The exact science of matrimony

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The exact science of matrimony by O. Henry


The exact science of matrimony

This is a summary of a true story written by O. Henry about two friends that could never be trusted. Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker decided to open a marriage business to gain some easy money. They decided to place an advertisement in the local newspaper. The advertisement said that a very nice widow wanted to remarry. She was supposed to be thirty-two years old and had a lot of money in and out of the country. She would like to marry a poor man with a good heart. She didn’t have any objection to older man or someone that wasn’t good-looking. The only condition for her was that he was faithful and true to her, and that could take good care of her money by investing it. After writing the ad they needed to find a lady that could go along with the information. They wanted to find a widow who would spend time on a marriage proposal that didn’t end up in an actual marriage.


Jeff knew someone that could go with the description and that could help them. One of his friends, Zeke Trotter, used to work in a tent show and drink too much. He made his woman a widow and she lived near them in a small town. They talked to her so they could convince her to meet the men that answered the ad and they turn them down. They convinced her by letting her know that it was a moral campaign for the men that were just looking to earn easy money. For this job, she will be paid $25 a week plus all the costs for living in a hotel. They took her to a nice and quiet hotel that was far enough from them to cause no suspicion. Then, they placed the advertisement on the local newspaper. They created a bank account for Missus Trotter so she can show how much money she had in case someone investigated or asked about it. As soon as the ad was placed, they received a ton of letter daily with men trying to meet Missus Trotter and telling them that they were not understood since they couldn’t find a job. Jeff and Andy answered every letter patiently. Some men asked to see pictures of the woman and asked for more information. They told them that they included $2 to cover the cost of giving the second letter to the widow. Almost everyone sent the money requested and it was a very easy business. Some men came and talked to Missus Trotter in person, and she rejected them after meeting them. After collecting $5,000 and since some people started questioning the honesty of the business, they decided to stop the business. Also, Missus Trotter was tired of her job and meeting so many men. When Jeff went to talk to Missus Trotter and to pay her for her job, se started crying. Jeff asked her what was the problem, and she told him that she was in love with someone, but that person wanted the $2,000 that she claimed to have in the account that they had opened for her. She told him that the name of her loved one was William Wilkinson. Jeff felt sorry for her and told her that she needed to talk to Andy to see how they can help her.


Andy agreed to help Missus Trotter and to give the money to Mr. Wilkinson so they could get married and be happy. Jeff shook Andy’s hand and went back to Missus Trotter. She was extremely happy and cried thanking Jeff for their help. After a few days, Jeff and Andy were leaving town. Jeff asked Andy if she would like to meet Missus Trotter before leaving. Andy said that he wouldn’t like to meet her. Then, they took all the money, but Andy gave Jeff more money. Jeff asked Andy about the money. Andy told him that he was meeting Missus Trotter three times a week as William Wilkinson during all that time and that he was in love with her.


The exact science of matrimony This is a summary of a true story written by O. Henry


The exact science of matrimony By O. Henry


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