The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-22
WRITTEN roR III SUNDAY REerRL1r.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPTILE.
This is the story OF a man who wanted
too much az a good thing.
After fifteen years INDULGENCE II a mania
Tor the 'installrnent plan" Time-Pay:nen,
Peterson, a Chicago ~shoe-nakar, has tri-
Gmphcd over the habit that cost him many
hundreds OF dollars and his reputation for
sanity, caused his patient wife a world OF
work and an ocean Of tears, and finally re-
suited in a disaster which Is u1yir. the
salvation Of the pair.
He was % years old when 10 decided 10
get married, and for two years thereafter
yainiy wrestled with the problem OF pro-
|. viding a home for Jane, whom lie planned
No make his wife. The shoes 1hat he
JNsod and pricked and pounded came back
10 be rncnded again and again. end in tlrir
scars and tatters he saw tn. frayed ends
ot his useless plans and the rents in his
loNly fortunes which he could not mend.
He wasn't able TO save s. In a yea. and
when the second anniversary Of his en-
EaSement came around he was only 50 ito
the good" His matrimonial expenses.
figured down TO the barest nece ssitIes for
buying the license, paying the parson and
setting up" for Housekeeping in three base
ment rooms. contemplated the expenditure
of nearly 500.
1t was 4 long time before Jane would
consent 10 consolidate shop and rarlor in
til. front room. but even when that was
settled and his estimates seemed to be
many dollars nearer realization. 'he total
appeared too great for mis- slender aLility
To earn and vet slendcrer knaCk Of saving.
lie was getting tired of the task before
him. lie had been faithful TO Sane even ~
the point Of giving Zip his pipe. his 'Srowi-
cr' and his Police Gazette, but for all that
no was unable to hoard enough 10 cheer
his tagging courage. His shop WIS uI,at-
tractive and dirty, and trade stood still.
Lc WAS getting thin, his men friends be
pssn to forget him. and his chance of mar
rying Jane seemed as far off IS eyer. The
50 he had saved began to burn his pockets.
lie was aware of a growing thirst, and
every time he slid another coin into the
old tobacco bag he asked himself, ~, hats
the use?"
Then Jane came TO the rescue in the
most astonishing manned. II was an adj
vertisement clipped from a newspaper in
which a company of philanthropists offered
10 furnish three rooms complete for 50
down and 80 cents a week" Peterson had
never dreamed ct SO simple a solution cf
the problem that was wearing him out.
s"'A' NNA W. @'S' 1871 H'-- lSN 'TA
savings. there was enough for the frs: in
stallment. the license. 'hc rirson and a
ride on the elevated railroad.
So they were married. Peterson agreed at
the wedding supper, whieh he and Jane dis
cussed together in a Halstcsd street res
~tRursnt, that time payments is the easiest
graft I ever seem" and Jane admitted ;hat
u "was not so worse when you can't do no
better"
They amt no better!" Jefferson.
But IT kin he overdid.' ouo,!, Jsnr. |
(which / hope YOU won't do. fo- we've a. |
ready done our best ticks in that line"
Trade picked UP with Petersen fro,E the |
day he set up his shop in the basement !
Tarlor. James presence softencd The tawdry \
grandeur OF the cheap, rev furniture. aud
Peterson, with a fresh shave and n new
apron, was 70 gracious to his customers |
that his fame spread and tho business pros
\ercd. One day a Sinking stranger. with
a<oll of rugs across his shoulder. 4 clock
under his arm and a clothes wrinser in his
hand. came In and offered them - the |
cobbler 'on the time-pa y1ment plan" Jane
said she didn't need any of them, tut her
husband couldn't resist.
The installmert mania had him. and no
salesman or agent thereafter visited him in
vain.
Jane saw with wonder and alarm that tho
question OF utility or ralrc did not lo.hor
her husband. He bought rugs. clocks.
clothes wrinsers, books. pictures. life and
fire insurance policies. plaster OF Paris