The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-17
AS 1 WAS SAYING.

"Do you realize what it costs to build a
sailing vesself" said one gentlemen to
another as they were riding down town in
an Olneyville car on Sunday "Why,
that schooner that was launched at East
Providence the other day cost 500, ,OO0 and
one OF the big four-masters cost over a
Million" This estimate so tickled the
listener that he repeated the story yer-
batim TO man he knew. who said !:
What stiffness why, schooner like
that East Providence one cost only $1,000,
and you Gun buy a four-master for $4,000
all rugged and launched" Both men who
were making these wild statements were
intelligent enough, though il is seen not
universally SO, for a common two-sticker
coasting schooner is worth from $1,000 to
$4,000, while craft like the Benz. Poole
and its companions, represent the expen-
diture of from SO, 600 TO $4,000.
On n suburban railway train the other
day, while it stood waiting the time TO be
hauled out, "A man and woman occupied a
seat together. The man glanced over a
weekly paper published in a country
town.
"How much country folks think of
Francis Willard, don't theyp" he said.
who's she?" said the woman.
Don't you know? / should think you
had ought to-" this sternly.
"No, don't! Who is she, anyway"
"She's Josiah Aliens wife, and you
ought TO know it before this time" lof-
tily...
"Humph! don't know so much about
other folks wives as some -"
"All aboard" said the conductor and
the couple, with their knowledge, and
lack of 1t, slid out OF view.
Commencing about the second week in
November" said seller of patterns for
children's clothes, "we begin TO sell any
dresses and coats" We might think il
was late to make up fall costumes for
children, and it is The secret of the
great sales is simply that the cunning lit
tie men and women are going Ito grand
mas" for Thanksgiving. What they
have for wearing apparel may be good
enough for use at home. But some years
ago. maybe, the daughter of the old home
stead out in.the country was wooed and
married by the city young man. lie
works now, maybe, for 81 80 per day. His
wife knows his goodness, his econ
omy. She knows, too how very lit
tie way his wages will 90 towards
the maintenance of the little family, and
still put aside some small fund for a day
when, perhaps misfortune or illness may
demand its existence.
But she is going "to grandma's,"
Thanksgiving; all the other sisters and
brothers will be there with their children,
and her loving mothers heart rebels that
any ones darling shall look better than
hers. So she buys her patterns, she hunts
up the remnant of sufficient length to
make baby's coat, or Mary's dress, or
Halls cunning sailor suit. Deep into the
night she tolls over their making up,
while the prospective wearers lie, sweet
and innocent, in healthy slumber.
Then on Thanksgiving Day. on any out
ward bound train, you will see this mother
with tired but happy face, and the
father proud and satisfied, as they start
"for grandma's." Don't criticise, even
mentally, the fact that the young matrons
dress is but cheap one of last years
style, or the father wears hat not the
latest, for there are the three little ones
all clad anew and tastefully. And their
costumes represent, oh, so much more
than just wearing apparel IL means to
have bought and made them; the rising
daily in the darkness of the waning night |:
the toll of a loving husband and wife
one, day in and out at his bench or else
where, with no change or recreation; the
other always at household cares and the
tension of supplying children's many
wants. II means all this, which circum-
stances dictate shall, in all probability.
be their portion till the time when their
progeny shall come home ito grandmas"