National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-13
oARpINa HOUSES IN rmEwEsr
and Their Apologies for
Getting In the Business They Fol-

Lundladtes and Their Apologies lot
Getting In the Business They Fol-
low.
tChcago Herald
The landlady In Chicago is much more
likely to be divorced woman than
heart-broke1 widow. However, there ate
many OF them who are not divorced, but
some Of them would, perhaps, be better oil
II they were. The average audlady OF
Chicago has a good deal more business In
her methods than her mOurnful sister Of
st. Louis. She will probably answer your
ring in person, especially II the room has
remained unoccupied more than three days
You are invited into the plrlOr. Every
thing In II looks ms If II had Just come from
the shop. How It is that the average land
lady OF Chicago keeps her parlor bright
and new all the year round Is one Of the
questions which | long since put aside
While you have been noticing these things
the landlady has been noticing YOU
She has been the examiner
you the witness, and there has been
no court to protect you. In about ten
minutes you have told her your name, your
business, given her your reference, aud told
her some other things which you have kept
from your nearest friend for ten years.
How? Igivo 1t no. But II you have been
roomer or boarder in Chicago you know
what | have written is the truth. You
look at her uuocCupied room, and II Is
charming. You will take IT, you say. Then
she says there was ga gentleman here this
morning who is on the board Of trade, and
he said II his wife did not come back he.
fore night he would take the room. Still,
he made no deposit on the room, and OF
course" she cannot be expected to keep II
for hin. By this time you have made a
deposit and the room la yours.
1t is night strictly speaking, It isn't. II
Is anywhere from Z TO 8 p. m. You have
been sitting out on the steps You hear a
low voice In the parlor and creep in. White
hands are running over the noisy keys. You
draw near, and when she sings you murmur
In the chorus. After awhile she closes the
piano. AS melady In st. Louis would say,
she shuts the box. And then you begin to
wonder Ito herr how II is she Is n landlady's
daughter. Aud then she folds her white
hands and tells you how II Is that mamma
has to keep boarders for living. In the
first place, papa was burned out during the
big fire, and the excitement AMI disap-
pOintment ami rascally men who owed
him, aud had cold which he contracted,
and which settled on his lungs, "pre-
cuded"-you want TO notice her when she
says that word-his returning to active
do much, so he went on the board Of trade,
and just as they were about to recuperate
"papa got caught on big wheat deal and
lost all his Velvet Then mamma "tOOl,
this house" | wish IcOuld write this last
sentence the way she says It, Aud then she
relates how II is telling on mamma, but
mamma never complains. "Brave, patient
mamma" And tear is sirted through
the beauty's lace handkerchief. And then
she remarks about the coal ring and high
prices, and how even a pOrterhouse steak
costs twice what It did, and how some OF
the monthly payments are past due on the
plano. You would he a very ninty-hearted
man II you didn't make an advance on your
room and your board and conclude to re
main there the balance of your life. TIL,
suddenness with which Chicago landladN
discovers that you are thinking Of leaving
and the swiftness with which her daughte
gets into the parlor and the alncrity with
which you follow and the confidential anC
pitful story she tells for her dear, patien
mamma's sake, are things passed by lonl
ago. But they occur; and when | meet
man who says he has not changed his hoard
ing house for five years | know that he |
entitled to sympathy.