Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-02-05
THE Old Folks
4 Matrimonial Exchange.
[Original.1

Al elderly lady with pair of short
gray curls on each temple stepped into
the private Office of Philander Shanks
merchant. Mr.. Shanks rose. bowed
pointed to seat and asked her what
he could do for her.
81 have come to see you, Mr.. Shanks,
on very peculiar mission. have a
plan which must preface by bit OF
explain ion"
The lady paused and looked as II she
was hcnt.ug for some place to begin.
then went on:
"Ihere are two parts to life for those
who live to be our age. The first
half is entirely unlike the second. In
youth we know nothing Of the loneli-
ness of old age Many a man and
woman up to forty is absorbed IN that
which has nothing to do with provld-
ing companionship for old age. Then
perhaps suddenly a realization comes
! to us Of the fact that we need the
home. We remember the lost oppor-
tunities of youth to form connection
, which would have resulted in sons and
daughters growing up about us and
MADAM" interrupted Mr.. Shanks,
"you are describing me. have built
up fortune. but have neglected to
! build up q home. ! have reached the
time when / would gladly give the
| fortune for the home. What is there
for me when leave this office? A
miserable existence till the next morn
ing, when resume my duties. dine,
alone, spend lonely evening at my
club. and when I go to my desolate
apartments
"And l." interrupted the LADY,
live in room by myself. manage to
get along during the day. since | am
interested IN several charitable assocl-
atio@"-president Of one ID secretary
OF another-but when evening comes
how can go out alone and where can
/ go"
Does your plan aim to relieve such
conditions, madam
ut does. You have made it very
easy for me to propose It, knew you
were bachelor and past-well, past
fifty"
"Fifty-hve, madam"
Therefore knew you would sympa-
thlze with me. | propose to establish
an exchange for those elderly people
who would like to marry, but have no
one to marry. True, the major part OF
the deficiency we can never make up
the children. Dear little things, how |
would love to have them always about
me, with their funny ways, their
"And grown, madam. would give
my check for million for son to
succeed me In this business"
"And If / had had children when l
was from twenty to thirty ! should
now be pettlng my grandchildren.
love them best from eighteen months
to four years, from the time they are
learning to walk and to talk till they
begin to crave playmates."
"And think what a fine thing 1t is to
watch them while they are being edu
Gated - the boys growing strong and
manly, the girls good and beautiful
"But we are wasting time without
coming to the point / will enter my |
name as the first woman charter men,
Der of the exchange. | would like you |
to enter yours as the first man mem-
ber."
GLADLY, madam" regretfully. I'VE
cannot. as you say, surround ourselves
with families. We are too old. But we |
may make homes for each other. No |
man can make home without wo-
man.
you will need some funds, madam,
first for stationery for your notices and !
invitatiO then to secure place for |
meeting. trust you will permit me |
to furnish little fund for starter"
He took a check book from n drawer.
"What name, MADAME
"Spinney-D. a. Spinney."
"What coincidence! remarked Mr..
Shanks pausing in his work. laying
down his pen and looking at the lady
through his spectacles. DO you know.
madam had 1t not been for one of
those asinine conditions incident to
yO;;.h might have had Il h - Nth
a lovely girl by the name OF Splnney."
Eve Nil have those memories. one
day parted in a pet with man
IAN ass probably you mean"
"He took me to q ball | noticed the
name of Il girl on his card of dance
ngagcnents who I thought was try
ing to get him away from me. | told
him that he must either strike OF that
name or strike OFF mine for the five
dances | had agreed to give him"
STRANGE unused Mr.. Shanks. DO
you know that that very same thin:
happened to me? \ girl made the
same requirement. and drew my pen
I'll through her own name wherever II
on my card. J was a fool.
The fact that she wouldn't brook
.ival was proof positive that she loved
me-"
Nevertheless She had no right to
make such a demand unless she was
engaged to you"
"But for that tiff have always be
ieved she would have been my Wife
He handed her the check. She looked
1t the signature, and her eyes seemed
riveted to 1t. Without raising them
,he said
81 didn't know your first name was
PHIL mean Philander."
at is. But why do you notice that?' .
Because leaned back In her
chair and covered her face with heI
mine is Domida."
The clickety click OF typewritinE
machine In the next room was all tina ,
was heard for some moments. and
when Mr.. Shanks spoke 1t served to
brown his words.