The herald., 1894-03-22
THE GENTEEL POOR.
"OH, THE PITY OF TIP ONE ExcLAIMs
WHEN CONSIDERING THEM.

Do you know that there is a class Of
people who suffer and of whom the world
never hears? l mean those whom we are
apt to call the genteel poor. They are
always with us. In my life 1 have lis
tened to a 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 inhnitesimal incomes and with
an 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 have them. They can
live only in 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 in a 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 happen to know
about. They were pair of sisters who
rented apartments.
am 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 a va
riety, they said. Their bonbon dish was
replenished in way that seemed little
short of stealing. They would make Dc
riodical calls at various confectioners
and at each take bit of candy from the
piles that were exposed to view, Hidden
in bag, or in 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.
/ 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 admo-
milton, "Thou shalt not steal" but
fancy they thought it was perfectly le-
gitimate.
They always dressed in black, and
am sure don't know how they man
aged" their wardrobes. l suppose the
bargain counters helped them out, and l
fancy their gowns were sometimes made
by very swell dressmaker whom years
ago they employed as seamstress and
introduced to their wealthy friends. By
this the woman was enabled to get q
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. / wonder il
the younger sister, who now occupies q
position as the wife of a wealthy man,
is aware that l 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
l am going to tell you.
The two women had been invited to n
dinner given by swell friend Tho
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 q
trunk filled with clothing from the rec
tory-their childhood's home.
She had It'll Within its depths there
was the black silk robe that her father
had worn. II was heavy and of beauti-
full texturr ample fnlds ---~-'-
make -
Will s-r.-
fill
tht
&
H.
blacleq
neck dis
sage. 6
dinner sheA
she captured
elor, and her
But think
"Oh, the pit,
You havec
help the rich
l say the
care of. but
poor!-Bosto
The tramp tat
there had be 4n7
and had beer rlH
the kitchen f }a~
house superi nF
a good heart i eas
wanderer mi aeae.su
had added rscnaf -
menu. She
a minute or ar f1ru .l
she stood by mes
81 beg you 10Y uuir
he picked .re p17r. 'vA
kind enough re rtris
this cream 4l
almost cola, e-
.Fntt.
A young s5 l.s 1as en