Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-26
FOR WORKING WOMAN.
Shirley Dare Draws a Pen Picture Of
a Home for the Worthy.
COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, FREEDOM
Novel and Meriterious Idea That May Ssmo
Time Be Realized.
RAISING BERRIES FOR REVENUE
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.l

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.1
On . highway that ran, sunny and
deserted, between green borders which
loitered temptingly under the shade of
dropping trees, rose a scent of blended rose,
cut grass and ripening fruit from the fields
within. The expression of the scene was
inviting-not close clipped, shorn to the
roots and pruned to skeleton like model
places or kept in pharasaic primness, with
grass plot and rose borders saying, "Come,
look at me and see how nicely am tended"
nor did it wear the look of neglect. Rather
it was superlatively well kept, without
losing grace, and the grass, deep in color,
was three inches longer than an American
gardener would tolerate.
Above the tall arch of the gate woodbine
and evergreen ivy swung their garlands,
white pillar roses bloomed inside and jessa-
mine and clematis were further down the
walk 1 could hardly frame the wish to
enter when my friend rang the bell at the
little portal, which opened SO freely from
within, but gave guarded entrance from the
road. The plain, gray-gabled house rose
out of turf and flower borders, its threshold
only one step above the path, its broad win
dows framed In the cool Japan ivy, with
upper easements swinging open in the sun
shine. To the rear one caught sight of
broad, open piazzas, without roof, where
women were at work.
Deliciously Cool and Fragrant.
But the front had Lord Bacon mignonette
border under its windows, with fragrance
coming and going like sweet music and fill
lug the rooms within, which were deliciously
cool in mating, ratsam furniture and white
linen cushions that day after the Fourth of
July. The wide stairs, with square turn
ings, were cool in polished chestnut, and
red Leeds pots and gray blue Flemish jars
full of bay, myrtle and fragrant olive in
censed the entries to the roof. The interior
was very simple, as I remember it, but cool
ness, freshness and excellent finish were
everywhere. We did not peep into closet
or corner that was not finished In paint,
plaster and carpentry as well es any outer
view. Ny friend was familiar of the
house, and we went through to the back
porch, which was the fine weather sitting
room of the family.
A porch 10 feet wide, open to the blue
overhead, with railing hung with flowers,
place for work, and one had her embroidery
frame with basket Of rich hued silks, and
another her easel, three or four ensconced in
low Shaker chairs had their sewing and knit
ing, and presently came two more, with ber-
ries to pick over for tea, who seemed to be
quite as welcome as the rest.
Worked Wherever Convenient.
"Emily is up stairs" said sweet voiced
yuhn
after. You will find the back way nearest. !"
Another roomy, sunny hall, with square
staircase and the same exquisite neatness,
with window seats built out for twilight
reveries, and shelves and closets, up stairs,
showing that it was used as a sewing room.
But the people seemed to work all over the
house where 1t was convenient. Down
narrow, cheerful corridor we turned, where
little rooms with screen doors bolted and
swing windows open gave luxurious airiness,
and were welcomed at one of them. 1t was
a little room, but SO nice the adjustments to
individual wants that it had more space
than larger ones with our cumbrous furni-
ture. The slender bed of turned railings,
like the Vienna bent wood, took up no use
less room. One corner was draped toilet,
another by the window held shelves, and
there was place for a writing table, wall
bookcases and overdoor brackets for pretty
things without crowding, while a trunk
closet amply held the wardrobe. How
dainty that room was-how peaceful and
full Of flower scentsI Before the call was
ended the inmate had turned up her bed to
show how clean, fine hair mattresses
and woven springs, had taken me to the
large light bathrooms and linen closets,
which proved the comforts of the house fell
short of none of those in more pretentious
homes
Growing Fruits for Hard Cash.
1 beg your pardon for these details, which
mean much to women who earn their bread.
But the sunny orchard was inviting US, and
down the espaliered walks we went, where
fruit and flowers disputed that this was not
Eden Rods and rods of pinks there were,
Glove gillifowers for scent bags, where you
could cut and come again and not miss
blossom; hedges of roses, fuller of fragrance
in this cool climate than in the hot South,
and you can gather many bushel baskets of
roses from 500 feet of rose border, besides
basil and lavender, lemon verbena and
fragrant things unknown, worth their
weight in gold.
eve cannot afford to grow common quail
ties of things" said the quiet woman who
went with us down those lovely paths,
where sun and shade were so nicely blended
that one might work in comfort any sum-
mer day. "Our berries have done finely
this year." she went on, stopping at bed
which breathed delicious odor. "All our
best sold for 80 cents basket faster than
we could pick them, and none were less
than 35 cents.
"You see 1t pays to grow such berries as
these" and she put the leaves aside to show
the great Belmonts in their deep carbuncle |
red. A fully ripened strawberry Of choice
variety is rarity in these days, and it was
like eating jewels of priceless flavor as well
as beauty.
An Easy Way to Earn Money.
"Few women can earn so cents easier |
than by growing and picking basket of |
large berries like these" said the guide. |
''Our September berries will bring 81 |
basket for invalids," and she turned to an
other bed where the tiniest berries were |
making up for size by the exquisite fra
GRANGE and favor of the eyerbearing Alpine |
strawberry, one or two of which perfume
room. "When we can have a strawberry
house it will coin money tor US and be so
nice for sick people. They crave things out
OF season sometimes.
"Come this side the walk and have some
thing fresh, won't you?" said a CHEEKY voice,
and we were in the raspberry border There |
may be easier ways for women to work than
In that half light, sitting by the loaded
bushes in low chairs, with broad hats, cool
linen dresses and fngerless gloves, the very
poetry of usefulness They were nice,
ladylike girls as any playing tennis at the
beaches Down the slope another, with
srl rtr,