The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1913-07-31
A Practical
Wife Hunter
Rv ESTHER VANDEVEER

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son. Johnnyl who was kept SO close
so far as spending money was con-
cerned that he had no idea his father
was rich. How should he have Wheh
the property was all in gilt edge bonds
hidden away in a box in the vaults OF
savings and investment company'
The boy was sent to school TILL ne was
sixteen years old, then put to work.
One day when Johnny was twenty
two wears old his father died and the
Young man was astounded to hnd NM
self in possession of securities worth
half a million of dollars. From nav
ing nothing to spend except What ne
needed for necessities out OF $l,OOO
year he had now $4,000.
Though John was very plain young
man, with not much education, ana Ut
terly unreared to the ways OF gen.
tleman. he had good common sense.
He realized early that no matter how
rich a man is he can spend but mod
crate sum without injury to h1mself;
that to enjoy recreation one must hrst
work, and that, as the old song says
there's no place like home" ACT
ing on these principles, he set him
self to the task of getting wife who
had the same quality Of sense as him
self. One who had been brought up IN
affluence would be ashamed of him;
one who had been brought up in pow
erty would not likely find herself mar
ried to a man with large income
without losing her head.
How was he to proceed? He had
few, if any, acquaintance with young
women. By setting up an establish
ment he could easily make acQuaint-
ances. but he was modest enough to
think they would only care for what
they could get out of him. Those who
were refined would look down on him
while spending his money, and those
who were not refined would not know
how to spend it.
John had never heard Of the great
caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, who went
about disguised, looking into the af-
fairs of his subjects, in order to right
wrongs, but he adopted similar means
He applied to a typewriter manufac-
turing company for position as sales
man. Purchasing horse and wagon
suitable to his purpose, he went about
from house to house, supposedly look
ing for customers, but really looking
for wife.
His clientele were largely women, and
most of these were young. His meth
od of making acquaintance proved
available. True, out of the many he
visited he made the acquaintance OF
but few. One great advantage he had
, none Of the girls he visited was on
her guard, and he was surprised to see
how many were selfish, heartless and
. unamiable. Many were the snubs he
received, now and again girl got
up for fascinating purposes slamming
} the door in his face with harsh
, Don't want any typewritcrs." John
could not help thinking how different
would be his reception If she knew that
he was looking for wife to help him
J spend $4,000 a year.
One morning he called at a house
/ where he was received at the door by
, a nice looking young woman, who said
, to him kindly:
t II would be glad to buy typewriter
l Of you for two reasons. In the first
, place. could make money If owned
r one, and, in the second, l always sym
} pathize with those who are compelled
to make their living by canvassing.
, know how hard it would be for me to
, do that kind of work, and l can under
2 stand how hard 1t must be for you"
, ''That's the first bit of sympathy I've
got since l began this work. Would
+ you mind letting me come in and rest
few minutes? I've not made a sale
, for so long that Pm bit discouraged"
Certainly. Come in"
;. She took Johnny into living room
. and. disappearing, returned with some
bread and butter and cold meat on q
plate "You look hungry" she said
I'm afraid you've not had good
meal today"
John offered to sell the girl type
:. writer on easy terms, telling her at
; the same time that his employer paid
him his commission down. 1t was this
desire to help him that decided her.
She could get work If she had the
}, typewriter to do it with. and the terms
offered were oil notes, no cash. She
was sure she could meet the notes and
make something besides.
: John collected the money on the
notes himself, and they were all paid
:. at maturity He fingered frequently
when making his collections, and in
this-way an intimacy grew up between
the two. A time came when John told
3 her that he was doing much better
than at his first visit to her and
+ thought that he would like home If
Il she would help him build it up. The
= young lady put him off till she could
/ find out something about him. He was
e very methodical in the matter Of Civ.
+ ing her references, taking care to In
struct those he referred to to say moth
: ing about his means.
- The young woman on receipt of the
testimonials that John Burton bore
q an excellent character consented tc
q help him build a home, continuing hel
>. typewritins. A month before theil
f marriage John confessed to her how
y he had looked for a wife on his OWL
- plan and told her to order what she
needed for the bridal and have the
bills sent to him.
Mr.. and Mrs. Burton spend about
'. one-tenth Of their income and give
most o. the balance away. The wife
proved an excellent medium for char