Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-29
A DANGEROUS RETRENCHMENT

Mr.. Archibald Wise had made up hi
mind that he must ecOnOmlze somewhere
After debating the matter for some time
he concluded to give up taking regularly
daily paper Mrs. Wise ventured re
monstrance:
"Why not give up some personal ex
travagance, " she said, instead OF hitting
upon something which will effect the en-
tire family Cigars, for instance; | have
often thought it would be a positive bene
fit could you do without them.
Mr. Wise was kind husband and faith
er, but like many another man, once he
had resolved upon a certain thing ne was
no. easily turned aside.
1.-The family" he began in reply, ICON
aists only of you and me, my dear, SO tal
as the use CT the paper is concerned: Our
children are all under IA years OF age.
are not exactly eager for news, [ take it;
and as to my getting along without cigars
| could far more easily go without my cot
fee in the morning or tea at night. You
cigar to tired or perpleXed business
man.
But Mrs Wise still demonstrated: ''You
are mistaken, " she said, y in thinking that
the children do not need the daily paper
Indirectly they do; find a great deal Of
instruction in our paper with which tC
consider before actually stopping it.
81 shall buy paper quite often, re-
piled Mr.. Wise. ''Of course a man musi
know something of what is going on in
the world about him, but | think daily
of numerous pages quite unnecessary, and
| must be allowed to exercise my judg,
ment in the matter.
1t is an old saying that the remark <,
''allow me to judge, puts an end to al
most any discussion. Accordingly Mrs.
Wise said no more, but it depressed her
to feel that the friendly visit of her favor
lite daily must be discontinued.
At first Mr. Wise carried home little
thin substitute for the old favorite nearly
every night, but by degrees even that
came less and less frequently. When he
boosted to his wife that he really got the
news almost as completely as ever by
watching the bulletin and hearing men
talk, she replied rather dryly that men die
have considerable advantage over women
In the matter of getting news without
paving for it. They could stand and gaze
at pleasure at great scrolls pasted ON the
side of newspaper buildings and CLEAN a
good deal from other men. Yes, it was a
real sharp way to economic without losing
much, cheap and perfectly nice, she sup
posed.
Although Mrs. Wise's manner was tran
quill as a summer sea, yet her words
ruffied and irrated her husband; and il
the truth was known, it was not all quite
smooth sailing for Mr.. Wise. He did mot
actually enjoy sitting in the station Oh
horse cars, emptyhanded, among groups
of men, all of them except himself haC
open papers in their hands, so he resOrted
to the expedient of carrying folded paper
in the breast pocket of his coat, that il
might appear as if he had a paper which
presumably had already been persued.
the station, a little ragged gamin, with
papers under his arm, squinted up into
his face and cried:
Mister want to read all about the
c'hsion?'
"What collision?' asked Mr. WISE
ooh, you buy paper and find out, y
said the urchin, his phiz in the air and
his little grimmy paw held out for pen,
MES.
81 have paper" said Mr.. Wise, glanc-
ing toward his breast pocket.
'Bet you amt seen bout the c'lision. y
persisted the boy; Its a special to my pa
per; better have one, sonny!
But M. Wise eschewed all counsel
from such a course, and hurried on.
On the train he seated himself between
acquaintance who looked up from their
papers to exchange greetings.
bad news, this evening" said one.
Eyes; quite a collision. replied Mr.
Wise, feeling the uncertainty of his posi-
ton
''Will you allow me to see your paper?'
asked the gentleman on his other side
He was an agent for life insurance com
panies, and added, Il am making a list O
accidents lately, with a motive
Mr.. Wise realized the danger of taking
subterfuge in further deception.
81 haven't the account In my paper, hi
said. Il heard the matter mentioned bu
can't tell anything about it. Thought
might hear more from you, he addet
blandly. Another moment he adroitl.
changed the subject
Next day, in going to and fro, Mr.
Wise scanned the bulletins in search o
the bad news alluded to by his friend
also for an account of the collision
mentioned by the boy; but he succeeded
in obtaining information on neithe
point.
On his way home he encountered tn
gamin again, who asked, with his sggra
waiting squint:
Read about the c'llision yet, mis-
ter?"
How dare you tell a falsehood t
sell papers?" INQUIRED Mr.. Wise sternly
Read there fur yerself, pointing t
paragraph in his single remaining pa
per.
Mr. Wise took the paper and read
''Boylston street runs into Washingto
street.
Without word Mr. Wise paid for til
paper aad strobe on.
Arrived at home. his wife asked him if h
attended the annual meeting that afternoo
of the stockholders of the X. Y. & Z. raj
road company. 1t occurred a week sooner
she explained. than had been expected
but Mrs. Chester said it was advertised
the leading daily papers.
Mr.. Wise's face fell. He was not
stakeholder in the wealthy concern, but
close of the meeting some appointment
would probably be made, one of whic
might affect him favorably were he on til
spot to press his claim.
He ate his supper in gloomy silenc
then went to call on Mr.. Chester, one
the stockholders of the railroad compan
To his keen disgust and disappointment
learned that his absence had been take
for Indifference, and the appointments hs
all been made.
But | received a circular stating tn
the meeting would not take place unit