New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-30
Too Much Efficiency
By E.J!GG.:sSS ss:s)Ratb

weeks. I will give you a requisition
for new hat now"
He smiled at her In q friendly
way. Constance held her breath.
But ! shall specify that the hat
Is not to cost more than Ave dol
lars"
She arose slowly from her chair
and faced him.
Are you seriors?" she asked in
a low tone.
"Oh, quite"
The bitter moments OF life are WIS.,
tied upon the rich | dpoor alike.
Constance knew that she was poor
very poor.
II shall so about In tatters,"
she said brokenly. II shall wear
my old hat!"
The efficiency man looked at the
old hat and liked it. The thought
occurred to him that Constance and
the hat had been created for each
other. There was beautiful har-
mony that appealed to him, which
was testimony to the fact that art
was not wholly dead within him.
Nevertheless he did not care to be
looked upon wholly as a person who
pinched pennies and bit nickels. Eff
ficiency was more than mere saving.
Nor did he think II right for Con-
stance to go In tatters, although he
could easily believe that she would
probably ornament them. Here was
a chance to xii. two birds with one
stone.
See here. Miss Brooke" he said.
y am going to demonstrate some
thing to you. 1t will be an object
lesson in efficiency. You say that
a. proper hat cannot be bought for
five dollars. hence you are in the
habit OF paying hundred. I differ.
! say that proper hat can also be
an economical hat You are going
to get a new hat"
Wait please"
But"
He seized the telephone and called
a number.
rs this the Luxembourg shop?
Very we'll This is the residence OF
Mr.. John W. Brooke. Please send
up an assortment Of hats for Miss
Brooke to examine. OF course, all
kinds of hats. And send them UP
right away In half an hour? Make
it 90 minutes. II possible. Yes; that's
all"
He turned to Constance as re
hung up the receiver, and smiled.
"I'll show you how to buy a hat, !"
he said. "I'll send for you, Miss
Brooke, as soon as the hats arrive.
:. Constance walked out in daze He
= was going to buy an economical hal
:" and he had telephoned to Luxem,
, bourg! She whistled softly and
- wrinllled her forehead In perplexity
- Oh. we'll. there was nothing to dc
- but wait. But she was intensely
,, curious.
. Half an hour later H. Hedge sum,
- 'moned her to the library. There
- we're many hat boxes there, under
10 men whose own hats identified then
u as eminently qualified for theil
- duties.
9 I'VE are ready to examine hats,
a he sud briskly. pushing aside hi'
work and nddoing at the hat Gus
$50 todians.
The first hat was large and of 6
profuse richness. The efficiency mai
shook his head at once.
But at least / may try 1t on" ex'
claimed Constance.
He shrugged his shoulders and she
tried it on. surveying the effect in &
mirror.
Followed a succession OF hats
which. to the efficiency man, were
plainly constructed to sell by acre
age. He was patient, however. Con
stance could try them on, If sht
wished-but she could not buy. HI
had committed himself to a hat tc
PROVE one of the truths of economy
a and efficiency. but he was steadfas
u against extravaganza.
d No small hats?" he sked finally
But yes, indeed" said the second
0. salesw oman. Some that are eX
u quisite."
re "Trot 'em out, please"
There was a very pretty parade o.
t small hats, but at nearly all OF then
II. Hedge merely shook his head. HI
| was not to be deceived: he recog
e nized the high cost of living when h
e. saw it. They bore all the outward
% evidence OF sky prices. Constance
l appeared pleased with some Of then
and sighed when she read his stead,
~ disapproval.
. At last he became impatient, anc
h began diving into boxes himself
\ Three hats he tossed aside carelessly
= bringing exclamation OF dismay from
-, the young ladies OF the Luxembourg
- Then, suddenly. he was all business
:, Here we are" he said. Put thi
Ct on"
~ It was the tiniest h,.t Of all, mer
u, bit of velvet. Not stitch OF trim
% m ng. not a solitary ornament grace
it, It was almost Quakerish in II
&c simplicity. Yet, as Constance place
J.. it on her head, 1t suddenly assume
~ a rallish little air Of Its own, so tina
w it became more than a hiatt va
10 a saucy sentiment
eli Like that" he demanded.
p Constance did like It. Anyhod
ns would have liked II, because Of III
10 sheer pertness and mischief of th
" thing. But she was canny. Sh
: merely shrugged ner shoulders.
gu 1T is exquisite!" said the fir
-. Saleswomsn.
u 1T seems they all gre" remarke
W. the efficiency marEdryly, "Ho
d. about your opinion, Miss Brooke
no 1T is not bad" she said reluctan
us ly But"
Her glance wandered toward Il
EN- discarded creations H. Hedge shoe
w. his head promptly.
'aS TOO high-priced, the rest Of III