Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-06-09

gan to Lear a discOrdant note now anu
then. and to find himself somewhat
without the pale Of his own family cir
Gle. He had not married early and his
wife had not been the partner OF his
earlier struggles. But she had shared
his hopes and fears during the crucial
period of his career and their married
life had been exceedingly companion
able and sympathetic.
Once in New York, however, and
launched into the campaign to get In
to society, Mrs Smith soon joined
forces with the daughter, Nellie, and
sought to obliterate all memory and
connection with the old life and to
push resolutely toward those inner
circles so jealousy guarded against
those who ever did anything useful.
AS for the daughter, she was a hand
some young woman, as ambitious as
her sire had been, and with all this
ambition directed toward an entree to
the 400"
1t was very soon after invading the
east-in fact, when the palace on the
avenue was completed-that Smith
was stunned to see On the door-plate
the name "Smythe" There was a
great uproar and Smith stamped about
for several days, pledging his word to
two fearful women that he never
would stand for it; but, swearing he
would not, did Nothing could induce
him to sign his name that way, but
that was the way the name appeared
in the society columns, the blue books
and on the ladies' cards.
Later it evolved into Johnston
Smythe, and there was another scene,
ending in the rout of the head of the
family.
There are so many John Smiths, -
sobbed Nellie-whose name had now
been TRANSPORTED to Eleanor-"that
we will be positively lost Who can
identify John Smith in list of
names"
These trifiing storms in the life OF
John Smith, capitalist, blew over and
he went on in the even tenor of his
way, reading his favorite paper, smok.
ing black cigars, hobnobbing with
western friends of his old days when
they came east, and taking fly now
and then at the produce market, just
| for diversion. Perhaps his greatest
| trial was the dress suit into which he
was poured with increasing regularity
and the functions to which he was led
as lamb to the slaughter. But he
got used to the clothes, and even wore
them with a sort of grace eventually
| The functions he despised He thought
everything of his wife and daughter
and was willing and anxious that they
should have their hearts desire.
And the career of the Smythes was
meteoric toward the social goal They
spent money like water and their en-
tertainments were the wonder of the
metropolis.
In the midst of it all a new factor
appeared in the equation. Leslie Archi
bald Van Not, scion of one of the old
est and most exclusive families in the
metropolis, descended on the one side
from the Van Nots and on the other
from the Bastors, with close relation
ship to the Ganderhilts, began to pay
marked attention to Nellie. This near
ly set the female section of the
Smythe family crazy. Young Van Not
was one of the best known society mer
in the city, and was welcomed into the
most exclusive circles. Once secured
all was won-the charmed portals
would open. To be sure, the Van Not
finances were at low ebb, but what
mattered that-did not papa have
plenty of money?
In the meantime papa was hustled
into the background and the campaign
was waged without his assistance. The
women feared that papa would make
some break that would scare away the
golden fish nibbling at the hook.
Papa say all this and felt it more
keenly than he admitted to himself
He was man among men. He held
the respect of every person with whom
he had ever come in contact.
His name had ever been the syno
nym for commercial integrity and his
counsel had been eagerly sought In
most important matters connected
with business, finance and civic affairs
To be thrust aside by those he loved
so unselfishly and generously as a sort
! of blockhead who would make ducks
and brakes of their plans come to hin
as very bitter pill. The more he
thought of it the more he resented Il
until his very soul revolted
Finally the campaign came to close
and Leslie Archibald Van Not asked
permission of Eleanor to speak tc
Papa Smythe-and obtained it. Wher
he spoke John Smith sized the youns
man up with keen glance. Then he
asked:
What do you do7 What is ycul
business?"
Really, Mr. Smythe wan Not pro
nounced the Y as. in ice), l have nc
business. Our people do not engage il
trade you know. I am-or-connecte
with a brokerage firm, Hamburger
Van Not & Co., you know, but | &c
to the office seldom or never. The,