The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-27


Confidential Cleric.
An engagement ring contracted for
on tho installment plan is now as COM
mon business transaction as the fit
ting up of n boarding house on tho same
easy payment plan. There arc several
New York jewelry firms which do q
prosperous business among prospective
bridegrooms on tho credit system.
One Of these is located on promi-
nent down town street. Engagement
rings and wedding rings are here sold
on credit, tho weekly payment being so
cents. At this store the other day
bashful young man asked tho chief
clerk to show him some rings suitable
to present to young lady.
Engagement ring, eh?" said the
clerk in a confidential undertone.
Here You are, sir, the very latest.
Forty-fvo 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 setting? That
emphasizes tho gem and makes it ap-
pear worth moro than it is. You can t
better yourself, sir. Pay cash and
you'll get discount of So"
The young man seemed much i'm
pressed. He gave the measurement of
the little finger of his fair charmer and
left his namo and references.
In his pocket as no went out he car
ried stupendous contract printed in
red ink, which stipulated that Sin case
OE 70
of contract, ETC., the ring must be for
foited"
That's fair sample,' said the
clerk i'll answer to question. THAT
fellow represents certain element of
middle class society. Most of the hard
working young men buy rings for their
sweethearts that way. The girls would
never get any engagement ring at all if
tho money had to be paid outright"
Another shy young man was ushered
in, and the clerk motioned him to pri-
vate room adjoining the main Office
There they were closeted for several
minutes, and then the clerk emerged to
seal a contract with the new customer
The necessity of tho private audience
room, it seems, is because financial en-
barrassment, coupled with native modes
ty, prevents lovers in tho first stage from
divulging tho terms upon which they
wish to pay for ring. They prefer to
state their case unheard by any ono ex-
cept the head clerk, who, in the course
of his business, has cultivated pro-
found sympathy for tho entire race of
sweethcarts.
"Oh, they tell some pathetic stories,
said tho clerk. They let me into all
their secrets gratuitously. One very
devoted young lover told mo 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 so cents week.
But it is in tho case of lapses that l
hear the most pathetic tales. AS a 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,
ho usually lets us know, and then if
tho fellow is honest we ease up on him
just a little.
appear simultaneously" he was asked.
"Oh, the young man always pays up,
and if tho girl has thrown him over
you can bet he never tells any ono
about it.
There 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 Il ring mado
to order for a broker down town." and
tho clerk held up diamond ring val
ued at $3.50, which had been mado to
lit the finger of some metropolitan belle
who may never know tho terms of the
contract.
II don't know of single instance
where girl has had to forfeit her ring.
In case she had dishonest man or a
sneak for lover the case would DO
rather embarrassing But as rule the
blushing bride elect knows nothing
about the instalments, for our custom
ers come promptly to tho Office and pay
up every Saturday.
There are some cases where we have
W uhpehu d trlHe, as, Tor instance,
where there has been death in tho
family. When sad faced young fell
low stops into my private Office and
tells mo 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 OF 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