Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-03-03
ImpecuniOus Lovers.

An engagement ring contracted for
on the installment plan is now as
common a business transaction as
the fitting up of boarding house on
the same easy payment plan. Ihere
are several New York jewelry firms
which do a prosperous business
among prospective bridegrooms Oh
the credit system.
One of these is located on proml-
nent down town street. Engagement
rings and wedding rings are here
sold on credit, the weekly payment
being 80 cents. At this store the 9th
er day bashful young man asked
the chief clerk to show him some
rings suitable to present TO young
lady.
Engagement ring, eh?' said the
clerk in 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 setting? That emphasizes the
gem and makes it appear worth more
llIdu IL really Is. Ou CttH pCtlNl
yourself, sir. Pay cash and you'll IL
get a 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 name and references.
In his pocket as he went out he
carried stupendous contract print
ed in red ink, which stipulated that
in case of non-payment according TO
the terms of contract, etc, the ring
must be forfeited
That's fair sample said the
clerk in answer to q question, That
fellow represents a certain element
Of middle class society. Most of the
handwriting young men buy rings
for their sweethearts thai way. The
girls would never get any engage
ment ring at all if the money had to
be paid outright.
Another shy young man was ush-
ured in, and the clerk motioned him
10 private 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 the
private audience room, it seems, is
because financial embarrassment coup.
led with native modesty, prevents
lovers in the first stage from divulg-
ing the terms upon which they wish
to pay for ring. They prefer to
state their case unheard by any one
except the head clerk, who, in the
course of his business, has cultivated
a profound sympathy for the entire
ro ca Of cyaat baar-S
oh, they tell some pathetic stories,
said the clerk. They let me into all
their secrets gratuitouSly. One very
devoted young lover told me the
other day that he earned 81 a week,
but couldn't get married until he had
been raised to s.. When advanced
to this position of opulence, he
thought he could afford to buy 81
diamond ring on installments of %
cents week.
But it is in the case Of lapses that
/ hear the most pathetic tales. As q
rule our customers are straightfor-
ward 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 us know,
and then if the fellow is honest we
ease up on him just little
But what if the girl and the ring
disappear simultaneously he was
asked.
oh, the young man always pays
up, and if the girl has thrown him
over you can bet he never tells any
one about it.
There are lots of we'll to do young
men who spend $50 or $40 in q night
for pleasure and who do business
with us because they prefer to regard
jewelry as luxury and pay for it on
time.
Here, for instance, is a ring made
to order for broker down town.
and the clerk held up diamond ring
valued at $3.50, which had been made
to fit the finger of some metropoll-
tan belle who may never know the
terms of the contract.
I don't know of single instance
where a girl has had to forfeit her
ring. In case she had a dishonest
man or sneak for lover the case
would be rather embarrassing. But
as rule the blushing BRIDE elect
knows nothing about the Install
ments, for our customers come promp-
tly to the Office and pay up every
Saturday.
There are some cases where we
have to unbend a trifle, as, for in
stance, where there has been a death
in the family. When sad faced
young fellow steps into my private
Office and tells me confidentially that
he has lost his father and must help
pay the funeral 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
looking up their references
The investigation blank, which,
when filled, establishes the pur:
chaSers integrity of character, should
contain the date of contract, name Of
applicant, house address, business
occupation, business references, time
employed in present position, de
scription of engagement or wedding
ring and host of other details.
The form of contract is suitably
verbose, and the red tape involved is
sufficient to make young lover feel
the responsibility and Importance of
having creditors.-New York World.
Flying Machines.