The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-04-04
THE GENTEEL POOR.
"OH, THE PITY OF IT." ONE ExCLAlHS
WHEN CONSIDERING THEM.

stTaining to Maintain Position Beyond
Their oIeans-An ADecdnte About Peo-
pie who Manage to Get Along and Get
Along by Managing
Do you know that there Is q class Of
people who's suffer and Of whom the world
never hear: ] mean those whom we are
apt TO call the genteeI poor. They are
always with rs. In my life have lis
tened 10 a great many queer stories
about them, ana they are really - be
pitied. They are, many II them, SINCE
women Of uncertain age. who are Obliged
TO live on inhnitesiInal incomes and with
an amount Of style. They can't bring
their ideas down 70 the level OF their fO--
tunes. They have always been used 20
certain things. and they must have or
at least appear 70 have them. They can
live only III particular part Of town, no
matter If the rent consumes the biggest
part Of their funds, and they must do
other things IN just proportion. How do
they do it: Why, with an amount Of in
genuity that would be valuable III bet
ter cause.
They manage. That Is the word.
The genteel poor manage" 70 get
along and get along by managing"
Take a case that 1 happen 10 know
about. They were pair of sisters who
rented apartments.
/ am not afraid 70 assert that theylived
On samples. They went from one grocer
TO another and collected, little by little,
almost all the things they needed for
their meager Inenage.
Sample cans of soup furnished their
table at many midday meal. Their
cracker Jar was wonderful mixture u
different brands. They did SO like va
riety, they said. Their bonbon dish was
replenished in q way that seemed little
Short Of stealing. They would make pc
riodical calls at various confectioners
and at each take bit OF candy from the
piles that were exposed TO view. Hidden
in a bag. or IN a Inuff If it was white.
the aggregate Of this booty when taken
home formed quite dishful and helped
out at their afternoon receptions, which,
In accordance with their ideas Of hospi-
talty and the traditions of their family,
they always gave during the season.
/ used TO wonder how they felt when
they knelt on Sundays before that gor-
geous shrine which they affected and
gave the response to that solemn ad1no-
milton, 'Thou shalt not steal,'' but I
fancy they thought it was perfectly le-
gitimatc.
They always dressed in black, and l
am sure / don't know how they "man-
aged their wardrobes. | suppose tie
bargain counters helped them out, and l
fancy their gowns were metimes made
ago they employed as a seamstress and
introduced TO their wealthy friends. By
this the woman was enabled to get
footing, and no doubt gratitude prompt
ed her TO give them some help in the re-
construction of their wardrobes.
But this was long ago. 1 wonder if
the younger sister, who now occupies 4
position as the wife of a wealthy man,
is aware that I know all about the gown
she wore when she met the man who
emancipated her from the thraldom of
petty economy. Idoubt it, but L do, and
/ am going to tell you.
The two women had been invited to q
dinner given by swell friend. The
elder could not go on account Of i'll
health, but the younger must. Then
came the question of what TO wear. Ev-
erything had been exhausted, and there
was no money for costume. At last,
in despair, the younger woman opened a
trunk filled with clothing from the rec
tory-their childhood's home.
She had it, Within its depths there
was the black silk robe that her father
had worn. 1t was heavy and of beauti-
full texture. It's ample folds would
make short skirt and part of a waist.
While in a quandary as to what would
fill out the deficiency she saw beneath
the velvet pail that had covered her ia
theirs coffin. 1t had been the last loving
tribute of sick parishioner. Here were
the train and another part of the waist.
Did no thought of its association with
the dead man or remembrance of the sol
emn service return TO her, You ask? Not
a bit of il. Beneath H., crumpled up III
many creases, was the Grape that had
draped the altar Behold what "a cos
tune was evolved! a long train of vel
vet over a skirt Of heavy black silk trim
med with folds of Grape, whose somber
blackness served to make still whittier the
neck displayed beneath the decollete cor
sage she WAS elegant indeed, and at the
dinner she played her cards so well that
she captured an extremely eligible bach
elor. and her struggles were over.
But think of it! I know you'll say,
..Oh, the pity OF itl'
You have often heard the saying: ''God
help the rich. The poor can beg"
1 say the Lords poor will be taken
care of. but pity, oh. pity. the genteel
poor,-Boston Herald.
Real
The tramp had called at a house where
there had been party the night before
and had been given a very good meal al
the Kitchen ia hln with the lady of The