The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31
HER SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX
Its Possession Fills One Young
WOman's Heart With joy.
she Has No Especial Use for IL. hut
Enjoys the Realization That u Is
Her Very Own-Thc Interesting
Process by which II Was Acquired

The Girl Philosopher had an air of
pride and well-being that lifted her chin
and gave her head proud tilt. She spoke
in tones of purring eontentment. and her
whole manner was that of person who
is pleased with herself. says the person
who wrote about 1t in the Chicago
News
You act as II you had become sudden
ly rich or found dollars worth Of post
age stamps" the matron observed.
Would you mind telling us the reason
for this grinning joy OF yours?''
Il wasn't grinning," the girl retorted.
but l don't mind admitting that / feel
aftiuent and happy. All my life l have
wanted to rent safety deposit box. I
have always Ionged for one of those little
cubby holes that could call my very
own-and at last have one
Have you got anything to put in a
safety deposit box?' the dental student
asked with an insinuating air.
The girl paid no attention TO this re-
mark. Today" she went on. Il found
that 1 had 50 that didn't have to sqaan-
der on the vulgar necessities of life and
I concluded that 1 would realize my dream
of owning safety deposit box. So L
wendell my way to a bank and descended
the marble stairs that led to the safety
deposit vaults. | felt like a regular Alad-
| din. When 1 got tc the bottom of the
stairs / saw a fat and venerable man i'm
INJURED behind plate glass crossed by
heavy iron bars. / addressed a few re-
marks to him through these distractions.
He gibbered at me from behind his prison
bars, but we weren't making any progress
toward an understanding until a special
officer took me by the arm and led mo
around a corner where i could talk with
no
Il was positively awed by my surround
ings. Everything was shining steel and
white marble. Large, dignified gentle
men, with opulent waistcoasts, glided
about conversing in low tones. | think
they had Just finished cutting their daily
coupons. The venerable prisoner In the
| wanted. I replied that it had long been
my dream to rent safety deposit box.
He replied that / could realize this dream
10y putting UP the price and giving my
real name. | said that / would first like
to look at the 50 boxes.
',I'ffii5 venerable prisoner let himself out
on parole, and we passed through door
way set in steel wall and entered the
inner vault. A red carpet covered the
floor, and the walls were made of little
drawers. l saw one woman pull out her
drawer and take a small vial from II.
Something grey and fluffy filed the bot
| tie. The woman wept as she looked at
it, and | am sure that her husband
ashes were in that vial. Touching idea,
wasn't II? And l saw man who was
| sitting diamonds through his fingers as
a child plays with sand, and another
| man who lifted magnificent tiara
| from
Would you mind restraining your i'm
| agination until we have locked the door
| and looked under the couch?' the dental
student asked.
And" the girl said, without noticing
this interruption, II picked out very
snug little box which the venerable pris-
oner said l might have for my very own:
fn % 4
stood without while he took my name and
address Then he said that ] must make
up a password. which / would have to
give every time ! came to my box. Doesn't
that sound mysterious? Finally / settled
on Popocateptl as my password me
prisoner gave me two keys, so that can
lose one any time and not miss 1t, and a
certificate showing that had pald -
for the rent of safety deposit box l25Z;
I was all ready to leave when happened
! to think that 1 hadn't asked what would
happen if / should get married and
change nv name Could I still get to my
box il | got married? l asked The old
prisoner-he was secretary, too, II seems
Looked quite offended Madam. ne
said we do not confiscate your property
if you marry. So let the good work go
on.
so that is why | feel so happy, the
Girl Philosopher said. Il have SAFETY
| deposit box and it makes me feel atfiuent
and opulent, and all the other synonyms
| for that wealthy feeling.
And what did you have to put In your
boX?" the matron asked
The girl hesitated.
We'll, that was my only difficulty. she
answered. THE only things | have found
| to put in so far are some earrings that
| | don't wear any more and my broken
| paddock bracelet and the diploma that
| shows that | graduated from the west
| Division High School, and my fountain
! pen that won't write, and my last will
| and
| why didn't YOU have rummage sale
| instead of putting your things into a safe
| ty deposit box" the dental student
| asked.
Because the girl replied with dignity.
| lit has always been the dream Of my
| life TO rent safety deposit box-and l am
| sure that to have password like Popo-
| atepetl is alone worth 50 year.