Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-04-14
THE GENTEEL POOR.
"o7, THE PITY OF TIP ONE ExcLAiM5
WHEN CONSIDERING THEM.

straining tn Maintain "a Position Beyond
Their sIcans-An Anccdote About Peo-
pie Who Manage to Get Along and Get
AIongb by Managing.
Do you know that there is a class of
people who suSer and of whom the world
never hears? / mean those whom we are
apt to call the genteel poor. They are
always with us. In my life have lis
tened to great many queer stories
about them, and they are really to be
pitied. They are, many Of them, single
women Of uncertain age, who are obliged
to live on infnitesimal incomes and with
IA amount Of style. They can't bring
their ideas down to the level of their for
tunes They have always been used to
certain things, and they must have or
at least appear to lave them. They can
hive only in a particular part of town, no
matter ii 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 in bet
ter cause.
They manage That is the word.
The genteel poor manage" to get
along and get along by managing"
Take a case that I happen to know
about. They were a pair of sisters who
rented apartments.
Tam not afraid to assert that they lived
On samples. They went from one grocer
TO another and collected, little by little,
almost all the things they needed for
their meager menage.
Sample cans of soup furnished their
table at many a midday meal. Their
cracker jar was wonderful mixture of
different brands. They did so like va
riety, they said. Their bonbon dish was
replenished in a 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 muff if it was winter.
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-
tality and the traditions of their family,
they always gave during the season.
l used 20 wonder, how they felt when
they lmelt ca Sundays before that gor-
gcoUs s'i,oe which they affected and
Care the response to that solemn admo-
milton. "racI shalt not steal" but 1
fancy they thought it was perfectly le-
giti.aGee.
They always dressed in black, and l
am sure | don't know how they ''man-
aged their warlrobes. l suppose the
bargain counters helped them out, and l
fancy their gowns were sometimes made
by very swell Gressmaker whom years
ago they employed as a seamstress and
introduced to their wealthy friends. By
this the woman was enabled to get a
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. Iwonder if
the younger sister, who now occupies a
position as the wife of wealthy man,
is aware that know all about the gown
she wore when she met the man who
emancipated her from the thraldom of
petty economy. Idoubt it, but do, and
am going to tell you.
The two women had been invited to a
dinner given by swell friend The
elder could not so on account of i'll
health, hut the younger must. Then
came tie question of what to wear. Ev-
erything had been exhausted, and there
was no money for a costume. At last.
in despair, the younger woman opened a
trunk filed with clothing from the rec
tory-their childhood's home
She had it! Within its depths there
was the black silk ODE that her father
had worn. It was heavy and of beauti-
full texture. Its ample folds would
make short skirt and part of a waist.
While in quandaryas 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 TO thought of its association with
the dead man or remembrance of the sol
enn service return to her, you ask? Not
a bit Of it. Beneath it, crumpled up in
many crease9, was the Grape that had
draped the altar. Behold what 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
blaclness served to make still winter 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! know you'll say,
ooh, the pity of i'll"
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
pooT.-Boston Herald