The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-29
scHAPTER XIX.

the art of dressing in those days would
have done credit to costumer.
s,4s CHAPTER XIX.
A fortnight after the call from the shoe
manufacturer. the box Of fine footwear
arrived and such boots as they were!
There were walking boots, house boots,
dress boots, slippers, oxfords, and all of
the most beautiful execution was
somewhat taken aback by the lavishness
of the gift, AMI FASTENED to write a note
of. thanks, infimating at the same time
thatSI expected to receive a bill for them,
the gift being Of such munificence. But
by return mail came a. disclaimer of any
thought Of payment, and a re- '~st that
should wear and enjoy the res with
no other idea than that I was suggest
wherein their product could be improved.
I found them Of such excellent quality
and perfect fit that soon gave up wear
ing any others. had become so well &C
customed to them, indeed, that mad
ceased to think of@my pedal extremities,
when some two months later another let
ter came from the manufacturer Flo
begged my pardon for again writing to
me, but trusted that by this time I had
come to entertain a friendly regard for
him. thru the foot comfort which, he
trusted, the shoes had brought me. IT,
however, they had proved disappointing
in any particular, or if had any improve
rnent to suggest, he would take it as a
personal favor to himself if I would be
kind enough to drop him a line and tell
him so; and he was very sincerely mine.
/ altogether, 1t Was5a courteous note, and
!, called for an equally courteous reply. And
sat down at my handsome new inlaid
desk and wrote him that I was delighted
with the shoes; that j had found them
the perfect embodiment Of "foot-com-
fort" and that did not see how they
could be improved AS I had been plen-
tifully supplied with the club stationery,
and had already dropped into the habit of
using it for all my correspondence, I
| used it for this letter, without thought
of possible complications. To this came
a prompt answer.
1--WE have received your very kind let
[let of yesterday" it said, land hasten
to express our cordial appreciation OF
your kindly sentiments. It is the :ntelll-
gent opinion of such well-informed wom-
en- as you that we are catering to-. And
! in view of the fact that You have so un'
qualifedly approved; of our footwear,
fam sure you will be pleased that we have
paid your club the compliment Of nam
l. ing the shoe for it. For, like the club
we expect the better class Of the people
to give good heed to it's many 5000
points. Again congratulating you on be-
ing at the head Of the finest club In Chi
cago, and approaching the fact that yor
are capable of compromising the best
wherever you find it., I am, very sincerel!
yours, setc." j.
For a moment I was appalled,. How
could they dare? What would the clut
say? STILL it was a good shoe, and We
had no exclusive right to the name. Bu
T sent an immediate reply.
IT write to acknowledge your very kline
letter of today and to say that L Wholly
appreciate your honorable intention o.
paying us a compliment in naming your
most excellent shoe after the Nota Benz
club, which certainly does stand for every
good thing in the community. At the
| same time I must beg your patient delay
for a. little Indeed, would it not be bet
ter to choose another name? Ours is
very conservative club, and I would rather
YOU waited, at least until can place the
| matter before our executive board fol-
| their consideration. I trust you will grant
| me this favor, and am most truly yours
But I was too late. That very evening
there were advertisements in all the eve
ming papers of the ':Nota Bene Shoes, .
all on front pages and in prominent posi-
! lions.
| It mattered not that the next morning a
brief note came from the manufacturers
regretting that 1 felt any need for delay
and that they were no longer In posi-
ton to grant me the favor / so graciously
asked; but as I had doubtless noticed by
the time this letter reached me, they hac
placed their advertising matter with al
| the daily papers, and any change at this
time would be disastrous to their inter-
ests And again they were very sincerely
mine. ~ .-.-<+
will not attempt to describe the furry
of excitement that shook the club to its
foundations. It seemed as if every WON
an in Chicago had read the advertise
| ment of the Nota Bene shoe: Some con-
sidered it compliment to the club, more
realized that, after all, the name was pub
lie property, and still more-or, at least
so it seemed to me-furiously insisted
| that their valued club name was being
| dragged in the dust AS there were ne
punsters among us, this last statement
/ was received with great solemnity. My
telephone bell rang, it seemed to me
every two minutes for a week. Even Mrs
Parsons failed to comfort me.
.:They are getting hip petition for a
special meeting to consider this matter .
| she told me one morning When II
| comes, 10 fneaVeIl Sake, vcdAi d iilSSthle
of the executive board. / will stand by
you, but I wish you had told me what
was going on before this" So did l, but
I did not propose to own it; was 1 never
| to act Independently of her?
The petition came, and there was nc
alternative. I appointed a special meet
! ing Of the club first calling the executive
| board together for g. conference several
/ days beforehand.
1 AS look back upon 1t now, the whole
i affair seems ridiculous, but then it was
most serious. The board meeting was
held at Mrs. Parsons house. it being
| inexpedient for obvious reasons to have
| it at mine, at public hall or hotel
| Every member was present, and the study
Of their various facial expressions would
have been interesting to an unprecedented
/ observer Of human nature-the Count dc
Beauvais. for instance. Perplexity, In
jured dignity, disgust, anger: and ever
malicious triumph were visible, and IN {
few cases liberation and good-naturet
amusement.
1 When the meeting was fairly open, !
i was Mrs. Parsons who asked the privilege
i Of putting the matter before the board
II vol oo,,ory Sali school (,