The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-24
THE PERKINS FAMILY.
Mr.. Perkins, Philosophy Versus Mink
Fu-s.

Mr.. Perkins" began Mrs. Perkins
as she broke a silence of ten minutes
the other evening, II should like to call
your attention to the sth day of last
July"
Certainly. my dear" he replied.
"The 8th day of July last year occurred
just four days after the glorious
Fourth. Does that help you any p
"On the 8th day of last July" she
continued, without paying any atten-
ton to his query. we sat out on the
veranda. Something was said about
furs. A discussion followed. told
you that the only set of furs had
were catskin to begin with, and after
being worn for five years were in a dis
reputable condition You replied that
it was a shame and a disgrace, and that
you would see to it that I had a set of
mink before cold weather set IN. L
presume you remem Der it2''
UNI Let me consult my memOran-
dunn book moment. The 8th of July.
1905. I have it here. Yes, we sat on
the veranda and there was a discussion
about furs 1t was a hot day, and you
remarked that you were glad you were
not polar bear on such a day. From
polar bears we got down to cats and
mink"
and you promised me a set of mink
furs."
1T saws here that promised you a
set conditionally."
well haven't got them. The
almost in sight, but no furs. have
looked for them in vain. Every time
YOU have brought package into the
house I have thought that it was the
furs at last, but each and every time
I have been disappointed. A dozen
times this winter you have spoken of
our going out in the evening 1 have
refused to go because I had no furs-
The rnoth-eaten old catskins are still in
the box Perhaps you wish to make
explanations ?"
my dear second wife, replied Mr.
Perkins. as she finished "let US be-
gin at the beginning. If there Is
husband on the face of this earth
! who won't wipe the sweat off his brow
in July and promise his wife new furs
for December then he is too mean to
live on. I don't deny my promise. I
would have promised you wooden
blankets and coal stoves at the same
I time It was, however. as I have said,
a conditional promise"
THAT Is if the world didn't come
to an end you would buy the furs.
Well. the world is here vet"
"In this case. conditional meant
that I would see the doctor and ask
his opinion about the habit of wear
'0g furs. It has been declared by
minent physicians that the furs
vorn by women in the winter were
espOnsible for half their ailments. It
Has been proven beyond a. doubt that
ey distribute germs and microbes
umption and diphtheria cannot be
-tamped out. That is why
well, you saw the doctor ?" inter
upted Mrs. Perkins.
Il called at his office. but he was
out. Fortunately. it made no differ
ance. however. The weather prophets
predicted a very open winter-one of
he mildest winters for the last
twenty-five years. and knew. you
would have no use for furs"
But the weather prophets lied, Mr..
Perkins. You yourself have gone
around saying that you never saw
~older weather"
That is true. Mrs. Perkins, but
tiere are other things to be taken into
consideration. Last fall your sister
out in Kansas died. You at first de-
cided to go out there, and we figured
that the trip would cost a hundred
dollars You couldn't go and have
the furs. too
But I didn't go Don't try to
wiggle out of it that way You made
so much fuss over the hundred dollars
that 7 stayed home
But we decided to send the family
fifty dollars to hep them out. How
~l'id 7 send aff fifty dollars and buy