With the machine he sent the
following letter, which explains his meaning of a "combination girl,"
etc.:
MILWAUKEE, June 7, 1881.
W.T. VANKIRK--_Dear Sir:_ Your letter, in reference to giving some kind of
a premium to somebody, at your County Fair, is received, and I have been
thinking it over. I have brought my massive intellect to bear upon the
subject, with the follow result:
I ship you to-day, by express, a sewing machine, complete, with cover,
drop leaf, hemmer, tucker, feller, drawers, and everything that a girl
wants, except corsets and tall stockings. Now, I want you to give that to
the best "combination girl" in Rock County, with the compliments of the
_Sun_.
What I mean by a "combination," is one that in the opinion of your
Committee has all the modern improvements, and a few of the old-fashioned
faults, such as health, etc. She must be good-looking, that is not too
handsome, but just handsome enough. You don't want to give this machine to
any female statue, or parlor ornament, who don't know how to play a tune
on it, or who is as cold as a refrigerator car, and has no heart concealed
about her person. Our girl, that is, our "Fair Girl," that takes this
machine, must be "the boss." She must be jolly and good-natured, such a
girl as would make the young man that married her think that Rock County
was the next door to heaven, anyway.
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