Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-24


called shin plasters" by some. In
1874 paper representing two bits or Is
cents was in circulation, and also To-
cent paper. In 1875 50.cent paper
bills were printed. They were about
80 by 2 inches in dimensions.
Those who have had occasion to
handle French paper money are IA
miliar with its fragile texture. 1t tears
easily unless we'll protected. English
money, which is ever puzzle to the
travelling American, is probably the
bulkiest of all. English pennies, which
the Briton carries for small expendi-
lures, are exceptionally heavy in the
pocket. With these pennies he pays
his tram or bus fare. He buys his
newspapers with them. The decimal
system not being in use, the visitor is
heWildered Half crowns, forms and
scvereigns are just so many coins to
him, and he leaves much to the hon.
esty of the tradesman and merchant
for the correct change. He seldom Is
disappointed
In the hands of clever manipulators
money has been caused to play strange
pranks. Slick-fingered gentry could
make three bills grow right before ones
eyes from a single bill. In the days
of the old and well-rid dance halls a
patron might hand q waiter q 10-dol-
lar bill in payment for his evening
The waiter would return with the
change. The amount due, let us say,
was SIS. The servitor would count the
money out into the hand Of the patron
who observed that he received 81. There
could be no mistake about 1t for hadn't
he witnessed the transfer with his own
eyes? But the hands of the waiter
we're quicker than the victims eye. Had
the victim counted the money again he
would have discovered, to his dismay
that he had been Shortchanged. This
was frequently accomplished by doub-
ling one Of the bills so that 1t produced
the effect of two. Palming money was
an. art practiced by the sharpers, too.
The remarkable part of their skill
was the fact that the victim would have
testified on oath that he had seen the
correct change given to him.
y
A small moving truck was stuck ir
the mud during recent rain. On the
side of the vehicle, In conspicuous, but
crude fashion, were painted the words
I'VE Move Anything
"Oh, yeah?" exclaimed an unsym.
pathetic motorist as he drove by the
unfortunate owner and his helper. wht
were vainly endeavoring to extricAtt
themselves.
n r y X
One of our local ministers was ex-
planning to a friend that without faith
human hopes would perish and the uni
verse fail to progress.
The ocean voyAger does not ques'
ton the skipper" said the clergyman
He would not think of asking to see
the captains credentials nor examine
the engines that propel the great ship
through the sea.
The trouble with most of us Is thai
we confuse non essentials with the fun
damentals. Many people bring misery
to themselves because they persist In
inouiring into things that have no bear
ing on their lives.
This recalls q colored preacher who
during a sermon, said: My; brethren
when the first man, Adam, was made
he was made of wet clay and sit uE
asin the fence to dry Just minute,
exclaimed one of the congregation. DC
you-all, mean to say dat Adam was
made of wet clay and set up agin the
fence 10 dry?' 'Yessah,- I most certainly
does Who. den. made the fence?
Sit down. sab. said the preacher stern