The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-26
LADIES WHO BOARD,

"What is the matter that women who
have no home find it so difficult to OBJ
tain what passes for one even by paying
for it? What advantage has man over
q woman as roomer or boarder? / am
beginning to find the burden of my wo-
mans estate too heavy to bear. I have
hitherto considered it very enjoyable and
honorable. but the experience OF the last
three days has made me willing to change
places with the veriest wretch that ever
wore trousers. Now, will you, out of
your own experience and observation
solve this myterys for you do not seem
like one to hold an unauthorized opin-
ion~
"Of course" replied the lady, "there
are boarders and boarders, just as there
are landladies and lsndladies. For my
part I like ladies in the house. Every
house is pleasanter and should be the
better for their presence. But the fact
remains that they are moro trouble
than men. When they are in their
rooms all day, where they have right
to be, they are generally wanting some
thing not in the bond. They-I am talk
ing now Of the careless, selfish, or simply
inconsiderate ones-insist upon extra
ervice; they will ring for the girl to
ONE up three flight of stairs to put
lump of coal on the CRATE, to open a win
dow or shut it, or to find their nigh,
dress. They'll go into the bathroom
even those who have no need to econo-
mise, and wash out all sorts of things
lsces and handkerchief and stockings;
this in time fills up the waste-pipe with
shreds and ravellings, and the end there
of is plumbers bill, They will eithe
ring for hat-iron or else they will come
down into the kitchen with their trailing
skirts and attend to the pressing out of
their gowns there. They will bother the
girl, want little more fire and an iron.
ing board, little starch and holder,
and it will frequently end by the girl Of
fering to do the work for them just to
get them out OF the way. They want
little thread, or dsrning-needle, or a tea.
spoon, or some mustard, or table salt, or
camphor. 1t seems to me there's moth
ing from pin to porous plaster that 1
have not been asked for by my lady
dodgers.
"They want frequent changes made in
the arrangements of their room. The
bed doesn't stand the right way, the cur
tains are too thin or too thick, the back
of the rocking chair is too high or too
low. They lose their pass keys, and burn
the gas to heat curling irons and pipe
stems wherewith to curl their hair. They
receive calls, properly enough, but they
forget that it requires the time of the
servant to answer the bells for these
callers. And as women spend money less
freely than men, they do not consider that
extra service should receive extra pay. If
the truth must be told, find it much
easier and more pleasant to transact bust
ness-from small matters to greater ones
with a man than with a woman. We
men are not business-ike, they will pay
$40 for a bonnet willingly and haggle
over a wash-bill. Again, in house full
of lady dodgers or boarders there are oc-
casional strifes and envyings, jealOusies
and gossipings not pleasant. These are a
few Of the reasons why women are con-
sidered undesirable as dodgers and board
ers."-CdrlOttd Perry