The times., 1901-03-31
HER SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX
Its Possession Fills One Young
WOman's Heart With joy.
She Has No Especial Use for 10. hut
Enjoys the Realization That 10 IL
Her Very Onn--rhe Interesting
Process by which It wns Acquired

The Girl Philosopher had an air OF
pride and weIl-being that lifted her chin
and gave her head proud tilt She spoke
In tones of purring conteniment. and her
whole manner was that Of person who
is pleased with herself. says the person
who wrote about It in the Chicago
News"
You act as II you had become sudden
ly rich or found a dollars worth of post
age stamps" the matron observed.
Would you mind telling US the reason
for this grinuing JOY OF yours?
i wasn't grinning, the girl retorted,
but / don't mind admitting that / feel
affiuent and happy. All my life / have
wanted to rent a safety deposit box. /
have always Ionged for one OF those little
cubby holes that l could CAN my very
own-and at last I have one"
Have you got anything to put in
safety deposit box?" the dental student
asked with an insinuating ai.
The girl paid no attention 20 this re-
mark. Today" she went ON. Il found
that l had SO that I didn't have to sluan-
der on the vulgar necessities of life and
I concluded that I would realize my dream
of owning a safety deposit box So I
wended my way to a bank and descended
the marble stairs that led to the safety
deposit vaults felt like a regular Alad-
din. When l got to the bottom of the
stairs / saw 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 understanding until special
officer took me by the arm and led mo
around a corner where i could talk with
the venerable man face to face.
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
iron and plate glass cage asked me what
| wanted. I replied that IL had long been
my dream to rent safety deposit box
TIe replied that ! could realize this dream
by putting up the price and giving my
real name. l said that / would first Ike
to look at the 50 boxes.
The venerable prisoner let himself out
on parole and we passed through door
way set in a 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 IT,
! Something grey and fluffy filled 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 it? And ! saw man who was
| sitting diamonds through his fingers as
| a child plays with sand, and another
man who lifted a masnihcent tIara
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, I picked out very
snug little box which the venerable pFiS-
oner said ] might have for my very own.
We again withdrew to his cage ana l
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 70 my box Doesn't
that sound mysteriouS2 Finally settled
on POpOcateptl as my password me
prisoner gave me two keys. so that | can
lose one any time and not miss II. ana a
certificate showing that i had paid -
for the rent of safety deposit box l25Z
I was all ready TO leave when l happened
to think that / hadn { asked what WOuld
happen If / should get married and
change my name. Gould I still get 10 my
box If | got married? / 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
$50 that is why / feel so happy the
Girl Philosopher said. L have SAFETY
deposit box and it makes me feel affiuent
and opulent, and all the other synonyms
| for that wealthy feeling.
And what did you have to put in your
| boX2" the matrOu asked
| The girl hesitated.
We'll. that was my only dittlcuity. she
| answered. The only things 1 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 viii
| and
| why didn't YOU have rummage sale
| instead of putting your things into q safe
| ty deposit box" the dental student
| asked.
| Because" the girl replied with dignity.
| it has always been the dream of my
! life 10 rent safety deposit boX-and | am
/ sure that to have a password like POpG-
| catepetl is alone worth 50 year.