River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-22
MRS. GATES EXPERIMENT.

n
From one of the trains that came
roaring and tearinginto BHthedale sew
eral times day a lady alighted one
November morning, whose character
istics were an unmistakable city air,
and general aspect of never having
been in Blthedale before. She was not
sure, so far, that she would ever care to
be in it again, for the New Jersey town
did not impress her picturesquely. She
objected both to the redness of the soil
and the matter-of-fact expression of the
| houses.
Yet Blithedale was always described
as "a place of resort in summer and
early autumn, aud within easy access
of the city; bat the last of November
is an unfavorable season for such set
Elements, when the green, leafy gla-
mour of summer has vanished, and the
bridal veil of winter has not yet been
thrown over the scene.
Mrs. Rapson was making an eXper-
mental and unheralded visit to her
friend Mrs. Gates, who about three
months ago had been obliged, by unex-
pected losses, to go into exile on the
inc of the New Jersey Central Rail
load, and having some friends in the
place, she chose Blithedale What she
! IL. ..y1E e =.
what way she was able to live on next
to nothing. remained to be seen.
1t was not difficult to find the house.
the street being given, but when found,
it was something of a shock to person
fresh from New York. twas of wood,
dingy white in hue, and the two-storied
front slanted to point over the Win
dows, giving the impression that by
some accident, which could scarcely be
called a happy one, the sides of the
dwelling had got turned to the front.
The door and windows were small and
severely plain; there was ground on
both sides of the house. and tagged
walk from the low wooden gate to the
steps.
A door-hell was a rather unexpected
piece of civilization, and the visitors
ring was quickly answered by a neat
| smiling handmaiden with a very Ger
man face Mrs. Gates was at home.
| and her friend was requested to walk
into the sittlng-room, which appeared
to cross the entire house.
1t was fairly tapestried with vines,
and in the windows were blooming
plants. An open Franklin-stove, the
next best thing to a CRATE, had a cheer
full fire in it. and there was a general
look of warmth and brightness about
the large low room that impressed the
visitor very pleasantly. Perhaps the
lounge and eaSy-chair, covered with
Turkey red, had something to do with
this but the whole room was a study.
"Alice's fiat in - street was
a perfect poem, to be sure, -
unused the lady, "but who would expect
her to make hut like this habitable
looking?''
Alice" herself had now appeared
from some mysterious back precinct
with warm welcome, and she was inn
mediate)y called upon to, give an ac-
count OF herself.
'"There is not very much to give
she began smilingly. You were late
this year at your beloved mountains
that nv fitting had to be done while
you were away. No, | didn't feel
dreadfully' at all at having to do it.
when more than half of my little capt.
tai was swept away. felt that the first
reduction to be made was in rent, and
| get this ugly, comfortable little house
/ for twenty dollars a month while my
/ fourth-story, 'cabinet-inished Hat cost
me, as you know, sixty dollars
But are not other expenses very
much the same?'
by no means, was the reply.
/ Provisions are one-third cheaper than
in New York, for Blthedale has quite
reputation in this respect; and Louisa
my German MAIDEN, a prize among serv-
ants, is absolutely contented with eight
dollars a month.
''Well, said the astonshed visitor,
if2not in another.
Il must show you the house, con-
/ tinued Mrs Gates. 1T is better than
it looks; but first you shall see my
greenhouse.
Her friend restrained her surprise as
she was conducted through a doorway
into an unpretending '.lean-to, with
sloping glass roof and glass front and
sides, quite filed with callas and ear
nations that promised abundant bloom
shortly. Every plant looked green and
glossy; and the temperature of the
plant seemed perfect.
This and the steam-pipes for heating
were all in readiness when | took the
house, having been put in by the own
er for his own use. But the doctors
ordered him South for his health, and
fortunately appeared just at the right
time
1T is very nice, murmured her per-
picked friend; ''you were always so
fond of flowers!'
Yes, and you remember how | al
ways had something in bloom in my
New York flat? 1t was that circum-
stance which made me bold enough to
venture on greenhouse"
"And you have no roses?" asked Mrs.
Rapson, who did not quite see her way
through this greenhouse problem.
Nothing but callas and carnations?
Nothing but callas and carnations,
reioined her hostess, for both require
the same temperature and moisture,
both are easy to raise, and both make
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