The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-11
sELF-MADE, PURsE.PRoUD.
a ChicaEOan Who Felt that Nothing
Was Too Good for Him.

Was Too Good for Him.
From the Chicago News.
The self-made man picked up a chair
and held It upside down for his friends
inspection.
Look at the finish on that he said.
Nothing OF a bOtch job on that-what?
Now, feel the springs and tell me what
you think Of them. Know what that ma
terial cost yard that they're upholstered
with7 Seven dollars and half whole
sale. I didn't ask. but Recksie told me
that's what It cost him. I gave Recksie
the order. ! told him to come down and
look at the plans OF the house and get
the dimensions Of the rooms. and then
so ahead and make the right kind OF
furniture. Well, he came down. and when
he'd got through he says: Now. what
figure do you want TO so to-?
I don't care a continental hang what
the figure Is. I says. 7 want it done
right and according TO Hoyle. You know
what that is. l guess. don't pretend
10. All you've got 10 do is TO do the
thing up brown. and IL you do il there
won't be any kick about the price. You
know me. I amt a cheap man.
Wei, ] think he done Il up brown.
guess you won't find "A better furnished
house anywhere much Them bedroom
sets In the servants rooms cost me a
$50 apiece and that bird's-eye maple in
your room set me back $500. believe IN
having things good
Everything looks all right, as far as
can see said the old friend.
The self-made man snorted, IAN
right he said. Well. guess yes. I
guess II ought 10. Look at them pictures.
Look at that one right there. / handed
over 5000 for IL. Maybe I could have got
il for less il I had haggied over il.
didn't though. I says TO the Teller that
painted H. That's kind o. pretty I says.
What's your price? You can have IL
for $1,000 he says. All right I says.
It's my picture Then / pulled out my
fountain pen and wrote him a check for
it right there. I bet II I mad said TIL
give you $500 clean cold cash for IT he'd
jumped at il but il I take a fancy 10
anything I'm willing to pay for It.
can afford 10. There's some I've got cost
me more than that did. / don't pretend
TO know much about art but know what
like"
Well" said the old friend. ~ don't
know much about art myself but ] know
a little, and there's no more than a half a
dozen pictures in your outfit that I'd give
house room.
The self-made man looked injured. Il
s'pose the rugs and the carpets amt
worth house room. either he said.
There amt a rug IN the house that
amt genuine Oriental. and the carpets
are all the best weave Wilton velvet
bet you didn't get fooled very bad on
them. either. I've got a friend in the
business who picked 'em out for me-
s'pose he got his little rake-ofI on the
side. but there amt no better 10 be
bought.
Same way with my garage I've got a
big touring car a limOsine. a couple OF
runabouts. and an electric bTOugham.
/ They're all the best makes and the latest
models that there is Not a cheap one IN
the bunch. I don't want any cheap-john
things around me. I tell the madam
when she buys a dress 10 buy a good one
and II she buys hat TO buy one that viii
/ do her credit. II she wants any little
/ trinket like a diamond bracelet or a pearl
/ necklace. I tell her 20 go down 20 Gu
gaw's and tell him that I say that he
don't want 20 put her of with some jim
crow. off-color goods 7 tell her 10 get the
| best he's got in the shop"
/ What makes YOU bTag so much
+ 'Lige?" asked the cid friend. "YOU're
| getting to be an awful blowhard"
/ The self-made man opened his eyes
/ What do brag so much for?" he asked
| Why. because I've got something Il
brag about II / hadn't III keep my
mouth shut. I've got good things. aim
IT2 Well. ] guess IL wouldn't do me much
good if there didn't anybody know about
it but yourself. I guess I've got a righ'
20 blow"