The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-08
FORTY AND GLAD OF It
One Woman Gives Her Rea-
sons to a Census Enum-
orator.

'How would you like to be the census
MANI" is common remark these days.
An amusing story of an enumerator's
experience Is told by Mr.. Andrew ]. Cor
coran, the well known manufacturer OF
this city. The census man visited the
house of one of Mr.. Cercoran's employees,
and was met at the door by the wife, to
whom he began
What is your husband?"
Sure he was the most miserable man
on top of this airth before married him.
He swore that if didn't marry him be-
fore Saturday noight he would blow out
his brains wild a crowbar."
Indeed. Was he a widower?' incau-
tiously asked the census man.
"a widower!s almost shrieked the wom-
an, highly indignant, 'Why, ye dirthy
spalpeen with your legs full of consump
ton, would rather feed me childer on
praties and salt than marry a widower."
"Of course not; certainly, but what is
your husbands vocation" returned the
man, in a modifying tone.
HE gets week off next month";" she
said.
81 mean what is his oceupation?'
Faith, doesn't he occupy this fiat?"
After little manoeuvring the census
man got the information needed, and NOV
ed on to the tenant below, an Italian, who
mo speeka ze Inglees."
In the fashionable districs the men en-.
countered barrels of trouble. The man rings
the bell Then an ignorant servant comes to
the door. The agent tells what he is there
for, and the girl says that she can give
the names if that is all. She is informed
that the names are not all, and that it viii
be necessary to call the lady of the house
''Well, she can't come down." is the
reply.
''She must come down and give the in
formation desired" says the enumerator.
''Well, I'll see," remarks the servant,
and she goes off to tell her mistress that
a fresh man wants the names of the peo-
pie in the house
ASK him 10 come some other time,
says the mistress.
The enumerator replies, having over
heard the above remark, that he cannot
conveniently come again for the details,
and would be very much pleased to finish
that house Immediately Then this kind
woman permits the man to kneel. on the
floor to write in his book, while she snaps
out the answers to all the questions.
For gracious sake!' exclaimed a wom-
an on Varick street yesterday, why do
you ask so many questions?'
Madam said the ever polite enumera-
tor, do you suppose for a minute that
there is any particular fun in sitting here
in hot room asking questions for my
health? AS FAR as 1 am concerned l do
not care to know any of your business,
but the government insists on having
these Details
A superannuated beauty said in reply TO
a question as to her age, that she was
forty and was glad of it, because all men
were unloyal. She was asked how she
came to form such ideas and she replied
that she judged from general principles.
YES l have been married twenty-seven
years. said a pleasant woman to the
agent, "and the time has flown so happily
that it seems but half that time"
A person of Irish descent yesterday tried
to show how fresh he could be when the
enumerator came in, as he had evidently
been reading stories, of the mems troubles.
He said he did not know his age, the year
he immigrated or the month he was born
in. Neither could he be induced to give
the details until the agent departed from
his accustomed polite ways and threatened
to call, in a policeman. Usually this has
the desired effect.
Some persons fail to realize the import
ance of the present census. Instead of
tightening the burdens of the men, a great
many people are inclined to treat the CEN
sus work as huge joke, and laugh heart
lily when giving details.
'Wot cher want to know fer?" snaps
one woman. Don't see fer the life of me
why the government spends money for
that trash
I'm fifty years DID," she shouts in an
swer to an inquiry as to her age, docs
that suit you?"