How long the Dealer had existed it is impossible for me to say, but he
must certainly have begun business several years before She began to look
into philatelic matters, and as this latter occurrence took place in 1885
it naturally would be supposed that he had far more information upon the
subject in his cerebral cavities and at his finger ends by the middle of
1895 than the desultory studies her school days allowed had developed in
her own brain and digits. Be that as it may, however, She is inclined to
give him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of the charity that
thinketh no evil, and to believe that he really did not intend to deceive,
but still - but still - She isn't quite satisfied, for She is a real
flesh-and-blood creation and therefore rather given to the spirit of
resentment any daughter of Eve would be apt to feel at an attempt to
overreach her.
A certain philatelic writer was responsible for the birth of the Idea,
though he never knew it and never will know it unless he should chance to
see these lines. Curled up, Turk fashion, in a corner of her own private
sanctum one day with a pile of old stamp journals before her which were
being examined in the search for some particular items, She came across an
article of his addressed to "The Ladies," one paragraph of which ran about
as follows
“If you should condescend to establish exchange relations with one of the
`sterner sex' you'll be assured of a good big trade. Not particularly
through compliment to the fair collector, but just because he can't help
himself. The keen sagacity in business matters which is an endowment of
woman causes her to get the best of each trade. These are not compliments,
but facts."
Now She had carried on exchange relations with several members of the
masculine gender for some time, yet never once had she had occasion to see
any truth in that assertion. On the contrary, She had found herself taken
advantage of more than once, much to her later indignation, so as She read
the paragraph her bit of a nose tired a trifle more than Nature had
intended it should, and with a scornful expression She treated the walls
of her chamber (for, as " walls have ears," why shouldn't they be
addressed?) to the following homily:
"Now isn't that just like a man? I wonder how many times he has acted up
to his own light and given the "fair collector" a better exchange than was
legally due! It sounds all very nice, and of course I don't know him, but
I wouldn't be afraid to wager the entire first issue of Mauritius, if 1
had them, that he would be just as willing as any one else to get the
better of a poor lone female if he saw a good opportunity. Every one is; I
believe it's an understood thing among the men that all worthless stamps,
packets, etc., shall be sent to us. I've noticed several times when
sending for packets that a better assortment comes, and fewer damaged
specimens, too, when only my initials are signed instead of the full
feminine name. If I should offer some good stamps for sale I don't believe
any dealer would offer as much for them as he would if I was of his own
sex. I wonder-."
But here the Idea sprang into being with a suddenness that took away her
breath. She paused for a moment, vacantly eyeing a wasp playing
hide-and-go-seek with himself among the lace curtains, a sight that would
usually have brought her to her feet at once with horror in every feature
and a flourishing towel in each hand (She detests wasps); then, coming to
herself, She added emphatically, "I'll try it! " and, springing up,
inaugurated such a vigorous war with the duster for a weapon that Mr. Wasp
speedily decided that out-side air would be more beneficial to his health,
and, much to her relief, departed to make the trial.
It was some months before a chance came to put the Idea into execution,
but at last there came a day when She found herself in a certain
well-known city, her shopping all done, and at least an hour to spare
before train time. This could and should be devoted to stamps, so, making
her way up the long flight of stairs that led to the rooms of a large
stamp company (stamp dealers, like cream, seem to rise to the top), She
entered the office and drew out some specimens brought along especially
for the occasion, a valuable assortment of ancient British Colonials and
hinted they were for sale - would they care to purchase?
Why, certainly, was the prompt reply; would be pleased to buy all She
would bring, as they were not commonly seen. Yes, these were catalogued
$3.25 apiece, those at $1.25, those others at 85 cents, etc., etc. Would
She please make a price? Of course She didn't expect to receive full
catalogue valuation. She didn't; She hadn't expected to be so fairly
treated at all, and, much surprised, She made some excuses and stumbled
out, for, truth to tell, those stamps had not been brought in for sale,
but only as an experiment, that She might find out whether as fair and
square treatment would be given to her as to the masculines whom She knew
had traded stamps with the same dealer.
About this time, however, it occurred to her that, being well known at
this place as an interested philatelist, it was hardly probable that any
attempt would have been made to overreach her, so She determined to try
where she was unknown, pretend to a dearth of knowledge concerning what
she offered, and see what the result would be. With this object in view
She entered the rooms of a dealer whose name would sound familiar to the
majority of the readers of this journal, and laying down a few of her
specimens, remarked timidly "I have some stamps here that I understand are
valuable. Would you care to purchase them?”
Mr. Dealer gave a comprehensive glance at her and her property, then,
sitting down, drew a magnifying glass toward him with one hand and Scott's
Catalogue with the other, and plunged into a study of the stamps in a
manner evidently intended to impress her with his great knowledge, wisdom
and learning upon all matters philatelic. She could have saved him the
trouble of hunting for watermarks and measuring perforations, but,
remembering her purpose in coming, she held her peace and devoted the
moments of silence to a diagnosis of his character, noting among other
things that he had ensconced himself in the cosiest chair the office
contained without asking her to take a seat at all - a little thing, to be
sure, but sometimes even a straw will give a very good idea of what may be
expected from the wind. The examination concluded, the Dealer looked up
and inquired
“What do you want for them?"
Continued.......
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