Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-02-06
His Wife Is Happy Noir.


as last found something with which TO
busy herself continuously. | have long
urged upon her the necessity of having
something to occupy her mind besides the
mere discharge of social duties, which are
wearisome at best. The bane of many
women is ennui, which causes them to
take up all sorts of ridiculous fads, as you
know.
"Latterly l have noticed a change in
my wife. Her former listlessness is gone,
and she seems to take more interest in
what is going on about her. | even saw
hel reading the paper one day last week.
This change naturally pleased me, and |
questioned her in order to find out what
had brought it about. Though somewhat
reluctant at first, she finally owned up
Her confession ran somewhat as follows :;
"'You have heard of Smithkin's auc-
ton rooms on Fifth avenue, haven't you !!
No? Well, they're just lovely. They sell
the most beautiful thing at absurdly low
prices. They all belong to wealthy peo-
pie, you know, who have been unfortu-
nate and have to let them go for song.
The real values are marked on them in
plain figures, SO that you can always tell
how high you can bid and still get bar
gain.
"'The first time | went there was with
Mrs. Ungerman a few weeks ago. She
was quite used to it and bid on lots Of
things, but stopped just in time for some
one else to get them. It's quite exciting,
l assure you. kept still till they put
up delightful oak bookcase, with little
square mirror in the middle and the cut
est little drawers on both sides, Just above
the places where the books go, you know
| thought it would be just the thing tor
Ned's room, so | bid on 1t. 1t was start
ed at 81 and / bid s15.2j right away
Do you think that was too much? Any
way | got it for that, and ii was really
worth s41, the auctioneer said. | gave
him So for a deposit and told him
would send for it the next day, but wheI
| came to see it near by | was afraid /
wouldn't fit into Ned's room after all, 81
! took piece of string and measured it
"'When ! got home, found it wa
really too large, and then | tried all tn
other rooms. There wasn't place in tn
entire fiat large enough, except In the par
lor, and it wouldn't match the furnitur
in there at all. Besides we couldn't spar
the piano, could we, dear?
"'The auctioneer was awfully mic
about it when ! explained it to him an
said | could have them put it up agai
and sell il to some one else. II the
didn't bid high enough, could buy it il
and it would only cost ID per cent. fo
, the commission.
"'They bad an auction the next FIR
| day, and il was raining hard, but / ha
to 90, because | was afraid some on
would buy it for less than | paid if
wasn't there. Hardly anybody went tha
day, and l bid it in for $3.50. The con
mission was 81. 80, and just added that
the s15.25 paid and made up my min
o that wouldn't let it 60 for less tha
, s16.75
q 81 have been going back ever sine
E and two or three times they almost reacl
q ed my price. Some days when | 60 the
don't get around to the bookcases, ar
- then | have to go back the next day.
I'm going today, Ny commissions so fl
. have been s6'25, and will have to 6
). s21.50 now, but its really worth S4l yC
g know, so there's plenty of time yet. No
= do call cab for me, because it's almo
d time for the sale to begin
. 81 have no idea what it costs my vi
is for cabs to 90 TO those sales, but |
o know it does her world Of good to ha
I an interest in something. When her j
\ vestment gets SO large that it begins
= worry her, | shall send my bookkeeper
+ to bid s41 for that bookcase and give it
# him for present."-Ne,o York Sun.