Evening journal., 1922-07-11
PAYS HERDEBTS''
At TEA PARTY
Mrs. Frank Townley Brown
Invites Her Creditors to
Settlement Function
PUNCH GOES
WITH PAYMENTS

CHICAGO. July 11.-Mrs. Frank
Townley Brown was hostess at one
OF the most successful events OF the
summer season at her surf street
home yesterday when she received
her creditors at a debt-paying tea.
Her suests-rather creditors-ln-
Guiding plumbers. srocers cleaners.
bakers, butchers. home serviee lad
les, milkmen, icemen. vegetable
hawkers. were there in response to
an engraved Invitation Issued two
weeks ago which read: tas
Mrs. Frank Townley Brown
announces that, owing TO delay
in the settlement OF her late
husbands estate. she has been
unable 10 meet certain contracts
and obligations. Now that the
estate has been settled she de-
sires TO say that on July 10. att
her residence, 426 Surf street,
between the hours Of 10 and 1g.ot
she will be pleased 70 liquidate
any honest debt contracted by
her personally. -
Mrs. Brown received in a white
plque riding habit as she had Just
returned from a brisk canter in the
park and had no time to change into
ah afternoon gown. t-.
served cigarettes. champagne punch
(ncn-intoxicating); bon bons. sand
wiches. candles and tea. Mrs. Brown
wrote out checks to her guests. The
scene presented a striking contrast
10 one at the residence two yeafs
ago. soon after Mr.. Browns death.
when the front lawn was knee deep
with bailiffs and bill collectors were
lurking behind every tree and shrub.
1T would be an injustice 10 the
memGry OF my husband said Mrs.
Brown. TO intimate that he left me
insolvent. He left realty. an impos-
ing estate, OF which was practically
the sole beneficiary.
1T was only after a fight OF six
months that / obtained my Widows
award Of s25.OOO. but that was
mere drop in the bucket. as my llv-
ing expenses amount 10 $4,000 "a
year, and you can't keep up a home
ike this unless you have Something
back OF II.
But the nightmare of bailifs and
creditors is ended now Tomorrow
I shall leave on a motor trip 60
the East with a clear conscience and
a clean slate. I shall not owe any
body a cent and shall have lived up
to the precepts OF my husband. who
always. was phnctllIous about his
debts"
In order TO protect herself against
imposters and ringers" Mrs. Brown
included among her guests a lieu
tenant OF police in uniform and two
unostentatious. fatfooted gentlemen
in plain clothes. Mrs. Brown made d
charmings hostess as. with pen in
hand. she made out check after
check.
Il was: "Oh. yes. T remember you
we'll. You're the iceman. So kind OF
you 10 come and so very. very kind
OF you TO leave ice. Let's sea-
$3.50. believe that's correct. Won't
you try one OF these little cakes.
they're not bad at all. or a dish OF
this lemon ice?"
Or: "Oh. you're from the bank.
aren't you? Well. this Is indeed a
pleasure. DO you know. II 1t hadn't
been for your assistance woud
have had no heat or light. The utili-
ties people cut Il off. Won't You
help yourself TO a cigarette or try
one OF these pimento cheese sand
wiches. the lettuce makes them so
nice" A
BY noon Mrs. Brown had canceli-
ed more than $4,000 OF her obliga-
tons. the heaviest creditor being a
state street, department store. 'i-t
One hundred invitations were mali
I'd and 102 persons responded. The
two with "phony" bills were taken
,are Of by the police.
Mrs. Brown received huge
bunch OF roses with a card bearing
he inscription From twelve bill
collectors who will always remem-
Der this day with the fondest OF
memories"
Mrs. Brown T. president and or
.anjzer OF the Widows Protective
League. which she established. as
result OF her unpleasant experiences
With the courts during her attempt
O get her widows award. She
rev the lime'ight once before when
he attempted 20 evict Billie Burke
rom her home for non-payment Of
ent and general mutilation" of
he premises. 4+