Another order came for "crawfish" which were especially desired for dinner. "Sorry," called the agent, "impossible to supply you with crawfish, but we can send you up a fine lot of assorted coryphees." "Coryphees," said a dazed feminine voice, "I don't know what they are--I said crawfish." "Sorry, but crawfish are no good in our business; but we can send up nice selected coryphees, all dressed--make any dinner go off well." "You must be a fool," we heard over the wire, and no doubt the receiver was slammed into the holder while the lady hurried to get a dictionary to discover what manner of sea-food coryphees might be. Perhaps she found that they might be called nymphs. Speaking of nymphs, reminds me of my next-door neighbor, Miss Snappe, whose tongue is surcharged with cayenne pepper when she is ruffled. I remember she once had a squabble with another neighbor, Miss Antique, and as they had once been good friends, my wife, in her warm-hearted way, tried to soothe the ruffled plumage of Miss Snappe, and pour oil on troubled waters. [Illustration] "Come now," said the dear little peacemaker, "why don't you and Miss Antique become friends again?" "Oh, I don't see the sense of going to all that trouble for her!" "But it isn't any more trouble for you to make up, than it is for her." "Don't you believe it. She's used to making up, for she's been doing it for years." Nevertheless I've found that same Miss Antique something worth cultivating, for she possesses more genuine wit than any other woman of my acquaintance. It was only recently the doctor said to her: "My dear Miss Antique, you must really take exercise for your health." "All right, doctor," she replied, "I will certainly jump at the first offer." [Illustration] To win the matrimonial race-- Oh, all ye maids who try-- You're lucky if you get a place Resulting in a tie. I remember asking this frisky old maid whether, in her opinion, women were really as brave as men. She gave me a look of scorn. "Far braver, sir; if you notice carefully all accounts upon the subject, you will learn that the scientists who keep on talking with alarm and even terror concerning the dreadful bacilli in a kiss, are every one of them males." She has also very decided views as to the future of this glorious country, and while we were discussing the chances of America ever being dominated by a combined Europe, she said, emphatically: "That will never happen, sir, so long as eminent Europeans continue to marry American girls." I agreed with her, knowing from experience what an influence in the household the average American wife must ever be. [Illustration: Rev. Splicem Daly The Torpedo-Boat Minister! Record--30 Knots an Hour] Speaking of marrying brings to my mind a very eccentric old minister out in Oklahoma at the time the boom was in full progress.