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Story
June 9, 1881
The Manitowoc Pilot
Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
What is this article about?
On a hot day, a man in a drug store interrogates the clerk extensively about ginger ale before settling for free water and postponing any purchase to a future visit, amusingly wasting time.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
A MAN WITH LOTS OF TIME TO DRINK.
He had his hat in one hand and his handkerchief in the other as he sat down squarely in front of a ginger ale fount in a drug store yesterday. One would have said he was about to melt, but he wasn't the sort of man to be boxed up in a hot day by any imprudent action of his own.
He fanned with one hand and mopped with the other, and finally inquired:
"Is this root beer?"
"No, sir, this is ginger ale."
"Ten cents per glass!"
"No, sir, it is five."
"Cold?"
"Oh, yes."
"Made of ginger?"
"Certainly."
"Well, I suppose I might try some. Is it healthy or unhealthy?"
"It is said to be very healthy."
"What organs does it seem to act on?"
"Well, I couldn't say."
"That's unfortunate. How do you know it wouldn't aggravate my lung trouble, or help along my liver complaint? Have you certificates from any one it has helped or injured?"
"No, sir."
"That's unlucky."
"Will you have some?"
"Well, what do you think? Will it be perfectly safe?"
"I think so."
"Then I might try it. You needn't draw but two cents' worth considering the circumstances."
"I-that is-we sell it for five cents per glass."
"Very well-I won't take any. Have you any clear, cold water?"
"Yes."
"Thanks. Sorry to put you to any trouble, but I fell through a hatchway once by not making inquiries in time. That's a fair article of water-very fair. Have you the analysis?"
"No, sir."
"That's too bad. If you get it please lay it aside until I drop in. As to the ginger ale-let's see. To-day is Friday, I may pass here about next Thursday, and if I do I suppose you will still have it on draught?"
"Yes sir."
"And the price will be the same."
"Yes."
"Very well. I have no doubt it is a refreshing drink, and full up to your guarantee, but there is no particular hurry in the case-not the least. I shall be in the city off and on about once a week all summer, and any time before cold weather will do. So long to you.'
He had his hat in one hand and his handkerchief in the other as he sat down squarely in front of a ginger ale fount in a drug store yesterday. One would have said he was about to melt, but he wasn't the sort of man to be boxed up in a hot day by any imprudent action of his own.
He fanned with one hand and mopped with the other, and finally inquired:
"Is this root beer?"
"No, sir, this is ginger ale."
"Ten cents per glass!"
"No, sir, it is five."
"Cold?"
"Oh, yes."
"Made of ginger?"
"Certainly."
"Well, I suppose I might try some. Is it healthy or unhealthy?"
"It is said to be very healthy."
"What organs does it seem to act on?"
"Well, I couldn't say."
"That's unfortunate. How do you know it wouldn't aggravate my lung trouble, or help along my liver complaint? Have you certificates from any one it has helped or injured?"
"No, sir."
"That's unlucky."
"Will you have some?"
"Well, what do you think? Will it be perfectly safe?"
"I think so."
"Then I might try it. You needn't draw but two cents' worth considering the circumstances."
"I-that is-we sell it for five cents per glass."
"Very well-I won't take any. Have you any clear, cold water?"
"Yes."
"Thanks. Sorry to put you to any trouble, but I fell through a hatchway once by not making inquiries in time. That's a fair article of water-very fair. Have you the analysis?"
"No, sir."
"That's too bad. If you get it please lay it aside until I drop in. As to the ginger ale-let's see. To-day is Friday, I may pass here about next Thursday, and if I do I suppose you will still have it on draught?"
"Yes sir."
"And the price will be the same."
"Yes."
"Very well. I have no doubt it is a refreshing drink, and full up to your guarantee, but there is no particular hurry in the case-not the least. I shall be in the city off and on about once a week all summer, and any time before cold weather will do. So long to you.'
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Cautious Customer
Drug Store
Ginger Ale
Time Wasting
Humor
What entities or persons were involved?
The Man
The Clerk
Where did it happen?
Drug Store
Story Details
Key Persons
The Man
The Clerk
Location
Drug Store
Event Date
Yesterday
Story Details
A hot man sits at a drug store soda fountain, fans himself, and engages the clerk in a lengthy, cautious inquiry about ginger ale's health effects and price before requesting free water and saying he'll return later.