The Fable of the New York Person Who Gave the Stage Fright to Fostoria, Ohio

Guest Blogger Dept.: Another from the pen of George Ade, a Chicago Newspaperman who Gave the Lie to the Notion that the Middle-West was a backwaiter in which your Average Citizen would be spooked by a set of well-tailored spatterdashes. Fables in Slang ran in the Chicago Record before being published in book form in 1899.

                                                                                              

A NEW YORK MAN went to visit a Cousin in the Far West.

The name of the Town was Fostoria, Ohio.

Drawing by Clyde J. Newman

When he came into Town he had his Watch-Chain on the outside of his Coat, and his Pink Spats were the first ever seen in Fostoria.

“Have you a Manicure Parlor in this Beastly Hole?” asked the New York Man, as they walked up from the Train.

“What's that?” asked the Cousin, stepping on his own Feet.

“Great Heavens!” exclaimed the New York Man, and was silent for several Moments.

At Dinner he called for Artichokes, and when told that there were none, he said, “Oh, very well,” in a Tone of Chastened Resignation.

After Dinner he took the Family into the Parlor, and told the Members how much they would Enjoy going to Weber and Fields’. Seeing a Book on the Table, he sauntered up to It and said, “Ah, one of Dick Davis’ Things.” Later in the Evening he visited the only Club House in Town. The Local Editor of the Evening Paper was playing Pin-Pool with the Superintendent of the Trolley Line. When the New York Man came into the Room, they began to Tremble and fell down on their Shots.

The Manager of the Hub and Spoke Factory then asked the New York Man to have a Drink. The New York Man wondered if a Small Bottle was already cold. They said Yes, but it was a Lie. The Boy had to go out for it.

He found One that had been in the Window of the Turf Exchange since the Grand Opening, the Year after Natural Gas was discovered. The New York Man drank it, remarking that it was hardly as Dry as he usually got it at Martin’s.

The Club Members looked at Him and said Nothing. They thought he meant Bradley-Martin’s.

Next Day the New York Man was Interviewed by the Local Editor. He said the West had a Great Future. In the Evening he attended the Annual Dinner of the Bicycle Club, and went Home early because the Man sitting next to him put Ice in his Claret.

Drawing by Clyde J. Newman

In due time he returned to New York, and Fostoria took off its White Shirt.

Some Weeks after that, the Cousin of the New York Man had an Opportunity to visit the Metropolis. He rode on an Extra Ticket with a Stockman who was shipping three Car-Load of Horses, and got a Free Ticket for every Car-Load.

When the Cousin arrived at New York he went to the address, and found the New York Man at Dinner.

There was a Sheaf of Celery on the Table.

Opposite the New York Man sat a Chiropodist who drank.

At his right was a Large Woman in a Flowered Wrapper—she had been Weeping.

At his left was a Snake-Charmer from Huber’s Museum.

The New York Man asked the Cousin to wait Outside, and then explained that he was stopping there Temporarily. That Evening they went to Proctor’s, and stood during the Performance.

Moral: A New York Man never begins to Cut Ice until he is west of Rahway.

– George Ade, from Fables in Slang, Herbert S. Stone and Co., Chicago & New York, 1899.