New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-26

hear the insult.
PUT him down." she command
ed. y think not" remarked II.
Hedge calmly. "lIe wants TO bite
me. And, whether no Is a dog or
q rat. | do not care TO be bitten.
] think shall dispose OF hun"
Matilda turned pale, Demosthe-
nes was to be disposed of! Some
horror was atoot. She fled from the
library and sought her mistress up
stairs.
He is killing Demosthcnes!"
cried Matilda.
Constance waited for no more.
She raced downstairs, two steps at
time. sure-footed as mountain
goat yet apparently riskins her
neck at every stride. The efficiency
man still had the small black crea-
ture at arms length when she ap-
peared on the scene.
Drop him." cried Constance.
II. Hedge turned and surveyed
WIN 6iNat S'aN'Ss
"If I drop him, he will bite me
in the ankle" he said. u object to
heing bitten in the ankle. broke
one once, and that Is sufficient"
Constance dashed across the
room and gathered mosthenes in
her arms. He was very small bum
die. but he snapped angrily at II.
Hedge and snarled In manner
that would have terrified a stout
hearted mouse.
Does that thing belong to your"
demanded II. Hedge.
"Thing He Is my dog"
"What Is his name-Molecule?
His name Is Demosthenes."
"Why SO much name for a little
dog? It's disproportionate map
propriate."
The efficiency man devoted an
other moment of brief study to his
late assailant.
I'm fact" said Hedge, why
keep the dog at all? A dog has no
place in domestic economy. 1t con-
tributes nothing to wealth or CON-
fort: it is q non-producer. II Is
sometimes dangerous, usually an
annoyance, and invariably an ex-
pense. What does it cost to feed
this dog?"
Constance uttered an exclama-
ton of contempt.
Cost! Do you think I have moth
ing to do but inquire into the cost
of keeping Demosthenes2 What
difference does 1t make anyhow?
All I know is that he cost five
hundred dollars when he was new
And how long have you had
him ?"
"a year, at least"
Wen mark off twenty per cent
for depreciation" said Hedge, after
a swift mental calculation. u
doubt If he would even bring fouI
hundred now"
"Sir!"
mo second hand or even slight
ly used dog is worth as much as q
new one. That's simply business
But 1t spite OF depreciation there
Is, Of course, no reduction In the
cost of upkeep. Therefore, we are
maintaining an entirely useless and
steadily depreciating animal at q
cost that rapidly increases in pro-
portion to actual value"
A secondhand dog! Constance
was speeches.. Unconsciously, she
Rugged Demosthenes closer.
II do not think am justified In
consenting to an expenditure fol
such a wasteful purpose" added
Hedge, cycling the dog with COM
plete disfavor.
You are perfectly preposter'
ous!" said Constance.
But scientifically correct" hi
replied imperturbably. II think
shall have to ask you to dispose Of
the dog. ] will endeavor to obtain
the best price possiblel"
price! For my dog! Do you
think l would sell him at any
price?"
IT should certainly advise II. II
fact, I should be quite willing Il
credit the proceeds to your persona
account"
Constance glared at him.
"You are not possibly serioous?'
quite. l admit that, in al
probability. the cost per diem o.
this animal is not a large item. i
is the principle TO which I object
There are a thousand and on
trivial sources OF expense In thi'
household.
II am checking them as I en-
counter them. Although none ma.
be great In itself, the effect of eacl
! is to inculcate wasteful habits ant
destroy a sense Of true economic
values, while the total expense o
all is a very considerable sum.