The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-30

This is the festive season Of the year,
when, turning to investigate any old
noise at the door you are liable to find
yourself looking straight into the double
barreled brown eyes OF the nice young
college boy who is hugging tight a pros
pectus of something or other close under
his arm
He swings his stripe-banded hat off with
such grandloquent flourish and APP
proaches you with sucn an ingratiating
smile, it's not worth while to struggle.
You may as well ask him in the very
| beginning where to sign"
Its just quarter month"; he says,
and begins TO unfold the prospectus and
to open up a portfolio, showing miniature
representations of the works of some
famous author.
ITS only dollar down and a quarter a
month";" he repeats cheerfuly.
You don't especially like Hamilton
Fisher girls" and as for Chrstie's
young Woman in the Riding Habit"
standing in a Photographic pose, with a
red rose In her hand, you SILVER to thinl,
of having TO live In the same house with
that.
| He Is telling you-is the s'Instalment
Young Man at the Door'-that these pic
lures bought In an art store would cost
YOU at least dollar 4 piece, but with
the MAGAZINE you get them FREE
a gracious gift-a summer souvenir
The magazine he represents is one
you've been reading since you got out OF
McGuffey's First Reader.
'But them he persuaslvely reminds,
even If you DO take the magazine. think
OF getting all these lovely pictures.
But YOU interrupt long enough to tell
him that THAT is just the point you
wish to put before HIM. If you MUST
subscribe you're willing TO do So only he
must keep the picture-that is, II he
doesn't mind
He DOES mind. however. His clear
eyes are clouded, he doesn't understand.
he Is sure that YOU don't understand
that you're getting the picture FREE.
You don't have to pay one cent for
them.
NcCaulay or Ruskin or whatsoever 1t
happens to be in the portfolio. would be
an addition to your library
You freely begin to tell him that YOU
haven't a very large space for a library
and that you haven't any room for any
more books-much as you'd like to have
them. and besides YOU are peculiar.
You don't like to live in the atmosphere
McCanlay Is. of all leather bindings,
there are other writers that YOU love
with a more intimate and abiding affec-
ton.
He Stands pat" however, and tells
you what YOU already know very we'll
that EVERYBO ought to have Nc
Caulay's works for "the looks of things"
II nothing else.
You agree with him and tell him you do
not care a paper marker for the ''looks'
of your own library: that it's a matter
as sacred as your powder puff, and that's
going some.
You don't allow anybody hut Yourself
to touch it, and you DON'T want Me-
Caulay.
Then he informs you that you don't
have to take McCaulay: here's a Worlds
Collection of Literary Masterpieces.
You shiver and tell him you'd as soon
keep lovely wildwood Cardinal in a
cage in town as 10 feel yourself party
10 one of your beloved favorte short
stories, or poems. being squeezed In with
half thousand Others.
It's so like Racket Store" you try
to make him understand.
IT'S like patting flowers you love In
'le-cent store window
No-he doesn't understand. OF COARSE
YOU knew all the time he wouldn't.
He thinks you're on
You, wish he'd be, out lie twlrls his
gay banded hat and tells YOU these things
are educational; that the publishers"
Yes. yes. certainly YOU anticipate
what he IL getting reaey 10 say. and you
dry to explain that yuu never COULD |
1ake an education.
If he's said all he wants to after your
TRADE he. whips out long document
that LOOKS very much like the cc-tAcat, I
YOU got when you .bodght 80 shares In
the Cherokee Rose Gold Mine at so Gems
share
Recalling that expert -ce It makes you
hesitate.
''Just quarter month and dollar