Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-08

The Romances of Real Life Told by the
Newspaper Advertisements.

do read advertisements? Yes; they form
one Of the most interesting branches of my
study" said the old man. laying The STAR
across his knee and looking over the rim of his
spectacles. AFTER reading editorial for
opinions. and all the news, to know what is
going on among the people of the world super
hcially. / turn to the advertising columns for
romance, philosophy and study Of human
nature. There Is more of human interest in
advertisements they are assembled in THE
STAR than IN the great mass of works which
are written to entertain and to present to our
view the various phases and incidents of life
and the impulses of mankind l read them
with the interest of a novel, and / find instruc-
ton and entertainment not to be had from any
but the highest works of fiction. There is a
popular notion that women. only read adver-
tisements- They do read them more perhaps
than men do, but it is only as they read more
romance-becsuse they have more time Men
have TO deny themselves many Of the pleasures
of the ina gination.
you cont read them Then begin. III
the habit doesn't grow on you, you are
lacking in human interest Why, the
habit OF reading advertisements will grow as
novel reading on girl of seventeen. They
viii become of most absorbing interest, and
while they entertain they at the same time
impart much information. II you are weary
or sick you can read advertisements when any,
thing else would prove fatiguing or not of in
Al j
may not occur to you how much of romance
and pathos there may be in a three-line 'ad
Wanted Lost or Personal Each issue
OF the paper furnishes the key note for a hun
dred romances. Each line betrays some i'm
pulse that is influencing the world. and as YOU
read you are drawn into the busy marts of life,
Iosted against the crowd; are touched with
pity, repealed by greed; brought into sharp
contact with sharp men, who are conspiring in
some deep plot TO betray, deceive or defraud
some trusting person; You are shown love,
misery, despair and ambition in all their
phases, and in the contention Won must find A
lively interest.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE
In advertisements YOU read romance in real
life. Part Of it is only everyday home life.
Part Is dramatic. The romance OF the fortune
hunter Is there. thousand men are digging
after hidden treasure with as much eagerness
as any band OF adventures ever searched for
the golden store Of Capt Kidd A thousand
men are trying to trace out the hieroglvphics
on the chart that tell of the hiding place of
fortune. There are few piratical stories told
IN advertisements and many of desperate adj
ventures. There are Thanksgiving stories and
Christmas stories, and stories for people of all
ages and all manner of thought. And aside
rom all that the attention is called by
the advertisement of the merchant to all
sorts Of things that are of interest to every
one, a. relating to their comfort and pleas
ure. One is invited to a contamination
OF the factory, the commerce and the
trade Of everyday life, and is astonished
at the invention of new wants and new means
Of qualification. You will not find an adj
that does not disclose some view of human ma
ture or awake a material interest. The columns
OF for rent show a rise and fall of fortune a
change Of location, a bringing together or sep
aration Of friends-perhaps families--may be
lovers. A lost dog or a lost bangle NAV lead 10
wedding. No end of romance may attach to a
mislaid umbrella, or a recalcitrant pug All
personals must OF necessity have a romance
attached An auction sale announcement may
be significant Of the dissolution of some old
family or the downfall of a great man. The
'wanted-situations' column is full of pathetic
stories told in brief-three line stories of pri-
walton, struggle, despair, heroism and long
suffering. The advertisements Of silks and
laees. howers, jewels, and what not that is rare
and expensive, tell OF gayety and wealth The
toy shops tell all about Christmas bringing nm
thousand little fanoies out Of the quiet Chin
ney corner Of childish recollection And there
are advertisements which tell of turkeys and
other NICE things for winter dinners The
stories told by the 'ad are numerous and va
RED Besides women who read advertisements
Tor bargains" the old man continued, casting
glance at his wife, who had taken possession
OF ms pepper while he talked. most thinking
men read ads constantly. Business men have
70 read hem on account OF business Authors.
lecturers and reading men generally read the
adyernsing columns. do. for Che interest
there II In them. / Invariably read the ads in
ne back Of magazine before I read the lit
erry part"