Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-31
NEWEST SCRAP BOOKS.
Latest Scheme for the Consolation Of
Widows and Orphans.

LATEST scheme for the Consolation OF
Widows and Orphans.
Among the strange callers at
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 widows stock
company, nor, in fact, any of the old
conventional types. He usually re-
quests an interview with the head of
the family, says the New York Post.
Madam, | am sorry to trouble you
so soon after your great bereavement,
but the matter requires prompt action
and doubtless it will be solace to you
in later years."
Il do not understand you, sir"
why, madam, our firm has already
sent you letter or two in reference
to the matter. Of course, in the stress
of sorrow All, 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 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 ele-
CANT. 1t will be quite correct; last
ing source of pride and joy to your
family. may say that the best fami-
lies"
But only newspaper notices."
'Not at all, madam. We appreciate
and respect, therefore embody in our
album or scrapbook all mementoes per-
tanning to this sacred subject That
is, letters from friends, business, let
terheads, locks of hair, souvenirs Of
birthplace, medals, diplomas, insig-
Mas of benevolent and secret societies
and lodges, photographs and every
thing that indicates the honors gained
by the deceased"
MY husband asked for fine mon
ument and have ordered it." replied
a widow recently at such a stage Of
the negotiations, 'but do not think I
could afford an album"
I'VE have them at every price," an
swered the visitor triumphantly. For
IS we will furnish you neat book Of
clippings, OF for $40 handsomely
bound volume. OF course, we have
them to cost hundreds of dollars. The
widow Of Senator ordered one
at $500, but the cheaper ones are no
less comforting as essential tokens"
please excuse me to-day. sir. Per-
haps 1 will send you my order next
week."
'Oh, that is impossible. l said
prompt action was necessary. You
see the obituaries and eulogies Of your
husband are appearing in the current
press and few days delay might pre-
vent any one from making complete
collection of them"
It is a hard-hearted widow who will
not yield to these deft persuasi0ns, es-
pecially since the cost of the pious
memento is on a sliding scale. To
some of them it seems as II q new
avenue for the expression of affection
and sentiment had been opened by
the mortuary scrapboOk. 1t is nov
city, and it is au fat. 1t is a monu-
ment not inferior to that in Green
wood, or perchance the costly funeral
urn upon the mantel. Mounted coffin
plates may do for the old-fashioned
and cardboard replicas for the me-
chanic class, but mourner of stand
ing assuredly needs the desideratum
Of the Senator's widow. 1t may he
some skeptical relict desires to know
in just how and what esteem her lord
was held by the community as shown
in the newspaper notices; womans
curiosity accounts for many things.
All by Yourself.