The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-09

A Years Results to Alfred A. Hewlett of
Toying Lightly and MeanIngIessly with
the Widow ProbIem-His Safety Lay
In the Wholesale Way In Which He
Attacked the Queston-He Is Now the
Most "Proposed-to" Man In the United
States Because of Simple and Kindly
Banquet to 1874 "Widow Ladies'"
A year ago Alfred A. Hewlett of SYRIA
cuse, N. Y, a rich widower aged 81, COIL
ceived the brilliant but dangerous idea of
giving a birthday banquet to 1874 widows.
Mr.. Hewlett carried out this plan and
at once leaped into fame that soon
became international. There was hardly
a newspaper in the country that did not
take the matter UP.
Mr.. Hewlett is now the most proposed
to- man living. Widows from ali over the
known world ieaped to the conclusion that
he wanted a wife, and they were willing
to sacrifice themselves to fill the place.
1T looks to me- said Mr.. Hewlett last
week as tho l have added considerably
to the gaiety of nations. There are let
ters here from every part of the earth [
ever heard of except China. L haven't
got proposal from Chinese woman, but
I may get it yet. She's probably learning
English to do 1t in now. l haven't read
half Of the letters, and of course I don't
pretend to answer them.
They come in all languages, and some
have even sent English TRANSACTIONS of
their own letters. There are fifteen from
Germany, dozens from England, few
from France, Russia and Ireland, and
some from Italy. Africa, South America.
India, Holland, etc. Now do you know
what. ] intend. to do with all these let
ters? l hate to see good literature wasted.
SO l am going to have them all pasted
into an immense scrap book called The
Book of Widows and leave 1t to the His
torical association
This incident shows what good adve"-
tising will do. OF course, Mr.. Hewlett
did not intend to advertise, but it worked
that way. He didn't want d widow; in
fact, he didn't want to marry at all. He
| simply planned to give the local widows
! good time. and did so. The avalanche
OF widows THAT descended on him from
| all over the planet has taken his breath
away, and he announces that there will
| be no more widowfests in Syracuse SO
| far as he Is concerned.
The wholesale way in which Mr.. How
lett took up the widow problem was his
salvation. Banqueting 134 widows
| Safety!
| Banqreting one widow
/ Danger And the most serious cnI
vital danger.
Mr. Hewlett was very wise.
Doc Bixby says he knows an old ship
| captain in Lincoln, Neb., whom Christian
Science stopped swearing. There are a
| Whole lot Of people whose language needs
! ,rt atinent other than the usual alcoholic
| treatment.
An interesting case came up in Tren-
ton, n. j., the other day. A man sent
a trained dog named Carlo with basket
and a standard dollar to buy steak. The
| home wi he J,,,f
part Of the change given by the faithless
| butcher was bad 50-cent piece. The
| United States commissioner refused TO
issue a; warrant on the ground that there
wasn't any statute against passing coun-
terfeit money on a dog. After this one
could hardly blame the dog for going back
and tasting the butcher. even if there
were law against dogbite.
Only 1900 automobiles were sold in
this country last summer. When grand
pa crossed Park avenue he saw most of
them laying for him.
( Stead's neWspap per for women is to bo
devoted largely to sociology. It is sus-
pected that he-ladies will get some 49c
bargain counter sociology.
A Philadelphia horse put his foot into
his mouth and it took a crowd of vetnri-
; naries to -untangle him. Let this be a
terrible warning to you.
Mr.. Bryan visited the Bank Of ENGLAND
without offering to pray with the drec-
tors It IS the Bank of England where that
cross Of gold" mentioned in 1896 was
fabricated
Joaquin Miller has come out in the San
, francisco Bulletin against the Panama
canal. He says Panama is unhealthy It
VIII be for anybody that fools with Uncle
, Sam after he strips his coat.
AS your wife asks YOU when You leave
the house for the office, My dear. have
you brushed your hair?" you should recall
the aphorism of William Johnson in the
Minnetonka Record:
! To establish and maintain order
. harmony and excellence under ones
own hat will keep one fairly occupied