The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-04
Heavy Mail These Days Not Invftat1ons
But Reminder Of Christmas Folly
What Ones Fun at That Glad Season Costs-Women Hate
"Bills," and See no Necessity for Them-Those Who
Boast of Never Having Any, Very Superior
Persons
ny DOLLY DALRYMPLE.


isn't it pity that our JOY at getting rid
OF an old, worn out worthless year like
1909 should be so mitigated by the collec-
ton of bills one receives at the advent of
1902 said my friend Peggy, as she sat
huddled up over big log fire yesterday
morning when I dropped in to see her for
few moments.
DO our debts not hang heavy enough
upon u.s., she continued, without the
awful reminders that we were foolish and
extravagant in giving our friends Christ
mas presents that we couldn't afford?"
'I noticed that the postman this morn
ing" said I, Ginning in, on a very con-
genial subject" was loaded down with
mail-almost as ponderous as Uncle
Sans Christmas work. But supposed
it was invitations-that some important
person was giving huge party. or get
ting married"
Invitations? Invitations" snapped
Peggy. mot muchl I thought SO, too,
until looked at the envelopes and dis
covered that each one bore the name up
in the left hand corner Of some enterpris-
ing merchant, with whom had done my
Christmas shopping"
Il knew an old lady once" said I, set
Ting myself in a comfortable chair and
toasting my toes on the fender "who
never opened a bill. 1t was against her
moral and religious principles. She
got to know by the very looks of
an envelope, whether 1t was bill
or not. and when it was she quietly
folded 1t and placed 1t on a high shelf.
in a book case, and when she died the
executors of her estate discovered that
she hadn't paid but one bill in five years.
and she had been sued for that"
What dandy idea,'' said Peggy, brist-
ling with encouragement, as 1 told my
story.
Indeed this same old lady" contin-
ued /, Uniformed her family physician
who had the temerity once upon a. time
to dun her. that she considered him very
impertinent and that she would pay him
by not having him wait upon her again
which made the physician wonder if it
was a happy circumstance or one to be
numbered among the unfortunate things
of life'
"You know, I believe women are more
| to be relied upon about paying debts than
men," said Peggy as we continued our
discussion. 1T is usually the man of
| business who gets furiously mad, after a
bill has been sent to him two or three
| times the third time with nice little writ
| ing in red ink at the bottom, saying:
I Please remit-who finally has collec-
| tor sent to his office and whom he
promptly offers to kick out head fore
most. If that unfortunate gentleman ever
shows his face there again. After this.
the man pays-sometimes. But women
are different
"They have a sense of obligation that
is quite commendable," I volunteered.
Were you surprised at the size of your
Christmas bils?' asked Peggy. quickly
| interrupting.
"Oh, am always surprised when I see
things on paper" I replied, land. Of
| course, they are much larger than I ex-
pect nine times out of ten.''
| Peggy at this statement drew her
mouth down at the corners knitted her
| eyebrows like the heavy villain in the
mellow -dramer." and looking altogether
deplorable said:
| This is my Dunn and Company's bill.
Look at the length of it'll Little teeny.
wanechey, writing over two whole pagesl
What on earth do you suppose 1t all is?"
| I sat mute and listened for her to re-
/ su,oa her trade,
| what is this?" she quickly said, bend
ing almost double over the sheets of pa
per trying to decipher something What
in the name of heaven is a c and C SET
Search me-" I said, as I racked my
brain for something corresponding to the
aforesaid set.
| 1T never bought c and G set in my
1ife," exclaimed Peggy furiously. ct
wouldn't have one in my house! I Just
knew my bill wasn't S1SS. I'll Just
scratch that off right now. That reduces
1t 1898. They have got me mixed with
| some other Mrs. Brown. Whoever she