Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-06
SPENDTHRIFTS


about twice as much; but already we have
sold one to Prince So-and-so and Mr.. So
and-so They wanted to travel luxuriously
and so were willing to pay five hundred
thousand francs
1t isn't in a single splurge either, that
many of the European spendthrifts excel;
1t is in the steady outpour. 1t is the daily
grind. The American Mr.. Watchmewake-
emup goes out for an occasional night, and
owing to lack of habitude thinks he has done
a fine job of spending. Prince Spendthrift
of Europe does it with less pain.
They tell funny story of young man
who for time was quite public character
but now languishes in confinement-w
he was in Paris He was something of a
bluste-er, and as a Joke offered to pay a
luncheon bill in Paris with a thousand-dollar
bill. The imperturbable waiter took it, sent
a boy out to the bank about three steps
away to find out if it was good and would be
accepted at the bank, then, when the boy
returned with it. calmly walked back to the
Americans table
"Oh,' said he, Monsieur gave me bill
to pay his check" He waved the bill in his
fingers and said humbly, Pardon the delay,
Monsieur. l overlooked it. | am SO sorry!'
Then, out of his own pocket, he extracted
the change smiled, bowed, and went on
about his business without SO much as a
wink.
IN ST. Petersburg the difference would
= have been that they would not have APP
pealed to the bank. All they would have
done would have been to change it and
throw the long paper bill on the tray. They
are used to taking chances.
A Boston woman who is touring the Con-
tinent went into jewelry house in St Peters
burg not long ago and bought pearl neck
lace. She gave therefor a check for thirty
thousand dollars She was hurt because
there was a stampede from in front of her,
even as the sale was being consummated, to
a Russian who arrived inopportunely. She
thought that having made such purchase
she was entitled to shine in that particular
shop for few minutes at least. When the
man behind the counter was telephoning the
bank discreetly, she being foreigner, she
saw the newcomer carelessly ask to see some
thing good, and tray after tray of jewels car
ried from the safe for his inspection. He
carelessly selected a diamond necklace with
a ten-carat stone in the center, indicated
that it would do, gave the name OF well
known Russian singer of gypsy songs to
whom it was to be sent, lighted a cigarette
and walked out. In her best French the
American woman asked to see it. 1t was
magnificent.
"Have you another like IT." she asked the
shopkeeper.
"Not exactly" replied he; @but some that
are better. If Madame wishes | can dupli-
cate it."
"For how much?"
He looked at it a moment, asked ques-
ton or two of another salesman, and said
politely, "For the same price at which it was
sold, Madame, one hundred and twenty
thousand rubles.'
Sixty thousand dollars! And that was
Just a simple little token of remembrance,
purchased in a nonchalant, offhand way,
after scarcely five minutes inspection of the
wares offered!
1t is said that the Empress of Russia could
not begin to carry her jewels unassisted;
but it is also said that the singer mentioned
would require the services of at least one
good strong man.
ODDLY enough, the greater part of
~ Europe has begun to discriminate
against us as spendthrifts in another way.
1t hurts to tell someone that you are an
American, and have them say they have
often wanted to visit Buenos Ayres. Proba-
bly, they add, $50 many of you have money!
1t took quite awhile to find out, however
that Argentina sends over swarm of heavy
spenders each year, and they have such an
..I1 ba