The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-01-31
IMPECUNIOUS LOVERS
THEY BUY ENGAGEMENT AND WE'D.
DING RINGS ON CREDIT.

and the Fair sweethearts Never Know
About It--an Interesting Talk with
Confidential Clerk.
An engagement ring contracted for
on the installment plan is now ~ com
mon business transaction as the fit
ting up of a boarding house on the same
easy payment plan. There are several
New York jewelry firms which do
prosperous business among prospective
bridegrooms on the credit system.
One of these is located on promi
nent down town stret. Engagement
rings and wedding rings are here sold
on credit, the weekly payment being 90
cents. At this store the other day a
bashful young man asked the chief
clerk TO show him some rings suitable
to present to young lady.
Enlargement ring, eh3" said the
clerk i'm a confidential undertone.
"Here you are, sir, the very latest.
Forty-five dollars. exquisite stone
payment in 10 months This shell ring
is our own design. Any girl would have
fits over it. See that dainty spiral
thread of gold about the settingf That
emphasizes the gem and makes it ap-
pear worth more than it is. You can {
better yourself sir. Pay cash and
you'll get discount Of So"
The young man seemed much inn
pressed. He gave the measurement of
the little finger of his fair charmer and
left his namo and references.
In his pocket as he went out he car
ried stupcudous contract printed in
red ink, which stipulated that lin case
of nonpayment according TO tho terms
of contract, o,c.. the ring must be for
feited.
That's fair sample" said tho
clerk in answer TO question. THAT
fellow represents certain, element of
middle class society. Most of the hard
working young men buy rings for their
swccthearts that way. The girls would
never get any engagement ring at all If
the money had TO be paid outright. "
Another shy young man was ushered
in, and the clerk motionCd him TO pri-
vate room adjoining the main Office.
There they were closeted for several
minutes, and then the clerk emerged to
seal contract with the new customer.
The necessity of the private audience
room, it seems, is because financial em-
barrassment, coupled with native modes
ty, prevents lovers in the first stage from
divulging the terms upon which they
wish 60 pay for a ring. They prefer to
state their case unheard by any one ex-
cept the head clerk. who, in tho course
of his business, has cultivated pro-
found sympathy for the entire race of
sweethearts.
"Oh, they tell some pathetic stories,
said the clerk. "They let me into all
their secrets gratuirously. One very
devoted young lover told me the other
day that he earned 81 week, but
couldn't get married until he had been
raised to So. When advanced to this
position of opulence, he thought he could
afford to buy diamond ring on install
ments of 80 cents Il week.
"But it is in the case of lapses that l
hear the most pathetic tales. AS rule
our customers are straightforward and
honest. AS long as young man has
work we have no difficulty in getting
his money. When he loses his position,
he usually lets MS know, and then if
the fellow is honest we ease up on him
just little"
but what if the girl and the ring dis
appear simultaneo sly?" he was asked.
"Oh, the young man always pays up,
and if the girl has thrown him over
you can bet no never tells any one
about it.
"Thero are lots of well to do young
men who spend $50 or $40 in night
for pleasure and who do business with
us because they prefer to regard jewel
ry as luxury ard pay for it on time.
Here, for instance, is a ring made
to order for broker down town, and
the clerk held up a diamond ring val
ued at $3.50, which had been made to
fit the finger Of some metropolitan belle
who may never know the terms of the
contract.
n don't know of a single instance
where glrl has had to forfeit her ring.
In case she had dishonest man OF a
sneak for a lover the case would Oe
rather embarrassing. But as rule the
blushing bride elect knows nothing
aDOut tlo OuT CuSLOIu-
ers come promptly to the Office and pay
up every Saturday.
There are some cases where we have
to unbend a trife, as, for instance,
where there has been death in the
family. When a sad faced young fell
low steps into my private Office and
tells me confidentially that he has lost
his father and must help pay the fu-
neral expenses, or that he has spent all
his available capital in celebrating
Thanksgiving or Fourth of July the day
before, then he can usually count upon
the sympathy Of the firm.
"Of course we run great risks, but
We never sell to anybody without look
ing up their references.
The investigation blank, which, when
filled, establishes the purchasers in