Why He Laughed.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 50

Why He Laughed.

lii turning over the new Royal electric tender for the Czar to the Russian authorities the JElectric Company will probably try to avoid the mistake made by the old ship's modeller, who makes miniature models. Ii this man's little replicas of warships, ocean liners, and yachts, every gun, porthole, capstan, and piece of machinery is the counterpart of that in the big vessel. Years ago ha received, through tlie Russian Consular Office, an order to make one of these, miniature copies of a certain vessel for the Czar. Nothinoi was said about the price, and he went to ■work in liis usual conscientious way. When it was completed the Russian official inspected it and pronounced it a marvel. " I was going to cha*ge him £140 for it," said the maker the other day, "when His Nibs told me to pack: the model the right; way for transhipment, put it in a glass case, with an ornamental wooden case over it, 'the whole to be_ fitted into a strong box made of steel, saying afc the same timo, ' Spare no expense.' Well, I did so, and thought that, as this was for the Ozar of Russia, lie could probably stand another £40 ; so when I delivered the whole tiling I said my bill was £180; and stood by waiting for the money. The official smiled at me in a pitying sort of way; and said the model was a gift at £300, which sum he then paid me. Not for a year and a-half did I see him again, and he was so ver.y friendly that I asked why he had laughed when £ Lad presented my bill. He said : ' When the Czar lias to send all the way to America to gen a job done that no one else can do, ha expects to pay handsomely for it. The reason T laughed was because for six months previously the sum of £600 had been deposited, in this office to cover yoxir bill."