The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-15
CHAPTER NNNl.
Continued.


~nuf--breaking off suddenly aad pur-
s,sfns another line Of thought-"mar-
rSaSe is the most discussed yet least
understood of human institutions.
Thongh women so greatly outnumoer
nsssl, good wives are as scarce as good
Husbands. Of course nothing can coun-
frxhalance the want Of good personal
Cnzliaies in either husband or wife, put
there can be no matrimonial paragon
who lis unfurniShed with dollars. re-
member in my salad days. soon after
+ settled in this country. Van Rensse-
Exer and / once amused ourselves by
making some investigations as to the
csodition of the marriage market"
what do you mean, SAM: askeo
zunt Gertrude. looking up from her
wsrk.
About twenty years ago" continued
my uncle, there lived in Rivington
street, New York, matrimonial agent
whn used to advertise in the daily
papegs that he was prepared to supply
wives of every desirable quality TO
szatiemen of unblemished honor and
pcspctable means. while Of course
hss sefulness to ladies weary OF SIN
a.ss b -essedness was equally great. To
This professors Office Van Rensselaer,
and 1 one day betook ourselves. and
each planked down fee of s., which
the agent. with grateful smile, made
haste to appropriate
What induced you to be so foolish:
asked my aunt.
~Svorr, my dear Gertie, sport; moth
Ing more, l assure you said uncle
Sam
We'll. what sport could you find
In giving your money to a cheat:'
Very much; my S. were well in
Vested. Admission to the agents office
.xlune was worth the fee. Ha! ha. l
Ncmesnber the place to this day." and
uncle Sam reclined his head on the
hxsea of his chair and chuckled.
What was the place like:' 1 in
4gared-
IN was a fairly well-furnished
ez6c,e-- said uncle Sam. THE walls
wxrp covered with shelves, on which
xzaoS1 letter cases and japanned tin
Huxrs In a corner Of the office. on an
elevated platform. bald-headed old
fKaHd OF about sixty, the proprietor
OF the place, sat at desk plentifully
spread with ledgers. Packets Of let
:t,ers, held together by rubber bands,
md piles of photographs. lay about in
csnf as;on, while close to the door stood
n large table strewn with writing ma
tssrjals and printed forms whereon eli
eEts might concisely state their quail
fScz.fions and requirements.
did the agent show you any of the
photographs" asked Constance.
Dozens of them. One lady in par
CIRCULAR I remember he recommended
rs very suitable wife for me. his rec
omruendation being based chiefly on
tine fact that she WAS an English
woman, who, having passed the first
eIush o. be- youth "a statement which
nebody who glanced at her photograph
would for moment question:. was
free OF the frivolities which usually
asccompany girlhood. and having been
Gar some years a member OF the Lon
sAar music-hall profession. she was an
accomplished vocalist who could di-
vert my leisure with charming songs
of an amusing character. many Of them
sxpEnown to- the best musicians. These
qualities, the agent argued. more than
COMPENSATED for the lady'S lack OF
Hrops-ty."
WAS that all the old man told you
about herr" inquired.
~ think 1t was" replied uncle sam.
--SBEi / wrote TO her the next day un-
der the assumed name of Holdenhurst.
and day or so afterwards received
Tsar reply. dated from the Bowery.
.aa1shed in photography which had
-uut previously met with. One Of her
ssarsinents-:hat her dear pa had been
kl4sd some years before by fall from
N sscsffold in the Old Bailey-impressed
nse as very pleasant way of d"scrib-
Ing I'D nnpleasan, fact
Al this point interrupted uncle Sam
with my immoderate laughter. much
h, the surprise of aunt Gertrude and
Constance, who. being imperfectly &C
azzginted with London. perceived moth
nag &c laugh At.
How, about Mr.. Van Rensselaer,:
asIsed Constance. when my paroxysm
as laughter had subsided sufficiently
ffsT her voice 10 be heard Did the
azant recommend any of his clients rs
u =snitable wife for that ugly old Dutch
me9nT"
Gently, Connie. please Martin Van
EsNsselaer was capital fellow. rs
sssod judge of a railroad as was the
<s1eat Commodore himself: and his ad.
wise was always sound in matters
WzasTe ne was not personally inter-
cssrsed. Poor old Martin is now beyond
the veil against which l have been