Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1899 — New Use for Candles. [ARTICLE]

New Use for Candles.

The subject of “candles” has disturbed the equanimity of more than one American in Europe. To pay for a whole candle, when only a small portion of it has been burned, is sufficient to rouse the Ire of the meekest and most enduring. One of our American consuls in Belgium tells an >fhuslng story of a New York man who found a new use for this much-discussed article. A New-Yorker was shown to a room in a hotel In Brussels, where he found twenty candles stuck In a chandelier In the centre. As it was dark, the attendant lighted them all; but the gUest had been in European hotels before, and made him put them out Immediately. This was of no avail, however. In his bill next day he found them charged, “20 candles, 10 francs” (two dollars). He went back to the room and took them all out, wrapped them in a bit of paper, and slipped them into his overcoat pocket. When he was about to leave the house he found the servants drawn up in two lines in the hall, In the European style—ten men-servants on one side, ten maid-servants on the other, all smiling and ready for the expected tip. Then he drew out his package and distributed the candles, one to each. “Allow me, monsleus,” said he, with a bow; “permit me, madame. They are very superior candles, I assure you; I paid ten cents apiece for thtem,” and he left them all staring at the candles like so many altar boys.—Youth’s Companion.