Independence, B'Gosh (1918)

Horatio Whiffle, a hard-working farmer in Maine, is left an enormous fortune by an uncle. Horatio and his wife determine to see the world and spend the money. The neighbors all storm the house and offer advice. It is then that Horatio uses the expression that gives the story its title. From then on he and his wife are going to be independent of everything - especially work. As the first move in this direction, Horatio hires Sam Jenkins, the village cute chap, as his valet, and engages Lily Bascomb, a pretty young girl, to wait on his wife. He next invests in one of Hen Ford's old reliables, and the party starts for a swell summer hotel. The landlord does not like the looks of Horatio and his ensemble, so the new millionaire buys the hotel and takes possession. The doings of the Whiffle party have a regular George Ade flavor. They all get inside of stylish clothes and go in strong for the social fling. Sam and Lily enjoy themselves hugely, but the old couple find that a steady round of pleasure in tight shoes is all fired wearin' on their nerves as well as on their feet. Driven to desert the whole thing, Horatio starts quietly for home and his old feed bag. As he enters the front door his wife sneaks in quietly by way of the kitchen. Both heave a sigh of relief, pull off their tight shoes and settle down to their brand of enjoyment. Sam and Lily are given a check for $50,000, and spend a dollar of it for a marriage license.