Worcester Daily Spy

Names of Colors—A Bright Salesman.

The vocabulary of colors is always progressive, though not always increasing. New names are perpetually introduced; but their old ones are perpetually dropped, so that the aggregate is maintained nearly in equilibrio.

A novelty in this line was lately introduced at a fashionable shop, not, however, by the shop-keeper, but by his customer. A lady, with great exquisiteness of manner, asked for dress-silks—'not a gray, nor a lead color, but a subdued mouse!' The smart young man behind the counter, expressed his regret that that shade of color had not yet been introduced in the French studios; but he informed the lady that he could show her the next best thing, which was enraged rat!'

The lady, not taking, or not relishing the wit of the unlucky clerk, immediately reported him to his employer as 'an impertinent puppy,' whereupon the employer, as in policy bound, summarily notified the youth that he had no further occasion for his services.

Probably, the misfortune of the young man will not be permanent, for the subdued brass of his answer to the lady will make its way in these fast times, and he will hardly be long out of employment.

This joke would be rather a dull one if it were "made up," but being literally true, it is worth preserving.—N. Y. Evening Post.