HOW THEY BUY AND SELL IN MADRID.

Kumara Times, Issue 708, 6 January 1879, Page 2

HOW THEY BUY AND SELL IN MADRID.

A nut-brown maid is attracted by a brilliant red and yellow scarf. She asks the sleepy merchant, nodding before his wares, “ What is the rag worth ?” He answers with profound indifference, “ Ten reals.” Hombre ! Are you dreaming or crazy 1” She drops the coveted neck-gear, and moves on, apparently horror striken. “ Don’t l>e rash ! The scarf is worth 20 reals ; hut for the sake of Santissima Maria I offer it to you at half price. Very well ? Yon are not suited. VV*hat will you giv r e 1 “ Caramhra ! Am I a buyer and seller as well 1 The thing is worth three reals—more is simple robbery.” “ Maria ! Jose ! and all the family ! We cannot trade. Sooner than sell for eight reals I shall raise the cover of my brain ! Go thou ! It is 8 in tire morning, and still thou dreamest.” vSlie lays down the scarf reluctantly, saying “ Five.” Bub the outraged merchant snorts, scornfully, “ Wight was my last word ! Go !” She moves away, thinking how well that scarff would lock in th' Apollo-gardeus, arid casts over her shoulder a Parthian glance, and bids ‘-Six.” “.Take it! It is madness, but I cannot waste mv time in bargd iing.” Bjth congratulated themselves «»u the operation. He would have take.n five, and she would have given seven.

THE WHEELBARROW MAN’S TRAMP. Potter, the phenomenal idiot who has l*een trundling a wheelbarrow all the way from Albany to Sau Francisco, reached his journey’s end ten days ago, accomplishing the tramp of 3,995 mi?es in 172 days, exclusive of Sundays. His average daily walk has been.about miles, which is about m i) es better ihan the average which he undertook to make in • order to win a wager of SI,OOO. The wheelbarrow which he has pushed across the Continent weighs with the freight about seventy-five pounds. He has filled four large blank books with the certificates of his presence at various points along the road. Some of these are curious. For instance : “ Potter passed through Reno, Nev., 27th of September, 1878. Success to the noble hero that has accomplished so wonderful an enterprise. Such a man should live forever and die in peace and go to heaven,” Again : “ May all the peace under the canopy of heaven be sent upon you, and every glistening ray of the setting sun prove you a Worthy individual in the sight of your Creator.”