Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-12
Gales ano Skettbes.
A .PERSONAL" AND WHAT CAME OF IT.

Il wonder why So much money is vast
ed by people ON matrimonial advertise
ments." said Will Fowler to me one day.
This was appropos of nothing in partic-
ular. tor not a word had been said for ten
minutes: but then he was always popping
absurd questions at YOU.
II can understand mans going to the
theatre" he continued. ''or subscribing
10 a soup kitchen. or even being fool
enough 10 send a bouquet IL some pretty
girl. but why ON earth he should tumble
any more coin into the pockets of these
newspaper men is more than | can un-
derstand. Where does the fun come imp
OF course the chaps who advertise haven't
an idea of marrying on such an introduce
ton, and equally of course, no woman
nowadays is goose enough to answer such
an .ad. that is, no woman with whom
it would be pleasure 10 correspond"
1t was gloomy March day, and VIII
and were loasting our feet before the
fire in his Chicago office. He was mar
ned man, with n pretty wife and several
children. Il very clever writer. and pos
sessed of n private income more than equal
10 his needs: |. younger class college
friend of his, and a pinfcather lawyer with
certain heart engagements which preclud-
ed all idea OF other love affairs. The top
ic broached by him was argued pro and
con. and the result was that ! bet him
dinner that carefully worded matrimoni-
al advertisement would bring him at least
fifty answers. the loser To pay for the pub
lication. After long consideration. in
which he good-naturcdly took part. the
following card was written and subsc-
quently published in the Sunday paper
most noted for IFS personals:
HAVING been widower for two wears,
wish to marry again. am thirty-five
wears old, five feet ten inches in height.
thirty mine inches around the chest. and
have excellent health. mental and plVsi-
cal. Being of IA somewhat phlegmatic
temperament, lncither ask nor protier ar
dent love. but simply desire that there shall
be mutual respect. rs my chief reason
for marrying is that during my frequent
business absences from home my little
six-vcar-old girl may he left in charge of
one who will guard her with mothers
care. | am a commercial traveller for
large Eastern house. own n suburban cot
tage which is comfortably furnished, and
have over 1000 dollars in L. :. bonds.
Perfect respect will be felt for any lady
who may answer this advertisement. and
absolute secrecy will be observed, wheth-
er the application be iavorably re-
ceiyed or not Only those need
apply who will fairly answer to the follow
ING description Age. between twenty
and thirty; education. good disposition
not given 10 pickering or fault-finding
health, good and especially must be free
from any pulmonary complaints appear
ance rather pleasant than handsome
reputation that will bear the closest scru-
tiny. In return for these excellent quail
ties modest home and gentle treatment
are offered. Address EDWARD CLARKE,
Tribune Office.
Monday mornings mail settled the wa
ger. TOR by that delivery more than the
requisite number of letters came 10 hand
BY Monday evening the city correspond
ence was about exhausted, but for days
afterward notes came dropping in from the
country districts the last one coming all
the way from Salt Lake City, until the
total number received amounted to one
hundred and twenty-six. OF these large
moiety had been sent on speculation by
women of the lowest class, and were
equally disgusting in their perfume, their
language. and their purpose. The next
largest assortment came from the servant
girl class, and n nice collection Of pencil
marks, bad English and dirt they were.
Some had come from sewing women, tell
ing pitiful stories. many Of which bore
evidence of their truth in their incoher-
ence. Others. again.--and there were u
good many of these--had been sent in Joke.
as we could easily see. while half doz-
en-, perhaps, were startling revelations Of
life and sorrow among educated women.
whose want struggled with the feeling Of
shame. The aforementioned letters made
us feel very uncomfortable and black
guardish, for their genuine grief, mortif-
cation and self-abasement were rebukc
to our thoughtless joke, the only excuse
for which was the fact that no such realis-
tic result had been expected Will, being
a good natured. generous fellow. salved
his conscience by giving pecuniary aid in
several instances where investigation
proved that such aid was needed. One
poor girl sent the following plant
MH. EDWARD CLARKE.
Dear Sir. If your advertisement is gem
uine. which am led to believe from its
wording you are a man who will respect
my misfortunes, even if YOU cannot relieve
them. am not an applicant for marriage,
uhitoS ~ oc u HtttSedIy iupTeulcut Vi SuCI
service as you may require, for I cannot
pretend to a magnetic love for one whom
have never seen and Of whom l know
nothing. If you prove to be gentleman,
should dearly like to accept position as
your house-keeper, and goyerness to your
little girl, If propriety allow my holding
such place. and will ask in return
only shelter and an almost nominal
salary that will supply the moderate needs
of my wardrobe. Should this be imprac-
ticable will, at all events, be pleased to
make your acquaintance, and will prom
Use you respect, if possible. affection.
am the only child Of a physician who had,
in Philadelphia, a good practice and So
cial position, and, as my mother was not
living, kept house for him until he
died. eighteen months ago. Since then
mine has been sad life. The little pro-
perty which he left me has all been lost,
through my ignorance and the rashness,
it may be knavery, of those in whom de-
pended, and am now absolutely desti-
tute and almost desperate. Circumstances
have thrown me among strangers, and
heaven knows what am to do. am
thirty-two years old, am fairly well edu-
II <.otoI a., far N q h<srke srr arHd am lc1orn