The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-02-03
MEANEss OF MURPHY

Thomas J. Murphy spent conslderaole
port of his time, outside of business
hoH<, in looking over the bills which had
Ca 81 TO celebrate the arrival OF the
81 - new wear. There was millinery
<f Some s53 theer was a bill from
I 3 7ry goods store for nearly twice that
nount: there was an account reading:
70 one heavy cloth jacket-s6o.' There
Rere other and sundry bills, all calcu-
4 lated to test the temper and the pocket
] book of the usually amiable Mr. Murphy
Mr.. Murphy said little. From his stand
point fner was no use in wasting words.
But his silence worried his wife She had
been prepared for reproaches. When they
Jailed TO come she was worried. Perhaps
also her conscience smote her.
Then, on a peaceful Sabbath. Mr.. Murp-
nhy looked UP after an hour spent in
wading among the depths and shadows
of the Sunday paper and said: Il thought
woman liked bargains?'
There was nothing in his voice to sug-
gest a trap. Mrs Murphy fell into it
ut once
"They do, dear," she said.
How much did you pay for that new
hat you're wearing?" he asked.
Il was late in the season 1t was marked
down to $40. That's a good deal. of course,
out there's enough fur on it to make me
fine muff and that black velvet will be
plenty to make pretty evening waist--I
was going TO buy muff this year That
have cost at least S35. But since
xa OF all that fur on that hat I've
not to buy a muff and have one
my next year and that saves s35, you
tS really the hat only cost me s..
Ii ere is a store which advertises fine
tei, mats, trimmed with the breasts of
birds. for twenty-five cents in today 5
paper" said her husband. Did you look
at them"
'.Ridiculous." said Mrs Murphy.
Mr. Murphy referred to a sheet Of paper
on which ihs wife had noticed him copy
ing certain items from the newspaper
You paid $50 for that heavy winter
Jacket l believer he said, looking up.
Yes, but
"You could have gone right down on
State street and bought a fine heavy
winter Melton coat for forty-nine cents.
why don't you look over the advertise
ments?"
mo, of course not. If you'd spend a
few minutes occasionally reading the ad-
vertisements you'd learn a lot of things
What do you pay for your shoes"
Mrs Murphy's conscience suffered an
other sharp little pain for she had just
bought a pair of perfectly lovely patent
feathers for neven 50. But she sent
her memory back to a pair of walking
boots she had once b6sght for S. and
that eased the pain. She went into her
boot closet and brought forth the remains
of the 50 walking boots.
There's a pair I paid 50 for" she said,
triumphantly.
NEEDLESS extravaganza" snapped her
husband Right here in today's paper
1 find ladies fine dongola kid shoes-a
wondrous bargain-all sizes and shapes
for sixty-nine cents"
That's perfectly foolish" said Mrs
Murphy.
1T may be foolish on the part of the
store which advertises the shoes" said
her husband but people get rich by taxi
ing advantage of the folly of other people.
Why don't you take advantage of it
occasionally? Pardon me if l ask what
you pay for your corsets.'
Il usually have mine made to order,
said Mrs. Murphy. who by this time,
was almost reduced to tears. They cost
me 81 each. but | only do it because L
know you like me to appear WELL
Now. what. Mrs Murphy" demanded
her husband, sternly. do you suppose
you can buy a good. serviceable corset
for?''
..ot ,-,o,,. ,-o,, c.p c,a+ rerfetcIz-
horrid thing. that never hts at all, for a
couple Of dollars"
Two dollars" gasped Mr. Murphy
with simulated horrir. Two whole dol
lars! Is that all you know of corsets?
Look al this
He held cut for her inspection an ad-
yertisement, with remorseless foretin-
ger pointing to one item:
Good. strong. serviceable corsets." it
read, "drab and white. only 1215c.'
There madam" said Mr.. Murphy. Sc
verely. there's another thing you never
heard of And what do YOU pay for your
flannel waists. I'd like 10 know"
Mrs. Murphy was sobbing. with both
hands over her face She paid no atten-
ton to her husband question.
Eight or ten dollars at the least. I've
no doubt. Couldn't YOU get a thing for
less than s., I'm sure. Bargains he
snorted. Why a woman hasn't the
slightest idea of what a bargain means.
Here's a chance to get your pick of 300
new, slightly mussed fannelette waists.
assorted colors. the pick OF a manufact-
urer's samples. only twenty-nine cents
eac- Now. how does that strike your
, IL pay sixty or seventy-ive cents a
:. or your rubbers. now. don't your
:" sobbed the helpless Mrs. Muir
graceful roared er husband.
sively disgraceful. Listen to this
Again he picked up one sheet Of the
Sunday paper. and. hastily turning the
pages. stopped at a huge advertisement.
''Iisten to this now: Your choice Of
one thousand odd and sample lined at Sc
the pair. Hows that for a bargain?
What does a heavy petticoat cost you2''
Mrs Murphy frightened M. She had
just finished making a petticoat with her
own hands. All it had cost was the price
of the material and that of a spool Of
thread. The total cost had been 92c. She
turned on her husband with triumphant
sir.
.'The petticoat I'm wearing cost just
soc" she said
"Ninety cents?" he mourned. Ninety
cents And here are hundreds Of good.
heavy pe:;scoats just begging for buyers
at thirty-nine cents piece. And stock
ings, Seems to me l saw ladies black
hose down on one of those bills at SIS On
pair Any woman who reads the sunday
paper inter.gently would know better
than that Ladies' fast black hose he
read from the list. only seven cents a