Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-11
Copyright. 1sl4-I9lk, by Roi Cooper
Megrue and walter Hackett.

If only they had just made soap,
Mary couldn't help thinking some
times, as all this talk rang in her ears.
II only they had just made soap and
made it good. Good wine needs no
bush, was an ancient proverb she came
to believe in. BY the same token,
good soap would need no ads,
Now, the funniest part Of the whole
thing, speaking Of advertising, was
that the Is Soap, the old family cook
book soap, was really good. Mary had
always been loyal to it from the first
time she had used it. She had given 1t
to some friends for Christmas. and
they had liked it. too. and said they
would talk it up" She had gone to
a store and bought holly covered
box and laid three cakes In it neat.
ly done up In tissue paper and red
ribbon, with a stamp showing Santa
Claus and q legend. "Not to be opened
till Christmas" on the outside.
1--WE must spell Christmas with an K
this year." said Rodney chamngly.
Let K equal the unknown quantity"
well see," said Mary, smiling.
She simply must 20 on hoping and
smiling or she should die. 1t was
counting your chickens before they
were Matched no doubt, but. then, you
might never get chance to count
them later, she told herself pathetical-
ly.. She had superintended the first
experiments at soapmaking and f1g-
ured out the manufacturing costs
They must be ready, she had always
maintained. She even bought book
on elementary chemistry and had
dreams Of large soap works, like old
Mr.. Martins, where an army Of self
supporting girls should be put to work
under the best hygienic and sanitary
conditions. and the minimum wage
should be generous one. She did
succeed In getting few gross Of IL
Soap made after the old book formula.
it. the genuine IS. ranged alongside
the pink CASTLE in old rose wrappers.
AS a matter Of fact she had had to
give up manufacturing on any large
scale, because their advertising took
all their money. but Mary cherished
the idea of taking up the work in
earnest some day again. She didn't
really believe much in the idea OF
making old Mr.. Martin buy them out.
Already she had more ambitious de-
signs than that for her man Rodney.
The darkest hour comes Just before
the dawn, and dawn came with sud
den burst Of glory one morning when
Ambrose, Peale few into the ONCE In
great excitement. interrupting Mary
and Rodney in long embrace. Al
ways discreet and tactful, he coughed
and scraped his feet as signal to
them to break away.
"say; I didn't mean to interrupt" he
apologized.
Rodney kept his arms around Mary.
Nothing in the world Gun interrupt
u.s." he said. ''What Is it?'
"a telegram" said Peale. TITS the
first we've ever had. was afraid to
open It," 49,
Mary came over to him and looked
at It nervonsly.
"What awful thing can It beT she
queried.
Geo, I wonder what 1t saysr' came
from Rodney.
"Read 1t, read it!' said Peale, afraid
to do 90 Mmssk.
So THEN Mary opened 1t and read:
Rodney sss--..:s, President Is Soap Com
pany. 40 Broadway
"Go on. we know the address,"
Peale broke in impatiently.
Mary went on:
Ship at onos, collect, $4,000 cakes IS Soap
Signed, BROWN d JAMES,
Chicago.
A profound silence fell upon the trio
The colossal number Of $4,000 and the