The Washington times., 1903-06-28

L ~ NoS a Ddl gain dnu L dlN dg was
keen. very keen. on bargains. There isn't
a shopper in the city who can scent one
cut quicker. 1 saw IT one day while
was in a marble cutters shop. II was all
complete with the exception OF the
name and date The man who owns that
stone will never use it," said the melan-
choly stonecutter
"''Why not?" said l.
-'He was drowned few months ago
and he win never have any use for
tombstone" OF course. was sorry that
The chap couldn't have the pleasure of
reclining under his own stone. but I was
glad IN a way because it gave me
chance for a bargain. 1 bought II at
reduced figure and used to keep It in my
room until my folks grew nervous when
ever they saw it. So l thought it would
! be good idea to store It until was
ready to use it. Wont you take it?'
| "a warehouse manager often has
number of stuffed birds and animals to
take care OF. Some years ago 1 knew
rothing whatever of natural history, but
nowadays I don't believe you could
stump me on It, If there is any kind of
/ fish or bird or beast that haven't met in
the last ten years. 1 should like to be
/ introduced right away.
II have gained all this knowledge
from hobnobbing with these stuffed
! specimens. In that branch of my edu-
cation l should say that was more in
innate with parrots than anything else.
Nine families out of ten that get the
storage habit seem to have had a par
rot IN their housekeeping days, and
they desire its remains to be handled
tenderly. ! have a whole aviary Of
canaries intrusted to my care. besides
any number of stuffed animals which
have evidently been pets in their life
time. We do no parcel delivery busi-
ness, but our facilities for storing fur
niture are ample. We have two floors
in this new building and occupy two
hundred square feet OF ground.
A Pair of Live Alligators.
Yes. we store stuffed pets" said
Samuel Ellis, in charge of Littlefeld &
Alvords warehouse. But some of the
pets we are asked to take are very
much alive.
"A few years ago lady came and
asked II We wouldn't store her furni-
ture. as she was going away and ex-
pected to remain for some little while
Is that ALL? we asked when she had
given us the inventory.
Well, there are some things in the
cellar which you would oblige me by
taking care Of
What are they?'
'Alligators. There are two of them,
and they are the dearest little creatures
you ever saw. / would rather have had
some one of my friends take care of
them, but no one seems prepared TO
take charge OF my little pets You will
have 70 feed them occasionally and do
them few acts OF kindness now and
then. They appreciate petting. and
anyone who takes an interest in ami
mails can get along very nicely with
them.
II felt like directing the lady to the
Zoo. but ! simply told her that IL would
be impossible for US TO take charge Of
the reptiles. 1 heard later that she
went to almost every warehouse in the
city. refusing to allow anyone TO store
her furniture unless they took the ALI
gators. too. So far as 1 know. she didn't
| find a warehouse man who was willing
to accept the order.
| I'VE are the biggest scene -shifters in
\ Washington and employ as many as a
hundred on this branch Of the ware
house enterprise. The building occupies
an entire square, and the open and pri-
vate storage rooms are under one roof. -
Swords, Urns, and Gallows.
The American Security and Trust
Company's warehouse is one OF the larg-
est and most complete in Washington" "
said Clarence a. Aspinwall. the assist
ant manager, to The Times man. I'VE
have fireproof storage rooms, burglar
proof vaults, for silverware and valua-
bles, and moth-proof cold storage for
furs. rugs. and fine furniture. We have
number of Admiral Dewey's presenta-
| ton swords here. a number of pieces
OF Beauvais and AubussOn tapestries,
and several valuable relics OF George
Washington. The prize freak exhibit is,
suppose. an urn containing the ashes
! Of a gentleman who was cremated not