The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-07-04
A VICTIM OF BARGAINS.
The Story of a Man With an Zoo
nomical Wife.

A short time ago met man whom
had known for years as prosperous
attorney, healthy and happy, not at all
wealthy, but reputed to be wise. 1t
was near the first anniversary OF his
wedding. / had been away from the
city for long time, and had hardly
seen him since helpedto install him IN
pretty uptown fat which he evident
ly regarded, In prospect, as little pri-
vate paradise / was startled to see
the changes which married life had
wrought in him. He had haggard,
tired expression, he was shabbily
dressed. and he was so thin that might
almost have suspected him OF being ill
fed. Words, if they had been appro-
pirate, could not have conveyed my sor-
row; nothing could conceal the sur
prise which tried to hide under
CHEEKY salutation. could see the pain
nv expr ession gave him. He brought
the subject up Immediately.
''Changed since you saw me last, am
not?' he said.
admitted hesitatingly that he was a
trifie thinner "Grip?" l ventured to
suggest. He shook his head. We were
not twenty steps from noted restau-
rant where, in the days of his bache-
lorhood, we had often gone together.
Come into Cherbini's," he said, land
have bite of luncheon. 1t will seem
like old times"
Ten minutes later we had installed
ourselves in the private room which we
knew so well, and our old waiter had
spread luncheon before US and smil-
ingly taken his dismissal a lib
eral tip. It was light luncheon, for
had had late breakfast; and, In spite
of his hungry appearance, my friend
did not seem to have much appetite.
He explained the dismissal OF the
waiter by saying that he did not care
to be stared at surreptltiously by one
who could not fail to notice the change
in his appearance. Then he insisted ON
hearing me talk about my travels, un-
til the luncheon was almost finished
then he preached the subject of his own
affairs.
"You wonder he said, looking out
of the window and drumming on the
table with his hngers-'syou wonder al
my changed appearance. 1t must seem
striking to you, who left me so well
and SO happy year ago. Perhaps you
will wonder still more when tell YOU
that have not been sick. No, have
not known days sickness since saw
you last
He paused, and sat silently waiting
for him to resume. Presently he said
beginning slowly and very deliberately
81 am victim of the bargain counter
of the man who writes the insidiout
advertisements which glare at you every
morning In the columns of your favorite
paper. How 1 hate the sight Of theil
1--WE dollars and twenty-five cents
worth ten dollars and their less than
COST their bankrupt stocks and theil
removal salesp You would hardly be-
neve 1t, old man, but they have brought
me to what I am; and through the In.
nocent agency of my dear little wife,
There was tear in his eye, and he
stopped to wipe 1t away. Then he con
tinued:
ssThey say that the world Of cranhs-
of men and women mentally unbal-
anced-is growing every day. The an
archist crank is becoming a serious
feature in the social world. We will
have new species of cranlxs soon-ths
bargain counter crank. / cannot be-
lieve that Anita Is the first OF the
species Thousands of other homes,
am sure, conceal skeleton like mine
But the possibilities of the mania'i
growth are limitless.
cts development In Anita began
soon after we were married. Her par
ents, as you know, were comparatively
poor people, though refined; and l sup
pose the habit OF studying the adver
tisements in the daily papers to learr
where to purchase with the greates
economy was the outgrowth OF neces
sity. 1t has always seemed to me
harmless, but vain, occupation-thil
study of the advertising columns.
have seen my stenographer busy will
them at times when there was lull IL
her work, and have thought her rathe
idle, purposeless young woman ! sup
pose she, too, is q victim of the habit
Poor thingl
''For the first two months after ou
marriage Anita and were travelling
and nothing could exceed our happiness
tried to make her contented In ever
way; and she was so pleased with every
thing she saw and so grateful for al
that l did for her comfortl
s'It had always been my theory tina
a mans wife should know no NOR
about business matters than Is neces
sary to maintain feeling of conhdenc
and of interest. Anita came to me II
the sweetest way, one day, and said
Dear, you must tell me just what you
income is, so that can know how mucl
| l may spend for dress and housekeep
ing
81 smiled and kissed her. That mus
never worry your little head replied
THE housekeeper will look after all tn
expenses of our little home, and what
ever you want for yourself you mus
buy and have the bill sent to me-
Il shall not be extravagant,' she re
piled, kissing me. I am poor man
daughter. you know Poor littl
AnitaI" He paused and shook his hea
sadly as he repeated: Poor littl
Anital"
After a moment he continued:
know it was my fault. In her owi
home she had been restricted to a Gel
tain allowance; she had been compelle
to keep the household and personal ex
penses within a narrow limit. shout
have followed the same system; but
could not bear to think of holding m
wife down to an allowance. No.
said to myself, my interests will be he
interests. She will guard them NOR
carefully than myself could And S
she did, up to the limit of her CONNER
cial comprehension; but with a resul
so different from what had expected
Shortly after our return from tn
honeymoon trip, Anita said to me on
day: Don't you like to read your pape
In the elevated every morning on you
way down town, instead OF leaving 1t a
home here for ME, darling? / shoul,
think you would / smiled as | tool
her hand. And don't you want to Sc
the paper?' ! asked Yes, l like Il
read it, sometimes she replied. and
thought perhaps you would have you
other paper delivered here instead OF a
the Office, and then you could read II Il
the evening when you came home
smiled at what fhop1ht was hsr aim