East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-08-20

Seattle and day of sightseeing at
each of those growing and prosperous
cities, l took the train for Seumus,
Wash. a small place on the boundary
between the United States and Cana
da. At Mission junction on the Fra
ser river, stopped over night so that
l would not miss the scenic features
of the trip during the night run.
While 1t is only few miles from the
American possessions yet the customs
and speech and manner of thought
are entirely unlike what a Yankee"
as we are termed here, is accustomed
to.
1t seems odd to a westerner to be
are inclined to regard the New Eng
lander as a Yankee-but in Canada
States is termed a Yankee. I made
some trifling purchase at one of the
stores giving in payment a $40 gold
piece. The clerk looked at it critical
ly, rung it on the counter and then
turning to me, said: This is all right,
is it?" We never handle gold on this
side and I want to be on the safe
side"
told him the sun didn't shine on
country where American gold was
not worth 100 cents on the dollar.
He wrapped up my purchase and in
change counted out what seemed a
cap-full of bills. l thought I was
surely getting change enough and to
spare; in fact I supposed I was get
ting altogether too much change, but
when I came to look at 1t I found
had a 80 bill, seven ones and some sill
yer. l looked at the bills and then
sized up the clerk. whats the mat
| ter?" he inquired. Didn't I give you
the correct changer" "These bills
are all right. are they?" 1 inquired.
4 am not used to bills and I don't
want to get stuck. 1 have to be a
little leary of such money" The joke
never touched him and he said with
considerable emphasis: "Of course
they are all right; they have the Do
minion government back of them
Speaking of not seeing the point I
ate dinner in a little village a day or
two further eastward. I'VE had ex-
tremely large spoons and forks, hut
very small knives. fruit knives I pre-
sumo. Everyone at the table but
myself was eating as though they
were engaged at some solemn relig-
ious rite. The silence finally got on
Dor at the table l said, pointing to the
knives: "These knives We're picked to
soon, weren't they?"
81 beg pardon" he retorted, look
ing at me solemnly.
These knives were picked before
they were ripe. They are so much
smaller than the forks and spoons"
answered desperately.
. "Ah; how is that?" he asked.
II mean they must have raided q
toy shop. They are so small. They
. amt mates with the rest of the sill
verware. They amt blood relatives
to the forks. They are only hall
brothers, or else they are adopted"
said, desperately.
"Ah, very extraordinary" he mur
INJURED sadly.
1 ate my soup and started on m!
pot of tea and roast beef. Suddenl.
I was startled to see my neighbo
, across the table slap his knee arft
nearly choke with laughter. "Ah, al
excellent joke. Must have raided I
toy shop. By Jove! I ne'er concert
ha, ha." His sudden exhibition o
spells Disconnected me more than hi
former failure to catch on. Hereaf
ter when I attempt to spring jok
in mixed company, am going to pre-
pare a diagram of the joke In ad
vance. However, aside from thei
, failure to see the nut Of the joke be
fore you have told 1t as everyone doe
on the other side of the line, they ar
very cautious. accommodating an
pleasant. As rule the people ar
more formal here. When you carr
2 a woman's baby for her, help her of
the car with her luggage, or do an
other little courtesy, such as ever
D American woman expects and re
c ceives they seem a bit embarrasse
7 and are profuse in their thanks
That's very clever of you, indeed
, You are exceedingly kind. I am un
{ der great obligations for your cour
( tesy one woman said, because
took her baby In one arm and her &c
70 cart in the other hand, and escorte
her across a section Of torn-up side
: walk. An American woman woul
n have expected help, said thanks,
and let Il go at that.