Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19

joke on the city friend which worked boil
ways.
Evening Dress at Mite Society.
There was city chap who came ou'
there to spend part OF the winter one
year who made great stir by his green
ness about the way he should dress when
going out in society among the country
people.
He was staying at the tavern, and
everybody in the neighborhood was anxious
to see the widow Cornby's beau. his pres
ence there being known to be her attraction
for him. Consequently the mite society waa
better attended than ever known before
Deacon Browns house. where It was held.
was crowded to the doors. Everybody was
there
"Well. he arrived In due time. though
very late. 1t was almost 10 o'clock and some
of the folks were getting ready to go home
being sleepy. But he caused quite enough
of a sensation to make up for the walt
ing when he appeared for, instead of being
dressed up In frock coat and with a but
terf1y bow at his collar. he was all rugged
out In full evening dress. swallow tall coat
white low vest-'waistcoat he called it
patent leather shoes. crush hat and all.
You could have knocked everybody In the
crowd down with feather; Mrs Cornby
herself. In particular. was so startled that
between her desire to laugh and her impulse
to cry from modification that she came
near faintfng way. The city man was some
astonished. too. when he saw that he was
the only one In the house logged out as he
was. and that instead Of admirinG his
clothes they were all laughing at him.
THE climax came when one nice old
farmers wife. who remembered her grand
fathers swallowtail coat which he used to
wear many years ago whenever he dressed
up by day as well as by night, blurted out
loud enough for the city man to hear:
d" Blessed IL he hasn't got on his grand
fathers old swallowtail coat! He needn't
| think we're quite as old-fashioned as all
that up here. even II we do live In the
country! But it's black and not blue, and
there amt any brass buttons on IT.
Her view OF his attire was accepted by
the rest of the company at first but he was
a game fellow, and after he had got on his
feet SO to speak. he made pretty good
impression. He went away pretty soon
though. and that's the last we ever saw OF
him. We never knew just what his impress
sions were"
Queer Ideas Of Strawberries.
Must have been little mixed" COM
mented the smooth-faced chap who was
smoking pipe. MY business Is In town,
but am farmers son and live outside
where I can have place big enough to
raise things on. have done so ever since ]
was well enough of to leave life in a city
fiat to those who can endure 1t.
One OF the men In our office, city born
who had never lived outside, heard me braE.
gfng about country life last summer and
asked me. to take him out to see my place
was glad to do 1t and he went home with
me the next Saturday night. We were kept
rather late at the office and he had nc
chance to look around till the next morning
Then. after breakfast. suggested that we
should go out in the garden and gather
some fresh Strawberries. OF which I knew
he was very fond.
He though that a good scheme and we
went out. As soon as we got to my straw
berry bed Topped down on my knees and
began to tumble about among the vines for
the berries. expecting. of course. that he
would do the same thing. But he stood
still, his mouth open.
What are you doing down on the
ground. Jim? he asked.
Picking Strawberries. answered; got
to gather your own here, Bob
oh. sure said Bob, but but
thought stra wberries grew on bushes
Now. wouldn't that Jar you? But It's true
as gospel
II don't doubt It," put in the man wear
Ing the fedora hat. "but might have been
little suspicious II I hadn't ran against
big a city greenhorn myself as your
friend Bob. Two or three years ago. when