A Cure for Carelessness (1913)

Mrs. Wise leaves her rings on the back porch of her house when she goes in to collect the laundry for the washerwoman. Later the misses the baubles and decides that the negress has stolon them. She immediately starts out after the poor washerwoman and meets a series of amusing adventures before she discovers that the woman of color is absolutely innocent. In the interim, Mrs. Wise's husband, returning home, finds the rings where she had left them. Then resolving to try a sure cure for his wife's carelessness, he places them in his own pocket, so that he can worry her by recrimination for a while longer. When he reaches his office he recounts the anecdote to a friend, showing him the rings, and then absent-mindedly leaves them all on his own desk. When he reaches home that night he starts in to lecture his wife at table, and to verify the results of his find, reaches into his pocket, and finds the entire lot of diamond rings missing. Without stopping to explain, he rushes back to his office. In the meantime, the alert stenographer finds the rings and promptly carries them to Mrs. Wise, The excited Wise routs out the janitor, dashes into his office, and not finding anything there, accuses the worthy watchman of purloining the jewels. This charge is resented vigorously, and Mr. Wise is considerably mussed up. He then limps on to the home of his stenographer, tries to fasten the accusation upon her, and is indignantly thrown out by her visiting sweetheart. Poor old Wise arrives home sadder and much dilapidated, to find his wife wearing her rings.

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Summary Details
Running Time8 min
GenresComedy Short