Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-10-26
FOR A WIFE.

ADVERTISING FOR A WIFE.
1t is getting to be every day more
difficult fol- a man of elegant tastes,
without money, to live like a gentle.
man and yet there are those in this
city who still successfully manage to
fight the battle of life under these con-
ditions. The art Of living not only
we'll but generously, without visible
means of support, will probably never
become entirely extinct. In Paris and
in London there are numbers Of men
who dress well, belong to the best
clubs, frequent the most aristocratic
society, and draw their revenues from
nobody knows where. They are hon.
orable men-as the world g0es-don't
turn up the king too often at ecarte,
but have Il sharp eye after the odd
trick in the legitimate game of whist.
To this class l frankly confess l be-
long.
Early last spring l became painfully
alive to the melancholy fact that l was
''dead broke''-utterly and helplessly
SO my resources were completely en-
hausted. During the last three years,
l had embarked earnestly in every en-
terprise requiring no capital and little
labor, provided the business was con-
genial to my tastes, and did not inter-
fere with my usual habits Of life.
rode one or two steeplechases, backing
my adversaries' horse, and made rather
good thing Of it. Pigeon shooting
had been 4 steady source of income.
\ few carefully made bets Oh subjects
with which I was perfectly familiar
added greatly to my resources. Bill.
lizards, likewise, I could always depend
On to the amount of $500 to $1,000 {.
year. When flush, a flyer in stock
would often add a couple of thousand
| dollars to my reserve fund. My habit
rs regards Wall street operations was
to coniidentially take the advice of 4
dear friend, q certain very successful
bear operator with whom l was OH
terms Of the closest intimacy. When
he advised me to sell short, invaria.
bly, bought for rise. When he adj
vised me to buy, I always sold short.
His advice has been worth thousands
to me lie was indeed friend. To
him owe the tandem drove at New
port last summer and the pleasant win.
ter passed in Paris the winter previ-
Gus.
But those halcyon days are gone.
Sitting III my room one rainy Sunday
last April. rapidly passed in review
Of all my worldly possessions. They
consisted principally Of \ goldfish lot
Of Poole's clothes. l had no end Of
suits. adapted to every season and all
purposes. In trousers found myself
particularly we'll off, counting no less
than % pairs. Poole had always given
me unlimited credit. Whenever had
money | settled up. The result was
denied myself nothing in his line,
never mind in what condition my tinan.
ces happened to be. There is 4 certain
satisfaction in being looked upon as
one Of the best dressed men in town,
and this reputation took care to keep
up; 1t was OF great use to me socially.
In fact, my social position was the
principal part Of my stock in trade. l
religiously discharged all society du-
ties, never missed ball, dined out a
great deal, and paid my visite de d.
gestion within the week. if everything
else went unpaid.
But this pleasant life was apparently
about being drawn to a close. OF late
everything had failed me. could
not, like others, attribute my misfOr.
tunes to the panic, for I never had
anothing to lose. The long. desired and
much.talked-of business revival would
not help me. My situation was DIES.
perate, and required desperate rem.
edy. had tried everything. No, not
everything. 1t suddenly flashed over
my mind that person like myself had
a certain value in the matrimonial
market. 1would try marriage. The
urgency of the case did not permit me
to so through those tedious prelimina.
ries known rs serious attentions.
would advertise for a wife. After
mature deliberation and much waste
Of paper concocted the following:
A young gentleman of good family and
handsome estate is DESTROYS of forming the
acquaintance of lady in similar conditions
of life and fortune, with view to matrimony.
References exchanged This is only address,
ed to blondes under 25. Direct for one week
to Howard de Courcy, Herald uptown Office.
All communications will be treated with the
strictest confidence.
The clause in connection WITT! blondes
was made necessary because when in
Paris had joined the ''Societe pour
Encouragement DIES Blondes" an as.
ISOLATION or club Of young gentlemen
who pledged themselves in most So.
emn manner to marry none but blondes.
The theory was that physical beauty
and moral excellence went together
that a perfect blonde was the highest
type of physical beauty, and as such
must possess all the attributes and
virtues which go to make up good
wives and good mothers. 7 was COM
lnitted to this doctrine, and much to
my regret was obliged to vigorously
exclude all brlnettes from the chance
Of participating in the brilliant for.
tunes of Howard lie Courcy.
This attractive advertisement up.
peared twice in the personal column
of the Herald. At the end of week I
went to The Herald uptown Office and
received one hundred and seventeen
answers. After careful examination
Of these precious epistles, I came to
the conclusion that ninety-six of them
-frem certain peculiarities Of paper,
spelling, and acknowledgements
from retired washerwomen and cham
bermaids out of employ. These I con.
signed to the flames. From the re.
mainder I selected about half a dozen
that promised well. One most parti-
cularly pleased me on account of the
great air of refinement if breathed. It
was written in flowing English lady's
hand. The language was well chosen,
and gave abundant token of elegance
and education. 1t was signed Clara
Stanton. Clara did not at present wish
to be made known, but proposed that
we should at first gain knowledge of
each other by corresponding, which /
Immediately proceeded to commence.