Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-05-29
SAVED FROM
BANKRUPTCY,
BY EsTELLE cLAIRMoNT.

Arthur had thousand dollars and no
more TO go into the gents furnishing
business In a modest little store. and
she knew that she would have every.
thing to learn about housekeeping. as
It would be a long time before they
could AFFORD to keep n servant.
Everything had gone along splendid
iy for a few weeks, both at the store
and at the fat, when that old maid
Miss Headly came poking her nose In
one day. She was an acquaintance
OF both husband and wife and had TO
be greeted. or course she promenad-
ed through the five rooms and praised
nothing, but neither did she condemn
until the bride pointed to n vacant
space In the parlor and observed that
1t was reserved for the plano when
they could AFFORD one.
Then the spinster sat down as stiff
as q poker with her hands In her lap
and replied:
'swell. expected It."
Expected whatT
'That you would bankrupt your hus-
band inside of a year by your ex-
travagance. You'll coax him into get
ting a piano. and then will come fur
coat and opera tickets and rides in n
hired auto, and II you tease hard
enough he may even buy an auto on
the installment plan. ! saw the other
day that the business failures in the
country last month were ATS or IS
more than for the same month last
year. The men are not to blame for It,
but have been driven into bankruptcy
by their wives"
"But we may not get piano for two
years." protested the wife, "and walk
to save street car fare"
"T3ut what are you doing to assist
your husbandY
"Why, I'm keeping house"
"Yes. and having nothing to do half
the time but read novels. II was a
wife, situated as you are. I'd be earn
ing and saving against the crash"
Els there a crash coming"
Certainly. ana it's going to be in the
gents furnishing goods too. meant
to bring along the article saw in
the paper yesterday, but left home In
a great hurry. Edith. do you imagine
that men are always going to wear
shirts and collars and cuffs? Has 1t
never occurred to you that the time
will come when they will make one
suspender do in place Of two or wear
none at all? Are they going 20 keep
on choking themselves with neckties
Are they going to continue to wear
socks when all writer's on hygiene de-
clare that wearing none at all is the
way to avoid colds. catarrh and con-
sumption? tell you that great
change is coming, and you should pre-.
pare for 1t. Any day your husband
may come in and tell you that he is a
bankrupt"
"Why, how can men get along with
out shirts and thingsY asked Edith as
she turned pale.
by returning to the simple life.
Adam had no use for those things.
You may yet see millionaires walking
the street, by advice Of their doctors,
with only bedquilt wrapped around
them"
"And II my husband goes to smash
in his business, then-then"-
''Then suppose you had the money in
the house to start him in delicates-
sen storel There Is a business that Is
not in danger. There are no fashions
TO menace It. There are no doctors
holding out warnings. You simply go
in and get potato salad and sausage
and come out again. II you are the
owner Of the store you make 80 per
cent profit. Arthur can slice the roast
beef and such. while you make the sal
ads. II / were In your place would
not let another day pass without try
ing to get something to do to save up
money for the crash coming, but
wouldn't say word to Arthur TO dis
courage him and so bring 1t all the
sooner"
Having said her say and been as
mean about 1t as she could. the old
maid departed and left the young wife
in tears. Something to do? Why, yes.
She had always been asked why she
didn't develop her talent for painting.
She would begin 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 $500.
The young wife dried her tears,
brushed her hair and within an hour
had begun picture No. 1. Nothing was
said about bankruptcy when her hus-
band came home. She did not even
mention that the old maid had called.
Once upon a time. before her mar
riage. the wife had had occasion to
send or telegram, and a friend had
told her that II 1t was marked rush
it would be sent and answered In half
the usual time. She remembered this
when her pictures were ready to send
OF. On the wrapper OF each she wrote
rush" IN red ink and then waited
with hafn1 hraafh fDr thQ checks IN