Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-07-23
DANGEROUS RETRENCHMENT.

A DANGEROUS RETRENCHMENT.
1t was the beginning of the year. and
Mr.. Archibald Wise had made up his
mind that he must economIze some-
where After debating the matter for
some time, he concluded to give up
taking regularly daily paper. Mrs.
Wise ventuTed a remonstrance:
Why not give up some personal ex-
travagance,' size said, instead of hit
Ting upon something which will effect
l have often thought it would be a pos
tive benefit could you do without t
them.'
Mr.. Wise was a kind husband and
father, but like many another man,
once he had resolved upon a certain
thing he was not easily turned aside.
The family lie began in reply,
consists only of you and me, my dear,
so far AS the use of the paper is con-
cerned. Our children are all under IA
years OF age. and not exactly eager for
news, l take 1t; and as 10 my getting
alon. without cigars l could far more
easily go without my coffee in the
morning or tea at night. You cannot
Imagine the SOlace contained in a cigar
To a tired OF perplexed business man.
But Mrs Wise still remons rated:
You are Mistaken she said, 'in think
ing that the children do not need the
daily paper. Indirectly they do; / find
a gr, at deal of Instruction in our paper
with which To teach the children. l
really hope you viii consider before
actually stopping it
Il shall buy paper quite often, re-
piled Mr.. Wise OF course man
must kEow something of what i going
on ia the world about him, but / think
daily of numerous pages quite unnec-
essaTy. aud 1 must be allowed TO exer-
else my Judgment i'll the matter
1t Is AN old saying that the remark
allow me 10 judge puts an end to al
most any discussion. Accordingly Mrs.
Wise said no more, but it depressed her
To icel that the friend visit of her
favorIte daily must be discontinued.
At first MIR. Wise carried home lit
tie thin substitute for the old favorite
nearly every night. but by degrees even
that came less and less frequently.
When lie boasted to his wife that he
really got the news almost rs completely
as ever 10y watching the bulletin and
hearing men talk, she replied rather
dryly that men did have considerable
advantage over women III the matter of
getting news without paying for 1t.
They could stand and gaze at pleasure
at great scrolls pastel on the side of
newspaper buildings and CLEAN a good
deal from other men. Yes, II was
zeal sharp way u economiZe without
losing much, cheap and perfectly nice,
She supposed.
Although Mrs. WiSe's manner Was
tranquil as summer sea, yet her words
rUtlled and irritated her husband; and If
the truth WAS known, 1t was not all
quite smooth sal ing for Mr.. Wise. He
did not actually enjoy sitting in the
station or horse-cars, empty-handed.
among groups OF men, all OF them eN-
cept himself had open papers in their
hands, so he resOrted TO the eXpedient
of carrying folded paper III the breast
pocket of his coat. that it might appear
rs If lie had paper which presumably
had already been pursued.
one evening, as lie was hurrying
toward 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'lision?'
What collision?' asked Mr.. Wise.
oh, you buy paper and find out,
said the urchin, his phiZ Ill the air and
his little grImmy paw held out for pen
MES.
Il have a paper said Mr.. Wise,
glancing toward his breast pocket.
Bet you amt seen bout the c'lsion,
persisted the boy; it's a special TO my
pa er; better have one. .onnyl'
from such a course, and hurried on.
On the train he seated HIM elf be-
tween acquaintance, who looked uI
from their papers 10 exchange greet
Ings-
Bad news. this evening, said one.
Yes, quite a collision replied Mr..
Wis, feeling the uncertainty of hi:
position.
VIII YOU allow me TO see your paper?'
asked the gentleman OH the other side
He was an agent for life insurance CON-
panies. and added. 4 am making list
of accidents lately with a motive
Mr. Wise realized the danger of tax
Ing subterfuge in further deception.
Il haven't the account in my paper,
he said. Il heard the matter mentioned
but can't tell anything about it.
! Thought l might hear more from you,
ne added blandly. Another moment
he adroitly change the subject.
Next day, in gong to and fro, Mr..
Wise scanned the bulletins In search Of
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 neither
| point.
On his way home, he encountered
the gamin again, who asked, with hi:
aggTavating squint'
Read about the c'lision yet, mis-
! ter2'
How dare you tell a falsehood Il
sell papers?' Inquired Mr.. Wise sternly
Read there fur r-elf,' pointing Il
a Paragraph in his single remaining pa
| per-
Mr.. Wise took the paper and read:
| 'Boylston street runs into Washing
ton street,
Without a word SIR. Wise paid fol
the paper and strobe on.
Arrived at home, his wife asked him
if he at ended the annual In citing tia
afternoon Of the Stockholders of the Y
Y. X Il. railroad company. 1t :curred
a week sooner, she explained, than hal
been expected, but Mrs. Chester said Il
was advertised in the leading daily pa
pers.
Me Wise's face fell. He was not ,