"The gentleman who found a brown purse, containing a sum of money, in the Blumenstrasse, is requested to forward it to the address of the loser, as he is recognized."
A couple of days later appeared the response, which, altho courteous, had an elusive air, to say the least:
"The recognized gentleman who picked up a brown purse in the Blumenstrasse requests the loser to call at his house at a convenient day."
A small boy came hurriedly down the street, and halted breathlessly in front of a stranger going in the same direction.
"Have you lost half a crown?" he asked with his hand in his pocket.
"Y-es, yes, I believe I have!" said the stranger feeling in his pockets. "Have you found one?"
"Oh, no," said the small boy. "I just want to see how many have been lost today. Yours makes fifty-four!"
The young lady from New York was inclined to belittle things.