Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
NEWEST SCRAP BOOKS.
A New Scheme for the Consolation Of
Widows and Orphans.

From the New York Post
Among the strange callers at a house OF
mourning, people to whom casual death Is
a profit. there is one visitor of a totally new
kind. He is neither monument agent nor
insurance adjuster, promoter of a widow 8
stock company, nor, in fact, any of the old
conventional types. He usually requests an
interview with the head of a family.
Madam, 1 am sorry to trouble you so
soon after your great bereavement but the
matter requires prompt action and doubt
less it will be a solace to you in later
years"
II do not understand you, sir"
why, madam. our firm has already sent
you a letter or two in reference to the mat
ter. OF course. in the stress of sorrow-Ah.
1 see, you recollect-an enduring memento
of your loved one. an album containing the
many and interesting newspaper accounts
of your husbands honorable career"
He was not a public character" the
widow may object.
My dear madam, the notices show the
contrary. / assure you that we can prepare
a very neat and extensive book of press
clippings. 1t will be elegant 1t will be
quite correct; lasting source of pride and
joy to your family. l may say that the best
families"
But only newspaper notices?'
Not at ALL madam. We appreciate ana
respect, therefore embody in our album or
scrap book all mementoes pertaining to this
sacred subject. That is, letters from
friends, business letter heads, locks of hair.
souvenirs of birthplace, medals. diplomas.
insignias of benevolent and secret societies
and lodges, photographs. and everything
that indicates the honors gained by the
deceased"
MY husband asked for a fine monument
and have ordered it, replied a widow re-
Gently at such stage of the negotiations,
''but do not think l could afford an al
bum
1--WE have them at every price," answered
the visitor triumphantly. For five dollars
we will furnish you a neat book of clip
pings, or for ten dollars a handsomely
bound volume. OF course we have them to
cost hundreds of dollars. The widow or
Senator - ordered one at 500. but the
cheaper ones are not less comfortable as es-
sential tokens"
please excuse me today, sir. Perhaps 1
will send you my order next week"
"Oh, that Is impossible. / said prompt
action was necessary. You see the obitu-
aries and eulogies of your husband are APP
pearng in the current press and few
days delay might prevent any one from
making complete collection of them"
1t is hard-hearted widow who Will not
yield to these deft persuasions, especially
since the cost of the pious memento is on a
sliding scale. To some of them it seems as
If new avenue for the expression of af-
lection and sentiment had been opened by
the mortuary Scrapbook. 1t is a novelty,
and ii is au fait. 1t is a monument not in
ferior to that in Greenwood, or perchance
the costly funeral urn upon the manteL
Mounted coffin plates may do for the old
fashioned and cardboard replicas for the
mechanic class. but a mourner of standing
assuredly needs the desderatum of the
senator's widow. 1t may be some skeptical
relict desires to know in just how and what
esteem her lord was held by the commu-
nifty as shown in the newspaper notices;
woman's curiosity accounts for many
things"