The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-09
sATURDAY NIGHT.

De Quincy writes that when under
the influence of opium, SO that: hi.
mind was lifted up into calm, con,
temPlatiye mood, he used to like tc
Iswauder about the streets on Saturday
evenings, and watch, with peculiar In.
terest, families and individuals making
their purchases for the week. It does
not need the influence of this narcotic
for any one in thoughtful mood tc
find an interesting study in similar
scenes in a stroll about our city: e e
"The working classes, whose only in.
come IS derived from their daily ayo
tcattons; are the great majority of oul
population. Rich capitalists and 9th.
] ers with sure and ample incomes. art
the small minority. How small, pro,
4 portionately, is the number in this oI
any other city, the world over, whose
maintenance and that of their Families
do not depend on the continuance oi
their life or health, which hang on the
slender thread Of the passing moment
so m proportion as their money is
harniy earned it is-or Onght TO be-
carefully spe1t, and where, ,as Is the case
with multitudes, the weeks income is
barely sufficient to cover7the weeks
out-go, the question of expenditure be-
comes one of nice discrimination; oil
careful weighing of the need of this
thing and the advantage of that; of how
10 obtain the most Yalne for the least
money. Where, however, spenurious-
ness alone dictates this closeness of cal
culation, il is simply Idespica BILE; where
the proper economy of moderate though
not ~ uncomfortable. circumstances
prompts it, is ieommendable; when
grinding and hopeless poverty, compels
It, 1t is pitiful. All these motives may
/ be seen in operation in a leisurely
walk about the stores and market
llyywheu the weather is mild, tempting
into the open air.d if-.f- -ls-I4-5-, -
!. The weeks work is done. The ham,
mer rests on the anvil; the plane has cut
the last shaving; the paint dries on the
brushi. the draught horse is quiet in his
STALL the iron safe, door shuts in the
ledger; copnting-rooms, stores, shops
are closed, and labor is free. The weeks
earnings are in hand, and the business
oil spending them is to come. The fIoui-
barrel has been sounded, the remaining
| weight of coffee ard tea approximated,
tne necessary supply of butter, sugar.
meat and other articles of the commits
sarlat Computed, the necessities of the
.atTo WafoFohe debated, and the best disposal
OF the finances finally decided on. The
husband or wife, or both. sometimes
WIN an escort of children who are TAX
ing tnelr early lessons in domestic econ
ony, SCI out on their errand. Time is
tn not Pfesslngi they have ample leisure
70 Inspect and select, and Won to oh
serve. Here is an Irishwoman. hiq-
ghng about the price of turkey; there
y STOUT German, melIowed by tIswi
lager, buying literally of edibIes for
ene SUNDAY dinner, there the family
grSup iost.ln doubt over the accumula-
teu attractions of a dry goods store
Finally the purchases are made. and
lyon are Jostled by the bundles, baskets
pals and parcels, on the way home for
tne ieast OF the next day, the suste-
nance OF the next week, and the cover
ing and comfort of the year. The street
csrs are unusually crowded, and every
careful charge. 777TFTT,
Ihe front platform, the seat, arms
aau pockets are all freighted. For the
snail rolls of dirty currency brought
ITO the business centre, great piles
many hundreds of pounds-of Iuxu-
lties go out through She strests t6svards
orlnto the extI-uie suburbs. -
The influx from the country on SAT-
urday, on the same errand of purchase
is also noticeable. The stalwart farm
er. with his buxom wife and healthy
offspring, drives in the afternoon, in Lis
Democratic conveyance, tto town.
They carefully and severely examine
the articles of merchandise under con-
sIeration, .criticise generally the terms,
AID insinuate that a lower rate would
b. more acceptable, finally buy in good
Iy uuantities-for they cannot stepin
astore every day-load the purchase
tito the ample vehicle, and at nightfall
set off homeward, refreshed by short
release from the cares of the farm and
| field. ..,- .... --.I..--.. -..l..s,...
$50 Saturday. especially among the
llboring masses, is the purchasing day,
vhereon empty larders, meagre ward
Dbes, depleted coal bins, hungry chill
oren and careful housewives rejoice.
There is a pleasure in the sense of pos
session, and the tired man and woman
take much satisfaction in contempla-
| ting the good things which their well
earned money has bought. True there
Is generally an underlying feeling of
snimosity towards the dealer who is
| suspected or accused of exorbitant
| charges, but this softens to feeling Of
| mild regret at their evil-doiDg, and they
return to the contemplation of their
creature comforts. -.
blessed are they who have the
Sherewithal to experience the pleas
ures OF purchase on Saturday night. If
the amount be small their possessions
Viii be the more valued. For a brief
hour or two, at least, they may be as
happy as the owners of great estates.
Unfortunate are the many to whom the
| end of the week comes with empty
nand, while in their homes are hungry
little ones. May we never be among
them" 5.Ita.. f....,' ',-5 ..-....f,. ...-,ir-,
THE New York World. after padding,
Il