The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-01
A DANGEROUS RETRENCHMENT

From plowing, clean to the harvest's end,
You must hoe as well as pray"
"A DANGEROUS RETRENCHMENT
1t was the beginning of the year, and Mr..
Archibald Wise had made up his mind that
he must economiZe somewhere. After deba-
ting the matter for some time, he concluded to
give up taking regularly daily paper. Mrs.
Wise ventured a remonstrance:
'Why not give up some personal extrava-
gance," she said. "instead of hitting upon
Something which will affect the entire family !!
Cigars, for instance; have often thought it
would be {. positive benifit could you do with
out them"
Mr.Wise was a kind husband and father,
but like many another man. once he had re-
solved upon a certain thing he was not easily
turned aside.
1.-THE family" he began in reply, consists
only of you and me, my dear, so far as the use
all under IA years of age, and not exactly eager
for news, take it, and as to my getting
along without cigars 1 could far more easily
90 without my coffee in the morning or tea at
night. You cannot imagine the solace contain
ed in cigar to tired or perplexed business
man."
are mistaken" she said, ''in thinking that the
children do not need the daily paper. Indirect
ly they do; / find great deal of instruction
in our paper with which to teach the children
really hope you will consider the matter be-
fore actually stopping it."
81 shall buy paper quite often, replied Mr.
Wise. "Of course man must know some
thing of what is going on in the world about
him. but think daily of numerous pages
quite unnecessary, and must be allowed tc
exercise my Judgement in the matter"
1t is an old saying that the remark, '.aliow
me to Judge" puts an end to almost any discus
Ao0o M
but it depressed her to feel that the friendly
visit of her favorite daily must be discontinued
At first Mr.. Wise carried home httl'
thin substitute for the old fayorite nearly
every night, but by degrees even that came les
and less frequently. When he boasted to hi
wife that he really got the news almost a
completely as ever by watching the bulletlr
and hearing men talk, she replied rather dryl.
that men did have considerable advantage owe
women in the matter of getting news withou
paying for it. They could stand and gaze
pleasure at great scrolls pasted on the side o
from other men. Yes, it was a real sharp Wa!
to economize without losing much, cheap ant
perfectly NICE she supposed.
Although Mrs. Wise's manner was Tranquil
as a summer sea, yet her words ruff1ed and II
ritated her husband, and if the truth was known
it was not all quite smooth sailing for Mr.
Wise. He did not actually enjoy sitting in tn
station or horse-cars, empty-handed amonI
groups of men, all of them except himself hat
open papers in their hands, so he resorted t.
the expedient of carrying a folded paper II
the breast pocket of his coat, that it might ap
pear as ifhe had paper which presumabl.
had already been perused.
One evening, as he was hurrying toward tn
station, ragged gamin, with papers under hi
arm, squinted up into his face and cried:
"Mster, wantto read all about the clision p
"What collision" asked Mr.. Wise:
"Oh, you buy paper and find out, said tn
urchin, his phiz in the air and his little grim.
paw held out for pennies.
81 have paper" said Mr.. Wise, glancing to
ward his breast pocket.
"But you amt seen bout the c'lision," per
sisted the boy "it's a special to my paper; bet
ter have one, sonny?
But Mr.. Wise eschewed all counsel iron
such course, and hurried on.
On the train he seated himself between &C
quaintances, who looked up from their paper
to exchange greetings
Bad news, this evening"" replied Mr.. Wise
feeling the uncertainty of his position.
"Will you allow me to see your paper? 2" aske'
the gentleman on the other side. He was al
agent for life insurance companies, and added
II am making list of accidents lately with
motive"
Mr.. Wise realized the danger of taking sub
terfuge in futher deception.
81 haven't the account in my paper," he said
81 heard the matter mentioned but can't tel
anything about it. Thought | might hea
more from YOU" he added bIandly Anothe
moment he adroitly changed the subject.
Next day. in going to and fro, Mr.; Wis
scanned the bulletins in search OF the bad news
alluded to by his friend. also for an account o
the collision mentioned by the boy; but h
succeeded in obtining information on neishe
point.
again, who asked, with his aggravating squint
'Read about the c'lision yet, misterp
"How dare you tell falsehoOd to sell papers,
inquired Mr.. Wise sternly.
Tread there fur yerself,' pointing to para
graph in his single remaining paper.
Mr.. Wise took the paper and read:
'Boylston street runs into Washington
street."
and strobe on.
Arriving at home his wife asked him if h
attended the annual meeting that afternoon
the stockholders of the X. Y. d u. railroad
company. 1t occurred week sooner, she ex
plained, than had been expected, but Mrs
Chester said it was advertised in the leadin.
Mr. Wise's face fell. He was not a stock
holder of the wealthy concern, but it had beer
intimated to him that at the close OF the meet
ing some appointments would probably D'
made one of which might effect hin
favorably were he on the spot to press hi
claim.
He ate his supper in silence. then went t.
call on Mr.. Chester, one of the stockholders Of
the railroad company. To his keen DISCUS
and disappointment he learned that his absenc'
had been taken for indifference, and the ap
pointments had all been made.
"But 1 received circular stating that the
meeting would not take place until next week,
said Mr.. Wise.
YES replied Mr.. Chester, $50 of course die
/, but circumstances were discovered making
it necessary that the meeting should take plac'
to-day it was well advertised in the papers,
added Mr.. Chester.
"Strange didn't see it." almost growled Mr.
Wise. as he turned from the door.
Mrs. Wise sincerely hoped this circumstance
would convince her husband of the poor econ
omy of trying to get along without papar
but she soon discovered it had only served K
make his resolve the more dogged.
About that time Mrs. Wise became engaged II
the purchase of O new dress. She was pretty
lady, and was always tastefully attired, mat
ter in which her husband felt no little pride
But when she appeared before him in her new
attire, Mr. Wise exclaimed almost angrily:
"Why wife never saw you in anything Sc
positively hideous before. What could have
induced you to buy such mean fabric, ant
such dull, unbecoming colors Z"
Had only known it," his wife replied re
gretfully, II might have gone to Warren's ant
Bought a beautiful silk and wool fabric fo
the same money paid for this, but l did no
see their advertisement, and thought it no use
to 60 up to their store where things are usual,
higher than anywhere else. was limited t.
the price, and did the best could"
In another part ofthe suburban city where Mr.
Archibald Wise resided, lived his cousin, Mr.
Herbert Wise. The cousins had no great re
gard for each other, and seldom met, excep
occasionally at the house of DR.. Erastus Wise
an uncle.