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Story
February 20, 1867
Columbia Democrat And Star Of The North
Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
In a ballroom, a tactless stranger insults several plain-looking women to a gentleman, only to discover each is his sister, wife, or daughter, leading to the stranger's panicked escape.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
An UNFORTUNATE STRANGER.—"Can you tell me," said a stranger to a gentleman in a ball-room, "who that lady is near the second window—that very plain looking lady?"
"That is my sister, sir," replied the person addressed, with a very formidable look.
"No, no, I don't mean her," said the unfortunate interrogator, "I mean that ugly woman leaning against the piano; there's about as much expression in her face as in a bowl of bonny clabber."
"That, sir, is my wife."
"No, no," gasped the miserable stranger, the perspiration starting from every pore. "Good gracious! I wish I could make you understand me! I mean that blear-eyed object in the pink silk, the one so awful homely. I should be afraid she would splinter a looking-glass by looking into it. There, she is looking at us now."
"That, sir," said the gentleman with fierce calmness, "is my eldest daughter."
The stranger darted from the room and cleared the premises as though he had been struck with a presentiment that a powder magazine was going to explode in that room in less than three seconds.
"That is my sister, sir," replied the person addressed, with a very formidable look.
"No, no, I don't mean her," said the unfortunate interrogator, "I mean that ugly woman leaning against the piano; there's about as much expression in her face as in a bowl of bonny clabber."
"That, sir, is my wife."
"No, no," gasped the miserable stranger, the perspiration starting from every pore. "Good gracious! I wish I could make you understand me! I mean that blear-eyed object in the pink silk, the one so awful homely. I should be afraid she would splinter a looking-glass by looking into it. There, she is looking at us now."
"That, sir," said the gentleman with fierce calmness, "is my eldest daughter."
The stranger darted from the room and cleared the premises as though he had been struck with a presentiment that a powder magazine was going to explode in that room in less than three seconds.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Deception
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Ballroom Misunderstanding
Family Insults
Social Blunder
Humorous Embarrassment
What entities or persons were involved?
Stranger
Gentleman
Where did it happen?
Ball Room
Story Details
Key Persons
Stranger
Gentleman
Location
Ball Room
Story Details
A stranger in a ballroom asks a gentleman about a plain-looking lady near the second window, then insults several women as ugly, each time learning they are the gentleman's sister, wife, and eldest daughter, causing him to flee in terror.