Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-08-15
HER GIFT IS PATIENCE
BELLA. THE WOMAN IN CHARGE OF
A LADIES' WAITING ROOM.

6Hf EoSN - IN tue &fsAnN AGAAAhht oNA-
tion. and She Sees Hundreds Of Busy.
Frantic. Rushing Women Every Day.
Despite All the Haste She Is Calm.
The presiding genius of the ladiea'
waiting room at the New York Central
station at Forty-seeond street is named
Bella. It is to be presumed she has also
family name, but no one knows what
il ia In fact no one cares. For thirteen
years she has been the friend and assist
ant of almost every child and woman
living between New York and Pough-
keepsie who travels on the railroad. She
is tall. slight woman. with a pleasant
manner and kindly face. though how she
can remain SO placid, answering so calm
ly the thousand and one questions adj
dressed her in rapid succession, is y pug
Gle
In the first place. most OF the ont of
town shoppers have all their purchases
sent to the waiting room. to be called
for at train time. These bundles are
put away in big closet, piled from floor
to ceiling with packages containing
every conceivable thing, from spring
bonnets to cream puffs. From 3 to 5 is
the time to watch reunions between the
women and their belongings. Shopping
Is over and every one is hurrying home.
Half dozen tired women and girls will
charge into the waiting room at once.
hastily inquire, Where are my things,
Bella:" and begin TO arrange their bangs.
BY the time the hasty toilet is finished
their dust coats and parcels are on the
big table, and the umbrella and over
shoes are on chair in the corner.
/ Every parcel has had the knots seen
10, lest they fall open in the train, and
soft or carelessly wrapped articles have
an additional heavy paper about them.
These are all handed over with pleas
ant smile and just the slightest possible
forward motion of one hand for the ten
cent fee, which is dropped into capa-
cious bag in the closet.
SOME PECULIAR CHARGES.
Ladies' coming in for days shopping
usually stop in moment to get rid of
heavy wells and dust coats or to wipe
the cinders from their faces. Lots of
them keep their own combs and towels
here. and repair damages as calmly as
if at home. Bella gives them little
critical glance, AMI perhaps makes a
suggestion. Then of they go. leaving
things scattered about-soap. comb and
train gloves-all of which will be found
in their own particular corners when
wanted
There is one lady from Yonkers who
is deaf and afflicted with an unquiet
spirit. She would not trust her comb
out Of her sight for worlds: her soap she
dries and puts back in her pocket. saw
her the other afternoon run back four
times to see If parcel left in Bella's
care had been safely marked and hidden.
Another kind of crank never knows
when the train goes. neither will believe
when Bella tells her, but always insists
on that long suffering woman hunting
up a time table and proving her state
ment.
In striking contrast is the good ma
. tured, easy going woman. who saunters
in, asks When does the next train go.
BellaE and calmly read novel till the
bell rings This is the woman who
leaves her small girl here while she pays
calls. The small girls enjoys being left,
and tells wonderful stories of her adven-
lures all the way home.
sat for an hour in the room one day
, and saw canary and two children left
or called for. school girl thankfully
recover lost exercise book, four mer
, plunge in under the impression that il
I was the entrance to the elevated rail
? road Cyrus Field hammer fercely OF
! the door and inquire if the feminine por
? ton of his family had gone on. a marvel
, GUS number of hairpins replaced and ar
: almost endless stream Of bundles handed
in by srrand boys-
"HER LADIES"
A nice old lady with curls gravelJ
! consulted everybody in the room abou
e the weather and finally decided not Il
r visit some country friends till the mex
day. as 1t looked like rain, and Went
= home. leaving her satchel behind so a
not to have the bother of carrying II
back again. After her came couple Of
girls who had evidently never been there
; before. for one set the other to keep /;
sharp eye ON her bundles while she made
e 3 voyage to the ticket Office. and ther
o performed like kindly Office while he
/, friend visited the news stand. Ther
: they had their shawl straps frightened
J and kept Bella busy for quite five min
utes attending TO their wants. and de
: parted without thinking it necessary II
/. fee the patient attendant. AS she re
marked pathetically. "All that travels
amt ladies'
Bearing this latter fact in mind, Bell
$ stands guard over half the basins ant
e toilet arrangements generally. reservlni
a them for cher ladies', as she calls tn,
4 regular travellers. The ordinary public
people she does not include in he
aock-may not venture to remove TIN
stains Of travel in these holy bowls, no
{ arrange their bangs at that special glass
A complaint was made not very Ion,
. ago by some one not OF the elect at thi
! exclusiveness. but Bella appeared befor
! the authorities and defended her caus