Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-03-28
HELP WANTED.

| from Cno cu3lr Wnero ne nau Oeen seat
ed for half an hour or more pondering q
certain problem. I believe that will
achieve the end I have in view if any
thing will. can reject as I please,
and sooner or later I believe the right
person will materialize. Anyhow, l
am disposed to make the experiment, if
only for lark, and just to see if do
have the good fortune to hit upon the
right one out of all the bevy of rare and
radiant damsels who are very willing
to help spend my money, but I am not
so sure about either their willingness or
their ability to help me make such u
home and such a life as I desire to make
it really state of double blessedness.
Now, lest my fair readers should fall
into the error Of supposing that Elmer
Wilson was either conceited or exacting
| hasten to inform them that he WAS
neither; but, on the other hand, a gen.
tleman of most exemplary character and
habits, hearted, sincere. but with
a healthy aversion to shams of all sorts
and conditions. He was seven and
twenty, with an ample, though not
princely fortune. a handsome establish
ment iu which he lived at present in
bachelor state, hut which he kept up af-
ter his mothers death rather than rent
it and 90 to a hotel to live, because he
loved the sphere of home and the fa-
miliar surroundings endeared to him by
years of association. One thing more
he did want, however, to make his hume
perfect, and that was the presence and
companionship of loved and loving
wife-oue to whom he was prepared to
give in full measure all the love and
care and honor of which a true woman
would be worthy. But, alasl that it
should be 80; the trouble was to find
that good woman. He had moved in
society for several years, very constant
lY. and was we'll acquainted with It's
rank and file of beauty and talent and
attractiveness among the fair sex. He
had noted all and participated, In one
form or another, in many Of the fash
ionable and brilliant marriages that had
taken place; aud he had remarked, like
wise, the increasing steadiness and di.
minishing intervals with which divorces
followed those marriages, and finally
came to the conclusion that there was
something wrong somewhere. How to
get ut it or avoid it in his case was the
problem, for be still held to the oldfash
ioned idea, that marriage. such as he de
sired to enter into, was made in heaven,
and was intended to last at least through
this world, if not continue right ON in
the other. He knew perfectly well that
there were at least dozen Young ladies
among his large acquaintance whowould
not hesitate FIVE minutes to preside as
mistress over his we'll appointed man
sion, bear bis name and spend his mon
ey. with which be would be prepared
to supply her literally, if not layishly;
but whether she would marry him for
any Of the more important reasons upon
which true happiness alone is founded
was the perple1ng question. He knew
that the on ly way to gain correct in
dex to a woman's character is in her
home, where she is her real self, un.
hampered by any of the artificial re.
serictions which fashion and etiquette
imposes; but how to acquire that know
ledge, and at the same time keep his
own purpose incognito, was the perplex.
ing question.
This was the problem over which he
had been puzzing his brain for an hour
or more, when an idea suddenly came
to bis relief, which. from its very nov
city, and even apparent impracticabil.
ity, caught his fancy. and he determined
to give it trial at any rate. Accord.
ingly the next morning several Of the
leading dailies contained this advertise
ment:
"HELP WANTED "A lady not over twenty
five years of age, to superintend and take
charge of bachelors establishments; one
with practical knowledge of domestic af-
fairs. and who can impart to 1t the genuine
home sphere. and can also assist ir arrang.
ing and conducting social entertainments,
etc. Highest references given and required.
Address Home Maker, - Office"
The advertisement was inserted IT,
and the first days response brought a
most miscellaneous collection of appli.
cants, not one of which came anywhere
near the standard set by Mr.. Wilson.
Although none owned to being older
than twenty FIVE, and one and all
claimed to be possessed in high degree
of the qualifications called for, it was
only too evident BY the handwriting of
some and the epistolary abilities Of
| nkh hok thn- ranra1 oil fha