The Story Of An Umbrella

The Nachrichten of Basle tells a story wbich tnay give tlie bold purchaser a hint of a nevv method of protecting himBelf against fraudttleni shopkeepers. A young gentleman boughi a silk umbrella from an umbrella-dealer indefinitcly characterized as C . The next day was rainy; the umbrella was put into use, but the silk tore in six places during the first hour of it.s contact with tin; rain. The i went straight to the shop, exhibited the ruined article, and demanded a sound one in its stead. C 's silk umbrellas, however, were maáe to sell, not to endure use; the deal and observeï that purehasers ought to be careful hen they made their selection. The young man took home umbrella, painted round it the following inscription in big letters: '-'J'hi s how an umbrella looks to-day whioh was at C 's shop yesterday," mul híred a commissionairs to walk to . fro before C 's shop with üio opened umbrella for a whole day. This unusual form of adfertisement naturally irritated Herr C , and coulil not have been without a detenv ing influenee npon pos-íible enstomers. C sent for the pólice, and asked tliem to arrest the bearer of the urnbrella, bot they deolared that they could see no legal crime in the comionaire's proeeeding, and declined to take l:im on to jail. Early the next mornlng, the imperturbable umbrellacarrier appeared agsin, and he kept sentine] in thia manner in front of C 's shop for nearly a week. At the end of this period, the shopki that he must give way, and calling the man, asked kim to go to nis empfoyer and say that everytbing shouM be set tled according to !iis wishes. When the bold inventor of the stratagem entered the shop, the dealer offered hima sound silk uinbrella in exohange for the sickly one. ïhe purchaser agreed to accept it, but added the further decommissionaire a week's wagca, to which suggestion he was also compelled to