The Washington herald., 1915-09-14

narrow boardwalk. Only one person can pass
on it, Often cross 1 meet workmen coming
from the opposite direction. Involuntarily, when
they see me approaching, they step off and leave
the boardwalk to Now they do that. of course,
he rcsentfully concluded, simply and solely be-
cause 1 am better dressed than they arc"
We all listened with some interest and amuse-
ment but in silence.
Finally OF the group spoke up Don't
you know that that little experience of yours is
one of the perquistics of the prosperous?"
"Perqusities of the prosperouse
was struck with the phrase. | began to think
about its meaning.
The next day l had an illustration.
went into the office of man who owned a
large Office building. Several people were wait
ing, among them poorly dressed woman, who
looked as if she might be servant. l overheard
a bit of talk between this woman and another
woman sitting beside her.
1--WE been sitting here for over three hours"
she said, "since o'clock. He sent for me to come
yesterday and l waited all the afternoon And
then he went away without say ing word. They
said he had to catch train for the country
She sighed deeply and she rested her hands on
her lap with the characteristic humility of the
poor.
From further scraps of her talk gathered that
she was scrub woman in search of work that had
been promised her.
Presently portly, important-looking man
entered. He asked authortatively for the man
the scrub waiting to In a mo-
mcnt he was ushered into the private office.
The scrub woman looked with mild interest
She did not resentfu
"Ah," l thought "she recognizes the right OF
that fellow to the perquisitics OF the prosperous"
And l sat there l racked my brain to find
the exact opposite of the word "perquisities."
couldn't find word close enough to satisfy
me-
But the thing the word would stand for if there
were such word recognized plainly enough.
l speculated about that scrub womans time.
Those hours spent in waiting she might have used
with profit perhaps in work at home, perhaps in
needed rest.
How about the time taken from her? Would
it be included among the pcrquisities OF the pros
porous?
1t surely would be included among the tributes
that the prosperous exact from the poor
The Difference paid to the prosperous is so
widely recognized that many people struggle to
They will make heavy sacrifices in order that
they may wear good clothes. That fact alone
goes far to explain why throughout the civilized
world, the standard of dress is so high. Among
those who strive for success there are compare
lively few who dare to be careless about dress.
Its great thing says American philosopher,
TO feel that you've reached the point Of recog
nizcd prosperity where it doesn't make any diff
ference what kind OF clothes you wear"
Observe the Difference to dress that is paid
everywhere around you, up to the mere suggestion
OF prosperity.
Do you ever read the society columns OF the
great newspapers of the country? You will find
there lists of whose distinction it is that
on this occasion or that they were "well-gowncd."
Fancy being able to attain in life this kind of
distinction.
And yet this kind wins some of the richest per-
quisitcs of the prosperous!
have heard women say clever women, too,
that there nothing in the world that could
give woman such strength the feeling that she
wae-,vell dressed.
Men don't say exactly the same thing. But
they act on the principle behind the saying.
One of the greatest pcrquisitcs of the prosper
Gus is their not having to pay their bills promptly
Here they enjoy a great advantage the
poor.
If they are known to be very prosperous they
NAV let the bills run for years.
1t is notorious that very rich people are often
the hardest to collect from.
By buying in large quantities the prosperous
secure fine rebates.
These are among their richest perqusites.
Some kinds of rebate considered scandal
Gus, even illegal, railroad rebates, for example
And yet in the daily lives Of the prosperous, re-
bates are regarded as not only just but credtable,
things to be encouraged.
The poor, in nearly all cases. have to pay cash.
And naturally, they have to buy in small guam
titles, which in itself is extravaganza.
In fact, there is extravaganza so great as
being poor.
No wonder people struggle not to seem poor
They know that by seeming poor they will be sub
iccted TO the same cxactions as the rccopnized