davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

right there and hunts another job. II
a boss is the sort that comes in the
morning and forgets that his stenog has
ever been born, but thinks she was
turned out by factory, guaranteed to
wear well and run without friction, like
she was machine, girl passes up all
thought of anything but getting done
at p. m. and making hard kick for a
raise on January I. But Perky is diff
ferent. Perky is one of the nearest
human men | ever bumped against. Say.
if he wasn't do you think I'd love the
dear old skate? Nay, nay!
Ther. is none of the chuck-you-under
fthe-chin business about Perk. He's
about as flirty as an undertaken at a
funeral. The page of his vocabulary
with "Ah, there, kidr on it was torn
out and lost before he learned to talk.
Believe me, it took some nerve to pro-
pose marriage to man like that! Imag-
inc Breezy Suzanne having the nerve! !
1t was like going after a real non with
tin spear-some nerve! But If the
lion don't eat you alive, and you get
him, you've got some lion! And I've
got Perky. We're engaged.
Say, honest, l cried nearly all last
night. Halt the time / cried to think
what shame it was for a crazy kid
like me to cop off a nice fellow like
Perky, and the other half of the time
l cried to think what a difference there
is between dovecotes and pigeonholes.
Perky came back yesterday. l was
sitting at my machine pounding out
copy of the circular letter we sent to
the people on our sucker lists and the
office door opened. 'Oh, cheeseT !
says to myself. Here COMES another
snail pittier" And l didn't look up. But
it was Perky. He came in and came
right up to my desk and pulled up a
chair and put his hat on the floor.
"Ssy," l said, "is it yous l thought
I'd scared you off the earth"
Not quite" he says. Almost, but
not quite 1t was a shock, Suzanne, be-
ing proposed to like that hope you
didn't consider my absence impolite?"
well, geeW l says, II don't know
what you'd call it if you didn't call it
that. If l was a professional marriage
proposer and used to proposing to gents
as a regular job, maybe wouldn't mind
having the one I proposed to make a
scoot for the door and vanish for a
week But, honest! when modest lit
tie violet like me works 'steen years to
get up nerve enough, and then tells a
guy she's going to marry him. it amt
exactly cheerful to have him get right
up and slide for the elevator and stay
slid for seven days No, Perky, maybe !
you wasn't impolite, but you was tact
less"
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

have been waited on by Clara, who
seemed to live behind the dingy old
counter in an atmosphere of flower pots
Usually when you went into the store
her nimble young fingers were working
'on some set piece" for a funeral-a
task at which she was particularly pro-
fcient
All the students knew Clara Carrick
for at some time during their four
years course they had sought the flower
market, and without an exception they
all liked her bright eyes and her happy
smile But though they sometimes ask
ed the Carrick girls-the florists two
pretty daughters-to go to college
dances, no one ever thought of asking
Clara.
Clara had been left fatherless and
motherless when she was about eight
years old, and she had been taken into
the household of her uncle on the un-
derstanding that she should not make
burden of herself and that she should
help in the store. When the school
inspector came around, as he occasion.
ally did, the uncle evaded his questions
as to the fact tina: Clara was not being
sent to school. And no one in the town
felt sufficiently interested to report him
for so doing.
But Clara used to get hold of her
cousins school books after they got
through with them, and it was not a
very difficult matter for her to teach
herself many of the lessons that her
cousins had trouble in mastering. And
all the time she was learning more and
more about the florists business. First
she simply waited on customers Then
she became so proficient at making bou-
quets and set pieces that Mr.. Carrick
intrusted her with all of this work, and
this Sometimes kept her busy far into
the night wiring and arranging the
many blossoms that were needed in the
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

designs. Then when her uncle mad.
the discovery that she had been study.
ing arithmetic by herself-after allow
ing suitable time for his assumed an
ger to wear of-he suggested to hel
that she take charge of the account.
and the sending out of the bills.
"If you haven't enough to do ant
can waste your time reading books tha,
aren't meant for you, you might &c,
busy and do something to pay us bach
little for all the money we have had
to spend on you," was his way of in
dicating that he would like her to up.
dertake this new work.
The next task which was given to
Clara was that of going to the flower
market. This she was expected to dc
first when she had arrived at the age
of seventeen. 1t involved going to the
nearby city now and then to choose and
purchase the various cut flowers and
plants that were needed in the busi-
ness.
1t was an opportunity to get away
from the tedious bondage of the shop
and to see a little of the world, but
the girl was not eager to do it. In
fact, for the first time in her rather
trying experience with her uncle, she
rebelled.
The reason for her rebellion her
cousins were not long in discovering.
Poor little Clara was ashamed of the
clothes sshe wore-the heavy, stuffy
serge dresses that were given to her
by her inconsiderate relatives. She
longed to wear trim shirtwaists, ribbon
bows and leather belts. even if they
were the old ones discarded by her cous-
irs. As mark of great indulgence,
Clara was allowed to do this for a
while and then the uncle decided that
he could not afford the expense, for al
though the shirtwaists were old and al
though Clara sat up sfter her days
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

cAY, honest, amt it awful what q
difference there is between a
doveeote and pigeonholes That
listens like conundrum out of the good
old standby book. Winter Amuse-
ments for Young and Old" don't it;
I'll put you wise to what mean.
After ] broke the news to Perky that
was going to be the little wifey he
slipped out and didn't show up at the
office for solid week, and / thought
Id lost him for good. Say, it was some
little old period of anxiety for Suzanne
the rosy-topped! Every time the door
opened to let in some easy mark who
wanted to join the Society for the Pre-
vention of Pinning Feathers on Snails
trembled so that whatever was writ
ing my old No. machine looked like
suffering boy trying to say
p-p-p-p-p-papa.
Believe me, II is some strain on poor
working girl to have to sit for week
after she has proposed to her boss, not
knowing whether he has taken flying
leap off Brooklyn Bridge or is absent
trying to find an engagement. ring swell
enough for his little deary. You never
can tell how man like Perky is going
to take surprise-party proposal of mar
riage like the one | handed him. He
may take it joyful or he may 60 out
and eat a few mercury tablets and let
it go at that.
Somehow l didn't nave an idea that
Perky had rushed away and died of JOY.
l couldn't picture him standing up
against bar and yelping: Gee! Gee!
How happy 1 be! Little Suzanne has
proposed to mew Nix. When l tried
to imagine Perky l couldn't think of
anything but dog that has been hound
bit and has crawled under the barn to
lick his wounds and sulk. Say, / felt
sorry for the poor guy, me throwing a
scare into him that way and jolting his
eye teeth loose, and all. But girl has
got to think of herself these days.
If boss is the sort that is only wait
ing for a chance to grab his stenogs
hand and pull her down On his lap and
say, "How's little tootsy-wootsy to-
day?' a girl that is thinking thoughts
of holy matrimony cans the thought
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14
Real Romances of the Business World

! hard work and the ability to live on
a very little. Her Uncle Carrick, in
spite of himself, had given her the
best possible opportunities Even the
factthat she was very angry when she
left the home of the CarTickS contrib
uted to her success. for in that spirit
of anger she dared to do things that
otherwise she would never have ven
tured to do.
With the little money that Clara had
not expended on the pink satin and
spansles she went to the next town-a
new suburb which was bound to grow
within the next few years Clara re-
membered that her uncle had once said
that there was good opportunity to
make money as florist in that COM
munity, and for that reason she went in
that direction.
She first made a tour of the place and
visited each florists shop on the pre-
text of buying flowers. She then went
to real estate agent and. still dressed
in her shabby black serge, told him she
wanted to rent a store suitable for
florists shop. Before the day was over
she had chosen the most promising To-
cation in town for her venture. Then,
having arranged for weeks sojourn
with poor woman near by, she wrote
to her uncle demanding that he send
her by return post the small patrimony
"a few hundred dollars-which was
laid away for her.
The following day, while she was
waiting for the money. she made out a
list of what she would buy with her
few hundred dollars The list included
a small new wardrobe first of all-she
felt hopelessly handicapped in the old
black serge-the payment of her first
months rent, the purchase of the SIM
plest sort of fixtures for her store, .
small outlay on announcements and the
purchase of stock of flowers and sup
plies.
All this happened some ten years ago.
Today any one who lives in the sub
urban town where Clara Carrick still
does business as florist knows that
she has achieved success. Other women
have gone into the florist business and
have failed, but they have not served
an apprenticeship like that served b.
Miss Carrick ten years.
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

orders. Mel was thinking of sort
of lovey, honey-dovey, sweetness nest
for two, and Perky was thinking Of
compartment in a desk where trouble
could be slowed until the dust covered
it. Amt that life-what.
/ should worryi Tn not the only one
Many a girl has thought when she got
married that she was getting into a
dovecote and found. about the time the
honeymoon was over. that she had been
,pigconholed for the rest of her life AT
that, she should worry! Some danes
draw a prize ring instead of pigeon
hole, and have an ight-hundred-round
battle on hand, winner gets the divorce.
Where's Perky? Why, sent him out
to buy me an engagement ring.
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14


"Veryr he says. as frank as Mr..
Frank of Frankville. very. Suzanne |!
Very tactless. admit it. And beg
your pardon. So that's all settled, and
bygones are bygones.'
What do you think of that, II / was
weak young thing Perky would have
put that over on me-begging my par
don for scooting like he had, and then
expecting me to say no more about the
marriage business as sort of reward
for the pardon begging He started to
get up, but put out one paw and
grabbed his coat.
$50 now-what?' | asked. "ls it me
| for the discard, or what. Am | chucked
into the waste basket, or what? Just
because you didn't happen to notice ]
had one of these here fond and loving
hearts that was right on the fondling
and loving job until turned the electric
torch on it, am l going to be swept out
with the carpet moss? Perky, / don't
ask you to throw love spasm and grab
me to your heart But do get a
chance, or WHAT"
Suzanne" he says, some nervous, be-
lieve me, you've been a splendid little
helper in this office ever since you
came"
You don't need to tell me that" |
says II know it. .Ive been about 100
per cent pure soap. ! didn't ask you for
a. business recommendation. l asked
you to marry me. Now, don't sidestep.
Say it right out. Am l chucked? Is
little rosy-top too breezy for the Mrs.
Perkins job? Spit it out, Perky. Fy
been slamming myself out of one job
and into another ever since | was old
enough to lick envelope flaps without
cutting my face. and I've been handed
more kinds of slams in my day than
there are. Am the real little old. I'm
possible, Perky
Suzanne" he says, from any side a
man wants to look at you you're a
brick. You're a good sport, and you're
all wool. and you're sound to the core.
Just little fresh, perhaps. but so is an
April breeze. Any man that wanted
live, up-to-datc, classy little wife couldn't
do better than pick you up quick before
you were withdrawn from the market"
Here am, right on the front row Of
the pushcart, Perky" I says, marked
at low figure"
Il know! ] knowr' he says. 'T've
been thinking about it for afweek I've,
been-where do you think I've been.
Suzanne?"
Il don't know" says. I could feel
the weeps stewing up inside of me.
How could know, Perky? thought
maybe you'd taken gas to forget me-"
1--WE been standing in front of an en-
broidery goods store on Thirty-fourth
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

conclusion that her gown should be
made of pink with gold spangles.
She wasted no time. but bought the
pink satin, paper pattern and thou
sand tin spangles. Then at night, in
stead of reading stolen text books,
Clara devoted her time to fashioning
that pink party dress, and after that
to sewing the spangles on till she could
keep her eyes open no longer. The
dress was finished III couple of weeks
and for a few foolish moments she
imagined that the question of going TO
the college dance was settled. She tried
the dress on and paraded before her
mirror and convinced herself that her
resplendent gown would be an attrac-
ton to any student. She decided to
take her cousins into her confidence,
show them the dress and ask them to
see that some student in search of a
girl for the dance be introduced to her
But when Clara had decked herself
out in the pink satin and spangles and
her cousins had heard her request the
heavens of their wrath descended upon
her. They were Mortified and shocked.
They called for their father, who was
doing over his paper in the sitting
room below. and for their mother, who
was putting the last stitches on their
own party dresses, and Clara was re-
vealed in all her pink and spangled ef-
frontery.
That was the beginning of the end.
In a moment the wrath of old Mr.. Car
rick declared that he would give his
niece a home no longer. He neither
wished nor expected her to take him
seriously. for he knew we'll that she
was most valuable in his business and
that she knew as much as he did.
Clara, however, took him at his word.
She had just passed her eighteenth
birthday. She was of age, she answer
ed firmly, and she would go the next
MOI ming. never to return to be a bur
den to him. Still the old man did not
believe she meant i and il was only
when she had actually packed up her
little belongings and left the house that
he realized how great was his loss.
Clara Carrick now faced the world
with the best possible equipment for a
young woman of spirit-a Thorough
business training, habit Of long and
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

handkerchief in my paper drawer and
shut the drawer felt like sunshine
after rain. | was engaged to Perky!
is it going to be long engagement,
Perky asks him.
'Iong?" he says, stopping short
Long? My dear Suzanne, it can be
just as long as you wish! Absolutely
as long as you wish! This engagement
shall last until you break it"
Say! there you are! I'm pigeon
holed. Now you're wise to what l
meant When sprung the engagement
on Perky was thinking dovecotes, and
billing and cooing. and all that sort of
thing, but Perky was thinging pigeon
holes and how to fold up a troublesome
business and stick it away until further
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

could sec nothing for it but to salute
the flag or be shot. forgot the COM
promise. That's the idea-when in a
tight place, compromise! Why not'"
"You-you wouldn't lose anything and
and I'd think I'd gained something" :"
I says, lifting my head and wiping my
eyes.
"AIl rightl" he says. suddenly. We'll
be engaged! We are engaged Fine !"
He waited a minute and then he says ::
Fine, Why, feel far better than ! did.
Ny conscience feels better" He got up
and walked up and down the Office
"Why, its all right 1t is very satisfac
tory TO be engaged
l was glad he liked it that way.
l wiped my eyes again, and put my
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

passed their days as young girls are
expected to do.
Old Mr.. Carrick, the uncle of Clara
Carrick, had monopoly of the flower
selling business in certain small COL
lege town in New England a decade
ago. The name Carrick was synony-
nous in that town with all things for
icultural. Whether you wanted to buy
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14
Copyright, lgl.)

THE: main difference between the
story of Clara Carrick and the
fairy story of Cinderella" lies
in the fact that while the old-time Ella
of the Juvenile was a neglected step
daughter, the real Aesh-and-blood Clara
Of the story was much-abused niece.
The story book heroine sat in the Gin
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

wreath of everlastings to lay on a
soldiers grave on Memorial Day or
whether, as student in the small col
lege, you wanted to send an offering
of American Beauties or Kiflarnies to
one of the pretty town girls, you went
to Carricks, and usually you would
The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

ders and scrubbed the pots and pans
for her naughty stepsisters, but Clara
Carrick spent most of her youthful
days behind the counter in her uncle's
florist shop while her much-indulged
cousins attended school, took music les
sons, went to parties and otherwise
The Lexington advertiser., 1914-07-24

and dining room where the whir Of
fans created alluring mountain breezes
and the torrid temperature was forgot
ten. The animated contest was en-
ioyed by Mrs. Lee Henry Noel. Miss
Stansbury, Miss Walker, Miss julia
BeaIl and Miss Dyer as favored substl-
tutes For high score Mrs. G. A. Will
son received dainty hand embroidered
lingerie souvenir. The tournament
prize. charming center piece OF all
white embellished with baskets over.
flowing with daisies, the lovely hand
work of Miss Herbert, was presented
Mrs ]. H. McBee for the highest num-
ber of points, and warm congratuia-
tions was extended this fortunate
young matron on her golden success
Delicious pineapple cream and angel
cake, "ambrosial food" indeed ''fit for
the gods, was served after the con-
test. Miss Leila Stansbury, who was
warmly felicitated on her holiday
hours, assisted the halcyon hostess IN
her hospitalities. A, vote was taken
which secured the adjournment OF the
club throughout the sorching dog star
days
The Lexington advertiser., 1914-07-24
SOCIAL and GENERAL.
INF nay of DAYS.
BY MARGARET DILIIsGHAA

On Sunday morning grandpa would
Stride towards the barn; the pan
He carried charged with chicken food,
The chickens quickly ran'
And solemnly, as grandpa stooo'
The feathered flock he'd scan.
Then suddenly he'd make dive.
There would arise squaWk;
The chick with many flap would strive
And utter pullet talk.
As over past the big beehive
MY grandpa'd firmly Walk
To where the woodpile stood, out there.
His head upon the block.
All farther details | will spare.
1t took one single knock.
A while he hopped.and famed the AIR.
Then lay as still as rock.
Twas grandma now who took com
mand;
The dishpan boiling stoed.
By legs she held the chicken ana
She "sloshed him in it. good,
| Then plucked the feathers with her
hand,
While close beside stood.
| watched her taking out the things
That fill the fowl, inside,
And saw, with creepy wonderlngs,
What all crop can hide.
She then removed the legs and WINGS
The chicken would be fried.
| A crock of water cool stood by
To put the fragments in.
Upon the yellow drum sticks l
Gazed, thinking what a sin
That yet an hour must go by
Fer dinner could begin.
Next grandma sifted -four out
Upon the biscuit board
And Topped the chicken bits about,
4 Then salt and pepper poured.
The kitchen stove was red without,
| n Its inside loudly roared.
Oh. how the chicken sputtered when
She dipped it in the grease!
The yellow turned to brown. and tnen
She turned each crispy piece.
had the appetite of ten,
And still it did increase!
A nan of biscuits, feather light,
She took from oven wide,
And made the gravy, creamy Wnlte' -
A Jar of jam | spied.
II seemed to me the world was rlght
When grandma chicken fried.
R B. Mayfeld, For The Times
Picayune.
The Lexington advertiser., 1914-07-24
INF HUMPHREYS HIGHWAY.

Over in Lehore this great and goodly
pathway is nearing the foothills of old
Holmes. third of its way is fin
ished. A recent visitor enjoyed ride
on the lovely level, that as enrolled
like a goldenTibbon through the yer
dant vistas of Delta domains. Over
the borderland there is joy all about
these beautiful boundaries. Man and
beast are to receive the rich compensa-
tion of this ideal conception OF that
roval loyal Path Finder for whom this
great and goodly memorial is named.
For the footsteps of his fellow men
has he smoothed the pathway. This is
indeed a memorial before which monu-
mental marble is speechless and use
less. He returns all the friendship
and favors of the old home county In
planning for them perfect and per-
manent blessing. Up and down this
Highway the reign of the Dust Devil
and the Monarch of Mud are forgotten.
The conveyed cotton, the harvested
hay. the garnered grain, all the fruits
of the vine and fig tree, glide swiftly
and surely toward the goal of the mag
netic markets. Ali are blessed alike.
the home, the church, the school. the
Business Of Life" There is this
lovely level that enrolls like a golden
ribbon through the verdant vlstas OF
Delta Domains, and stops at the foot
hills. Over the borderland there is
10y all about these beautiful bounda-
ries. On the Highway of the Past. the
Present and the Future is inscribed
the name of the great Path Finder for
whom we cell this great and goodly
memorial.
The Lexington advertiser., 1914-07-24

Hon Bill Bryan with 'votes for wo-
men" added to votes for mere man
still expects to enjoy "the fair popu-
larity of the Past.
Miss Kate Gordon, president OF the
Southern Women's Suffrage Confer
ence, arrived in Washington Tuesday,
and is the guest of Mrs. Helen II.
Gardner, 1898 Lamont street. north
west. Miss Gordon, whose home is in
New Orleans, La, is on her waySouth,
after spending the last week in confer
ence with other prominent sutfraglst
leaders from all parts of the United
States. at the Marble House, the sum-
mer home of Mrs. o. H. Z. Belmont,
at Newport, r. l., which was recently
opened in honor of Mrs. Belmont 8
daughter, the Duchess of Marlborough.
Miss Gordon is we'll known in Wash
ington, having been at one time secre'
tary of the National Women's Suffrage
Association. Although not, now direct
ly connected with the national associa'
ton, she is taking an active part in
the movement for the enfranchisement
of women,
For the last fifteen years Miss Cor
don hsa been at work to better the po
litical status of the women of the
South. She was one of the original
ors of the Southern Women's Suffrage
Conference, and it was mainly through
her efforts that the spllendidly equip
ped headquarters at New Orleans wa
made possible. Up to the present tim'
Miss Gordon has organized women
clubs in sixteen of the Southern states
including the District of Columbia. ant
is now starting a movement in tn
South to have inserted in the mex
Democratic national platform a planl
which will indorse the right of womel
, to vote. -.
''t would be blot on the constitu
ton. which was drafted by our faith
ers, to have engrafted upon it a
amendment giving the women rlgh
to vote" said Miss Gordon 'Sutf
, rage is virtually won in the Unite
States, and the question uow is, 10
the South particularly. to solve wa
by which this right may be preserves
To-day you have an educated bod
of women to reckon with, and tn
,, power in the hands of this educate
! class is beyond computation. Vote
The Lexington advertiser., 1914-07-24

to the last. Mr.. Witherspoon tried to
keep what he had done secret. Prob
ably he felt he ought not to embarrass
some of his fellow members who are
no SO particular. The fact of his hav-
ing reimbursed the treasury in this
fashion "leaked' from a quarter re-
mote from affairs of the gentleman
from Mississipp.
The above clipping comes as reading
from the G. lden Texts amid the sordld
surroundings of some public men ano
manners in ''ole Miss.