HAWKERS.

Evening Star, Issue 19745, 21 December 1927, Page 5

HAWKERS.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —If correspondence on tlie subject of hawkers awl their specialties is not closed J should like to ventilate my grievously unhappy plight. When one of the fraternity is seen making for our door my wife immediately goes into hiding, leaving me to bear "the brunt. Leaning against the doorpost, outwardly calm, but inwardly the reverse, I await the attack that is generally opened politely, but very often sternly, implying important business matter and no nonsense: " Is the lady of the house at home?" Hy reason of my longsuffering 1 have in self-defence become an adept in the " infernal art of lying,'! and I reply either that she is sick in bed or has gone out. lb does not savo me, however; almost invariably I fall before the dominating personality, and buy something T don't want. ' When. he is gone the lady emerges from concealment, and smilingly inquires "Did you buy anything?" to which I contemptuously reply "No, indeed,'.' and when her back is turned hide tiff; thing in a secret place in the coalhouse she wots not of. Now, women are accustomed to shopping, and should hav« tougher moral fibre than man in a matter of this kind; yet-within the last few days I have had grave reason to suspect that the lady in this case also has a secret receptacle for her sundry purchases of assorted merchandise, and T am not deceived by her leaving a few odd samples about. I had a hurried look at my stock today. It comprised everything, from mousetraps, ointments, eucalyptus, and stationery to matchless cleansers, linoleum revivers, and fuzzy detachable mop-heads for floor polishing. And many bottles and tins have Had the labels rusted or peeled off, but are treasures, doubtless, on word of ihe salesman. That is an incomplete iSt of my own possessions; but I fear my reason would be dealt a staggering blowwere I unfortunately to come across the lady's collection. Can nothing be don<}f, -I am, etc., Ora E wmotJsgi£| December 20,