The Washington times., 1921-08-28


N three million dollars at least. His
49, father, who was known from coast
to coast as the Baking Powder King" left
1t to him. His income is $4,000 year.
Mrs. John A. Hoagland is beauty from
Texas who ran away from her home early
in life and went to work She took the
name of Miss Billie Allen, although her
real name is Matthews, and became known
from coast to coast as billie, the Bachelor
Maid" This was because she went from
town to town selling cigars. Five centers
they were, and good or bad according to
individual taste Billie, the Bachelor Maid,
was a good saleswoman. Hundreds of
towns throughout the country will re-
member her.
She worked her cigar-paved way up
along the Atlantic coast to New York,
where she met and married Mr.. Hoagland.
That was several years ago. Quite recent.
ly she returned to New York from Europe.
The very day of her return her husband
refused to pay bill for 81 ,306 for clothes
for her. and let it be known publicly that
he would not be responsible for her debts!
This was most surprising, and Mrs.
Hoagland, shaking her pretty head, said
she could not understand how such thing
could happen. She and Johnnie loved each
other just as much as ever; weren't even
thinking of separation, and she had come
ali the way from London to spend their
wedding anniversary with him.
All that she could think Of as the reason
was that her husband and she did not
agree about certain things. Despite his
millions. she wanted him to go to work!
And he didn't want to. Maybe he thought
that these bills she had run up we're an
other effort on her. part to force him to
labor by helping the income tax decrease
his income to the vanishing point!
But why did Mrs. Hoagland want her
husband to go to work when he didn't
Lave to? Her answer is curious, present
ing as it does peculiar problems Of a work
ing girl who marries a millionaire.
Work has become a habit with her
After the novelty of romance wears off
The old habits of action reassert them
selves just exactly as the old idle habits
do with the rich girl who narries a poor
man and tries love in a cottage" Both
are apt to end unfortunately.
Mrs. Hoagland makes one most interest
ing suggestion. When the famous King
Cophetua, of poem and story, married his
"beggar-maid," what kind of a life did she
lead thereafter? Was she allowed to bring
her old friends to court? Could she speak
10 them when she passed them on the
street How did her old habits OF sell;
dependence and struggle to achieve assert
themselves against the gilded ease into
which she had been thrust? And what did
King Cophetua's royal relations say about
her and how did they treat her?
II has always been a great problem as to
whether King Cophetua's queen was very
happy, says Mrs Hoagland.
Yet there are few modern working girls
who do not feel that they would be per.
fectly happy IL they could marry a million
\aire.
But would she?
Let her listen to Mrs. Hoagland, once
BILLY, the Bachelor Maid" who sold cigars
throughout the country and graduated into
oil these things. Let her listen and ponder.
Let her picture little Mrs. Hoagland telling
this story while at tea at the Ritz, melting
blue eyes turned often and nervously to-
ward the entrance to the Palm Room,
turned there because the fashionable dress
maker who is suing for that s11, 1906 might
come in for tea any minute. Modistes OF
this character do sometimes. 1t would
have been very awkward What would the
modiste do? Cut her? Possibly. Cross
masterfully to her table and ask why the
bill had not been paid? Probably. 1t was
very trying. So, nervously, Mrs. Hoagland
slipped her apricot ice and gave her pre-
sentation of the modern King Cophetua
and, IL not his beggar-maid, at least his
bachelor maid. as follows:
Johnny makes me an allowance of 1000
month That doesn't go far in New York
| pay my maid out of It. And the upkeep
of whichever car l am using. l never