Humor.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1373, 20 August 1895, Page 7

Humor.

He Was Jbroin tne West.

The following story is going the rounds 0) the Paris papers: A few days ago a middle-aged man in decidedly homespun attire, wearing a felt bat much the worse for wear, and carrying an umbrella of the unfashionable description, entered the shop of one of the leading jewellers in the expensive Rue de la Paix »nd asked to see a “ river” of diamonds, as the large, broad necklaces are technically jailed. The jeweller, very polite, but a trifle dis. trustful of the pecuniary ability of his pecu-liar-looking customer, showed one of the least resplendent ‘‘rivers'’ in bis collection, in fact it was little more than a brook. The stranger pushed it aside. *■ Oh ! I want something better than that,” ne remarked, with a strong trans-Atlantic accent, and without troubling himself to inquire the price. The jeweller openel a largecasketanddisp'aved a real “river,” but in a manner that said very plainly: “ Take care, my good man ; this was not made for you.” “Monsieur, this is worth 30,000 francs," was what he really said, “ Take it away,” said the stranger, pushing it asid i as be had done the first. I want something stylish. Real stylish, you understand. " It's for a lady.” “Mon Dieul’ ejaculated the astonished shopman, who did not suppose the gift was intended for a gentleman, “ I could show you another, but, unfortunately, it has just been purchased by the wife of an ambassador, and • it's worth 80,000 francs.” The man from the west seemed disappointed, and again asked whether there was nothing really first-class in the shop. He was rewarded for his perseverance by a sight of a necklace, the majority of the stones in which were purchased at the sale of the crown jewels last May. “ This now, will cost you 160,000 francs, or, if yon take the other two pieces that go with it, the lot will be 220,000 francs. To get anything handsomer than that you will have to order it in advance.” “lam sorry," remarked the “nil admirari” stranger, “because this, you know, isn’t really first-class. However, as I can’t wait, I’ll make it answer. You may send it round. That’s my address.” The jeweller took the card handed to him, and when he had read the name was most profuse in apologies for not having recognised his wealthy customer. It was one of the heaviest capitalists of tbe “ Wild West,” whose portrait, it is said, is to figure in the approaching Paris salon.