The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-27
FIRST AID TO
MATRIMONY
HOW 1T is NOW GIVEN BY THE
SALVATION ARMY.
Some Sentimental People Call the
Industrial Home Department. the
Cupid Bureau-Seyeral Hundred
Couples I'm New York State Aided
I'm Setting UP Establishments.
BROOKLYN Eagle.

1euclty need no longer De tempered Dy
sordid commercial considerations. House
keeping is now within the reach Of all,
thanks to the enterprise OF the Salvation
Army in establishing bureau for render
ing first aid to matrimony. II the BRIDE
groom happens to have dollar about
him, so much the better; but If he doesn't
he need not let that fact stand between
him and the lares and penates for which
he yearns. The whole thing can be very
neatly arranged by the Industrial Home
department Of the Salvation Arrny-some
sentimental people call 1t the Cupid Bu-
reau.
First OF all, the Salvation Army OFFICERS
believe that men and women are better II
they are united in the holy bonds Of mat
rimony, and for that reason they give all
the encouragement they can to young folk
who contemplate going thru life with help
meets. They argue that the joy OF the
married state is greatly enhanced by the
establishment Of the home, and the sooner
1t is started, the sooner things VIII run
along smoothly. OF course, there have
been philanthropists who have figured it
out quite nicely on paper the way in
which young married people may start
housekeeping on a few dollars, and by
strict economy keep UP their payments on
the installment plan, and satisfy the
| butcher and the baker at the Same time.
But this Cupid Bureau does 1t differently.
The man without dollar may go to
housekeeping just the same as If he had
! a good bank account, and he pays for
his furniture when he can.
! And this does not apply to the members
| Of the Salvation Army alone. Any respect
| able couple, without regard to race or re-
4 ligion. which makes application to the
proper officials may have the benefit Of
| this plan. Credit is given freely, with the
understanding that the young man will
| pay the amount Of his purchase in In
| stallments as soon as he Is able. II any
| thing happens that the money he expected
| to obtain does not naaterialize, he still
| continues In the enjoyment OF the furni-
| ture, and is not bothered in the least by
| his creditors.
This department of the Salvation Army
is fast proving to be one Of the most i'm
portant In that organization, and, it may
| be added, in certain circles one Of the
most popular. Within the last year sew
eral hundred couples In Greater New York
have been aided in setting up their own
households in this manner. Their homes
are all furnished comfortably, and in most
4 instances those to whom credit has been
accorded have paid in full Perhaps the
most remarkable thing in these peculiar
transactions is that the books of the Sal
walton Army in this department show
i net profit, proving that the majority of
Its customers are honest, and appreciate
the easy methods that are employed in
starting them on their domestic career.
i To the layman, the question arises, How
can these goods be sold at such low fig
ures, and how can such long credit be
given?
The answer is easy when one under.
stands that the furniture is donated by
persons who are refurnShing their homes,
The impression must not be entertained,
however, that these household articles are
) worn out and unfit for use. On the con-
trary, everything is in excellent condition
practically as good as new, so far as
durability and usefulness are concerned,
Furniture that Is slightly broken or needs
repairing in any way is sent to the shop
Of the Salvation Army, where a COM
petent corps of cabinetmakers and uphol-
sterers put it in perfect condition.
''The idea Of this department., said
Captain Wood, sis to help the people.
There are many people who would not
care to be objects of charity, but who
want to pay something for their goods.
This Is especially true of the furniture.
| We never bother about the first payments,
| nor those that are made afterwards, as
far as that is concerned. If man has a
J dollar to pay down, all right, but If he
hasn't penny, we help him just the
: same. We let him pay afterwards the
best he can, and II he does not pay at all,
1t cuts no figure. AS matter Of fact,
however, nearly all our patrons pay every
penny Of their indebtedness. But they
are welcome to take the goods when they
need them. We hold no chattel mortgage
over them. All we do Is to satisfy our
.. selves that the applicants are really going
to housekeeping. OF course we look out
, , for secondhand dealers, but we are SO
used to the work that we are seldom
fooled, and we can tell pretty well just
, where the goods are going"
Captain Wood recently came from ST
, Louis, where he had charge Of similar
department there. There are about fifty
of these warehouses in different cities OF
the United States and they are all we'll
; patronized, and in thousands of cases
> have solved the problem Of housekeeping
! for young men and women who have de-
cided that 1t Is not good for them to live
alone.