The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-03
THEIR ECONOMICAL WIVES.
TALES mr. MEN OF SOME or THE
THINGS THAT HOMEN' DO.

their heads Rravely and sympathisirspy as one
OF their number told how he had b@n break
fasting upon salt mackerel ever since last fall,
because his wife was economical and had dis
covered that salt mackerel could DO purchased
half a cent a pound cheaper by tho ba rrcl than
at retail, and so had bought n barrel O Z it, and,
the stuff once paid for, something had to be
done with II. But the young man In the party
seemed to be amused rather than othG wise.
"My wife, he said oheerfully, us "a shrevd.
practical housekeeper."
The other married men looked upon him with
dlsapproval as he made this remark. Then an
other among them related how he had decided
TO grant himself the indulgence of half a dozen
outing shirts for his summer outfit; how, In an
evil hour, he had seen an advertisement of out
ing shirts ut $3.50 each at q certain dry goods
store, and, thinking to save half q dollar on
each shirt by buying ready made Mt $3.50 each,
instead Of having them made to order at 50
apiece, no had handed SIS to his wife and en-
trusted to her the commission Of buying the
shirts; and how she had brought home with
her six shirts at 40 cents each, a S5.OS suit of
rendy-made bargain clothes, and a S1.Os box of
cigars, and with a look of mingled love and ex-
u~ltation had handed him the change, including
o lot of horrible pennies, as proof of her ability
TO provide him with everything he needed and
still practise economy. Lastly he tried to pio-
ture adequately his feelings at the awful mo-
ment when he realized that she actually ex-
pected him to wear the clothes and smoke the
cigars. Again the older married men nodded
their heads gravcly and sympathizingly, but
the young man went so far as to chnckle.
My wife," he said. us q remarkably sensible
woman"
This timo the older married man showed I'M
mistakable symptoms Of annoyance when the
young man spoke. Nevertheless n third one
a,ro,r thap, yrapt n N tn add HIS aYperian.,a IN
that Of the others. lie described the ECONOMY
which had resulted In his wifc's trying seven
different servants in five weeks, and had
thereby doubled his expenses owing to the cost
of the extra meals which they had been obliged
to take Mt restaurants In the intervals between
tho dismissal OF one girl and the arrival of the
next. The older married men sighed know
ingly and nodded their heads for the third times
but the young man laughed outright.
II know" he said. that I'm n lucky fellow
to have n woman OF sense for a wife"
The older married men got tired this time at
the interruption uttered by the young man. The
oldest Of them tapped him on the shoulder.
Look here" he said. /" your wife's a woman.
amt she?"
NO" replied the young man calmly. "she's
an angel"
And" pursued the Oldest married man,
what in thunder Is the use OF talking about
sense IN connection" Will u WOlnhn
II know" began the young man with a smile,
that everybody couldn't be lucky enough to
have a wife like"
Say" interrupted a gloomy-lookinG old mar
r!ed man, how long have you been married,
any way Z"
Two months" replied tho young man.
Oh" returned the older married men in
chorus, that's how 1t is. is itf'
You see" said the young man. my wife's
sensible. l tell her what we want and she goes
and does 1t. and there's an end of it. We're CO.
ing to the opera tonight, and all l have to do is
to give her the money, and when I get homo
there I'll find her with the tickets aud all, and
never a thing for me to bother about"
Talking about getting home said one OF the
older married men with a sheer, "aln't you in
danger OF being Il Iuarter of n minute late IL
you don't start soon Z"
by love! that's So" exclaimed the young
man. pulling out his watch. Much obliged.
So long
When no reached home he found his wife
stretched out upon the lounge.
I'm so tired" she murmured. Its boon
such q day.
Poor child!' he exclaimed. ~ shouldn't
have let you so to buy them. Did YOU have to
stand longI"
i've been on my feet all the afternoon. :" sha
said, with a weary smile. There was such q
crOwd.'
II ought to have known thcre'd be q rush for
them now" he said. contritely.
YES" she said: they advertised them and
there was n perfect jam. You had actually to
fgh, to get near them" The soft light OF hap
plness was in her eyes as she looked around the
room. do you know" she continued, we
ought to have more looking-glasses. We need
Il Chcval glass certainly.
YES" he replied. soothingly. But about
tonight. VIII you be able to go to the opera p
Coz" she cried, jumping up IL wouldn't
miss it for the world!'
SO they went. She hesitated as they reached
the entrance OF the opera house.
IL got seats up stairs" she said. Those
down stairs cost SO much, and l wanted to be
economical. DO you mind -
Not q Bit" no replied. Except on your &C.
count. Aren't you too tired to climb the stairs ~
"Oh. no." she returned, smiling sweetly as
she paused in front OF q mirror. II don't mind
In the least"
They climbed. Presently they reached an
other mirror, and again she paused and smiled
sweotly. StIll they climbed.
"Whew!" he said, as he stopped on a landing
to get breath. How much higher up is it?"
"ldOn't think 1t can be much higher" she
said, looking into q glass and giving n coquottish
touch to her hat. THE man said the seats were
not the highest In the house. And ! think he
FNlAl N'lll'NllllE bbl VI tlt dbOT, u 1 HlpIpstu
you would know all about that"
My love OF music WAS never so great that |
took IN elevator to hear it he rctOrted. But"
10 added repcntantly, its on your account.
How do you stand climbing all these stairs ~
"Oh, don't mind IL" she replied. turning her
head to one sldo To get the proper view OF her
hat. and smiling with increased sweetness.
Say" he said suddenly like one making =
discovery. do you know that's a mighty pretty
hat2 don't remember ever seeing it before"
she turned ON him with "A half courtesy.
ia it indeed" she replied. II WAS wonder
ing how long you'd be In finding II out. And
y0u don't remember seeing 10 before YOu men
don't know anything" Aad on she swept up
the stairs.
They landed somewhere under the roof where
lovers of music remain rntranCcd and ordinary
mortGlS stew, There he twisted and turned, but
she sat smiling swcetly. lie drew IL long breath
OF relief when IT was all over.
"lgh,' he said, W need something refresh
ing after that ordeal. Hello! I've forgotten my
money. You don't happen TO have the change
of tho money ! gave You this morning TO buy
the eats with, do your"
=" Yes" she replied with a little hesitation in
her manner AS She opened her p0CketlOuk AID
took out slowly a onr-dnllar hlll, n quarter and