New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-07
SUMMER BOARDERS.
THE EXPERIENCE OF EPAsuNONDAS'S
SISTER.

SHE ADvERTIsEs FOR SINGLE GENTLEMEN-THE
CURIOUS REsULT-MRs. LONGS DEVOTION.
My advertisement was something like this:
Large farm house; wide, cool piazzss noble elms;
berries fresh milk Would like to take few single
gentlemen during heated term"
When had composed the above I submitted 1t 10
Epaminondas He Is somewhat literary and was
sure he would detect any error in It. lie asked why
l had said wide cool piazzas l told him that the
phrase seemed TO be expected, and besides, though
they were not wide, the piazza was cool from about
midnight untn sunrise. Any one who wished to try
sitting on II during those hours and who dh not mind
mosquitoes would enjoy himself very much indeed. II
did not strike me that 1t was necessary to explain
that our one piazza the south side Of the
house. whore the lay from morning until night and
that the air there was like breath from furnace
One cannot tell everything In advertisement at
much ne had said fresh milk because did not
mean sour. Was there anything elsel My half
brother Epamnondas grnncd. He inquired II
thought 1 advertising for male boarders and
answered that did think so. would rather have
them than women; they not so underfoot and
they did not crochet The female boarder Of the
human species who comes to cheap resorts always
crocheted. either langudly or furiously. could not
bear that. My companion grnned again and said he
guessed that I would find out It women
would get Though impored him to tell me why,
he would only say Z" wait and see.'
There must have been something very singular about
that notice. Perhaps Epaminondas had cast spell
upon It. On the third day from its appearance in
Boston daily paper had SIX letters all but OF
them were from women. They all said they had seen
my advertisement and hoped would not take gentle
men exclusively. Wide. cool piazzas. berries and
Eesh milk were exactly what they wanted. Could
they have roomsl Time passing and did not
feel that could be too particular. There was room
for eight boarders, provided they could "chum' to-
gether In four chambers picked out the notes /
liked best and answered them. BY the urgent advice
Of my brother replied to the solitary letter which
came from man. When I had sent of my notes
again asked my brother to tell me why he had thought
| should hear from women. There is something very
exasperating about Epaminondas. He threw back his
head and laughed till could have punched him. He
said was the brightest person he ever saw. anG he
would leave me TO find out. He walked from the
room but he put his head back and asked soemnly
II people who came would not be justified in expecting
to find single gentlemen here. said supposed so,
but what OF that2 He said "Oh, Lord ~ and shut
the door, heard him laughing as he took down the
milkpall.
1t seems strange that he is even my halfbrother.
Others call him NOndas,' but do It does not
seem precisely respectful toward masculine person.
L am not familiar with Greek and Latin. and have
always been painfully uncertain whether his is boys
girls name. We are both unmarried. UNIFORMED
people frequently call Mrs. Nondas. This both
confuses and pleases 1t pleases me because,
though have never had the slightest wish to be
ried, It Is agreeable TO know that It IS
considered possible that am entitled
to this distinction. not very
old 1 may yet-but this IS not what began to toll.