he was too nearsighted to
know friend from foe.
''But I bet you, ell the same, I
would hear some home truths about
myself if I could take that buffers
place. Bet you $780,"
''Dare you do il ?" asked Barnes.
"Do what?"
"Get up there, and try it."
"WhatI Have the wax beggar
carted away and Oh, rotl Why,
they'd spot it in minute, even
if'-
'It's too foggy. Look here. You
could turn off a light or two,
couldn't you?'
"I-I'm afraid, sir, it couldn't be
managed," stammered the embar-
rassed attendant.
"Why, it ought to be worth a rise
of salary if any one knew. Think
what a catch! But nobody need
know. And, besides, you're good
chap, you know, taking lot of
trouble for U.S."
Mr.. Barnes illustrated his idea by
bringing from his pocket q handful
of attractive yellow coins.
Don't you think, my friend, as a
favor to Major Noel"-
"Gh, / say, Barnes, I like thatp'
ooh, I say, Noel, of course you
do. It's the chance Of your life.
Besides, 'tisn't fair to make bet
and then funk it."
"What was the bet, anyhow %
'You bet you'd hear things that
would make you feel bad if you
could stand in that tabsentminded
beggar's' place. I bet the contrary.
But-well, put it like this. If out
Of every. half dozen persons in the
acrowd three make adverse criti-
dcisms, you get my 800. If four
out of six admire you, your moneys
4 in my pocket
4 The attendant had finished his
calculation. On second thought he
would put it at $50.
From 1G to 10 the marvellous col.
2ection had been on view this foggy
morning, and one of the latest addi-
flons was beginning to think the
dignity and delight Of being ,4;ix
celebrity might be great deal OYER
@fated.
d Still, on the whole, he had little
Sfo complain of. What with the fog
kfo>oAoC StAu CnC dIIAuSC1llcllt- VI
EEghts carefully accomf1odated to fit
3he circumstances he could breathe
sfnobserved, and he could wink with
Comparative impunity in the face,
90 to speak, Of witnesses, while
&hen the crowd turned its back to
ffestow attention elsewhere he
q ound frequent opportunities of
Easing his stiffcned limbs. Last,
Hut not least, he was losing his
81 Eager.
II His principal admirers, however,
lad been little boys and old ladies.
i ac had a fatal fascination for both.
As for girls, it must be confessed
That, though they certainly did look,
IA IA him, they were his least friendly
&iticsI One and all so far had ex-
Ected him to be sehandsomer and
-Rgger.'' But, then, Bailford Noel
ever had got on with girls. They
r. lere the only craafJlres on parth ha