The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-31
A Trilo9y OF Episodes That The
ObServdnt Woman Remarked
The Cunning and Willy Real Estate Agent, and How He
Solved Difficuty-A New Type of Peddar Abroad
In the Land-In the Dining Car, and What
Happened.
by DOLLY DALRYMPLE

Where the real estate agent learned his
s'ounning'' ways no woman is prepared TO
say. Cunning has to its credit in the
definition line in Mr.. Webster's big book,
s'cute," and 1t is in this sense it is used
here. for it would seem the height of
folly for one seeking place in which
to live to hint even obscurely that the
real estate agent is anything but as open
a. the day and as frank as a new born
babe
Once in a while, however, the real
estate agent makes suggestion to his
clients which for sheer novelty surpasses
anything that the most dextrous could
contrive.
Thus
After a most amiable person of my ac-
Quaintance had invaded nearly every
house in town which had the For Rent
sign on 1t, and had prowied around
apartment houses until she was black in
the face. and had compared with
serenity the extremely high prices with
the very tiny rooms shown there, she
came a-weary of spirit upon an agent
who had an apartment to rent which
attracted her in every way-except the
price.
IF you will let me have it for s35 a
month"; said She, woman-like as to
bargaining, Il will take it..
MY dear madame said the willy
agent. bowling with Chesterfeldian grace,
1--WE are really defrauding ourselves when
we advertise 1t for $50. 1t is very choice
apartment. You can see daylight from
at least two of the rooms. We do not
object to cats or children. In fact, you
will find space either in the dining room
or sitting room to hang bird cage, and,
take my word for it, you will never have
a regret If you rent it."
IT need one more room than it con-
tains, said the woman listlessly as she
heard his spiel.
Then take the apartment above It,"
said the cunning real estate agent IT'S
the very thing
TOO expensive" said the woman hope.
iessly.
Eureka! I have it," he shouted as a
happy thought struck him. Take the
$50 apartment and the bachelor apart
ment back of it,
'All for the same price?" asked the
woman, Frightening at the thought
''What?" exclaimed the real estate
agent astonished. THE same price?
Certainly not. The two will be $7O-but
you might take boarder4or. two. That
will solve the difficulty" he declared, de-
lighted at his solution of the problem
He seemed SO hurt and grieved when
the woman laughed outright at him and
not the heart to say to him what she
really thought--snd that is that the real
estate agent is cunning and willy indit
vidual, and very much out for Number
One!
PRESENT DAY PEDDLAR.
Abroad once more in the land is the
peddlar, but not the kind you think,
with the pack on his back" and his tin
pans and pals strung across his shoulder,
Not at all! This is lady peddlar, good
to look upon and very Frenchy.
She carries one of those hideous pieces
of hand baggage known as the "tele-
scope" and she ''begs leave to- show it's
contents to the lady of the house.
Some times the lady of the house gives
. grudging assent and frequently regrets
It because the contents are so lovely that
she wants to spend all her spare change.
The telescope weighs exactly 60 pounds,
and one is not surprised when 1t is opened
for every chair and sofa and available
space is filled with lovely embroidered
shirt waist patterns, centerpieces of real