Rock Island Argus., 1909-05-17


envelopes at home for liberal pay
That was just the thing. By the time
she had addressed thirty or forty mil
lions that delicatessen store would be
sure thing in case of the failure Of
the other.
She applied at certain street and
number. So did about hundred girls,
fifty old women and number of
boys. The man I'm the office called
her ''my dear" and gave her thou
sand envelopes to take home that he
might see what sCrt of hand she
wrote He also exacted q deposit of
so cents for their return. He also
took her for a young widow and re-
marked on his gladness to see her
striving to make an honest living in
stead of attending champagne suppers
at sporty restaurants.
1t took the ambitious young wife the
best part of two days to address the
thousand envelopes, and when she
her in brotherly way and handed
oveg 20 cents and said:
"My dear. you have only to keep on
and you will wear diamonds"
But the striving wife didn't keep on.
She was so discouraged and indignant
that she left the place without de-
maDding her deposit. Something else
must be found. She saw the simple
life galloping down on her and shirt
less, collarless and sockIess men pass
ing gents furnishing stores with looks
Of contempt.
That something else was an ad. A
bright young woman could make from
$3 to $6 day by calling at such a
street and number. Nobody would
dare advertise such a thing unless it
were true. and young Mrs. Lee called
Lady canvassers were wanted to sell
newly invented corset 1t was
corset that would give any woman In
the world a willowy form. 1t would
add to her height. straighten the stoop
in her shoulders, and she would seem to
float in the air as she walked No
canvasser had made less than So q
day. and some were ashamed of them
selves for making only Sc
The caller allowed herself to be
talked into the canvassing business
and took the rest of that day to study
up on points and then made Il plunge
Not at home" met her at the door of
the first four houses she called at and
mot ut home" and "she wouldn't see
you If she We're" at the next four.
At the ninth house she was admit
ted. and the lady offered her job as
parlor maid. At the tenth the lady
of the house was in bed with head
, ache. but her husband wasn't. He
asked the canvasser to sit down for
heart to heart talk and give him her
confidence. and when she refused he
said that il she had to live on turnips
| and sleep in barrels all the rest Of
her days it was her own fault. That
ended the corset business.
When the sample was handed in the
man in the office threw it down and
muttered something that sounded like
a swear word-two or three swear
| words connected by dashes.
There was one more trial for the
| courage him and so bring it all the
sooner"
Having said her say and been as
| mean about it as she could, the old
| maid departed and left the young wife
| In tears. Something to dc? Why, yes.
She had always been asked why she
| didn't develop her talent for painting.
She would begin a little picture that
very day. She would paint one every
| day until she had six on hand and
| then send them to different art stores.
Each one would probably be accepted
| and paid for on sight. She might
| start her savings account with 5000.
The young wife dried her tears,
| brushed her hair and within an hour
bad begun picture No. !. Nothing was
said about bankruptcy when her hus-
| band came home. She did not even
mention that the old maid had called.
Once upon time. before her mar
| riage. the wife had had occasion to
send off telegram. and a friend had
told her that II it was marked rush
1t would be sent and answered i'm half
the usual time. She remembered this
when her pictures were ready to send
Off. On the wrapper of each she wrote
a rush" in red ink and then waited
with bated breath for the checks to
come In. The art stores obey the in
| junction. They rushed the pictures
back with a feeling that life and death
depended on their haste.
Her artistic career was a failure,
and Mrs. Lee had the sense even in
her bereavement to recognize the fact.
There must be other things at which
money could be made. however. and
| she consulted Eve or six hundred ad-
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