Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1894 — The Wrong Card. [ARTICLE]

The Wrong Card.

During his visit to Paris a distinguished German professor presented himself at the house of a well-known lady to whom he had sent letters of Introduction for a dance. When the servant opened the door and received his card she conducted him to the boudoir and told him to be seated, saying: “Madam will come immediately.” Presently the lady entered. She was in dishabille, and her feet were bare, covered only with slippers. “Ah, good-morning,” said she, bowing to him carelessly. She threw herself on a chair, let fall a slipper, and extended her foot to the Professor. He was naturally surprised, but he remembered that at his home in Germany it was the custom sometimes to kiss a lady’s hand, and he supposed it was the Paris mode to kiss hes foot. He therefore did not hesitate to imprint a kiss upon the fascinating foot before him. The lady sprang from her chair, highly indignant “Who are you, sir, and what do you mean by such conduct?” He gave his name. “Then you are not the chiropodist for whom I sent?” “I am charmed to say, dear madam, that I am not.” “But the servant brought me a chiropodist’s card.” It was true. The Professor, In going out that morning, had picked up a chiropodist's card lying on his bureau and put it in his pocket. This, without glancing at it, he had given to the servant, who had taken it to her mistress. There was nothing to be done but to laugh over the joke.