The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-03-25
GO STUDY LIFE ABROAD.
PLUox1e AMERICANS IN LONDON
A Costly E~xperinent ~ nritssh Heuse-
keepi.r By Three New Terkersl

A Cestiy Experiment at Drftssh Heuse-
keepiss sy Three New
LONDON, March There is . vast differ
sncs between housekeeping in London and In
New York. An Englishman 10 fairly treated In
the United States, as are the representatives
Of oil other nations. but the unhappy American
who ventures upon London housekeeping Is
done for. In the vernaculnr OF a Yankee
householder whom l know here, he Is =" pie Tor
every one In town" The extortions and swim
dies Of London landlords arc proverbial. but
no man has any notion OF The shamelessness
and meanness Of English people OF the lower
order until he has had actual experience.
I will give here the exact facts and figures
OF q weeks experience In London. We have
Just brought the effort to q beaten. bafied. and
surly termination. The story may not quicken
the pulse OF the men about town and society
actresses who read the papers. but 1t will make
the vast body Of householder realize what
blessings they enjoy In America, and show
them why the English are so cordially detested
by all other people who visit London.
Some days since l met two very old friends
from New York-a fellow newspaper writer.
who is foundering around In the seuuestered
interstlces OF the British Museum with bookish
intent-and his mother. The latter 10 Q brisk.
b~ustling, and Industrious housskeeper We
Keep house on the commonwealth plan. each
N.Y., msi IT VT Si, e : .I; ;5;ss,Isj s.s11I;ia0'ssy4S s glIrns; nsris
everything. and III do the marketing and at
tend to. things while you-y9u---
enthusiasm. In o moment OF touching and I'M
usual confidence l was made treasurer. 1t de-
vo aY sb sR9Sn e % no e e. tIn % rS SSVs something to do
q bore idiine around PIC hotel all day; And
then then ws knew where all the LONDON markets. arc
i went to see an American business man who
a ans iiv nd here 9s ss sw 3 s sssars sis sas ss spsr,m MEN 70
softly Is Sn 4 rsae0tively.
Because you are not English"
"One OF us Is a practical housekeeper."
pr net ssSf Soas mEee sns d nhd Sinful Il y Sna ass as
lord. Who're there's SO much smoke there must
London has offered up iervid testimony IS to
the abilities OF the mon and women who have
'a hs tb bee% gave "; a me- a sn lumber naasr Of addresses, and
after q days experiences, OF stuffy rooms and
sla,ternly servants n,lts. l fixed IKE . On : house sa IN Ca 1seg.
and the landlord q spectacle OF sterling British
These ere Eooms."h he said. gazing through
ineiudin'. his, Es'lency the ,P'ruvian Minister.
Any SAtEuSI AhoS iV " - SASep
as apartments go in London.
"Nothink, nothink to speak OF. Fire q few
shillin's q week. You can do your own Market
ing, or I'll do 1t for you. Just as yon choose.
supposed to have unusual advantages. among
other reasons because 1t was q private hotel.
Why this rumor still lives is an unfathomable
mystery, for the private hotel offers no advan-
ta Tss oyer gnH a. 2 c o,5r arr3v lod 4 GsT HH%se; square a
g~rieyous misfortune beiell US In the sudden Ill
ness OF Mrs. ID. from a violent cold. For q week
she couldn't leave the, house. and she was
obliged to order, every day through the land
which. t be candid. I likes it," he said
heartily. bein' fond OF marketin,."
That night we began to experience the little
idiosyncracies OF the British landlord. l Will
IN the top Of all pas burners there is screwed
o little rounded cap which has the effect OF
throwing the flame out in fanllke form;
Al these caps were unSSrewed ana removed
if the gas was turned more than half way
on 1t Jared up and sized. 1t was necessary to
light two ~capless burners to, get light equal to
one with the top In place. The charge was six
When l first examined the CRATES they were
roomy and big. When we moved in we found
that large iron bricks had been bolted into the
ends Of the CRATES. SO that they would hold only
half the ordinary amount OF coal The charge
These were two time-honored tricks. We
protested. but the result was the same as ever
the caps had been lost. and the iron bricks
be got out because the screw threads
the bolts hnd been burned away.
Every night ! had our accounts brought In
and we went over them. Here they are precise
ly as rendered. except that have changed the
English money into United States currency.
The first day was: