The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-28
KEEPING BOARDERS.
Some Advice to Women Who Under
take the ThankIess business.
New York Times.

40" tOAh AhiSc.
Almost every woman thinks she could
run a boarding house. at least take a
few bOardeTs." y few boarders never paid
any 'one. That is business in which the
rule of arithmetical progression holds good
to an extent almost beyond the belief of the
uninitiated.
In opening boarding house, whether it
be in the city or the country the first con-
siCeration should be absolute security as
regards the lease and a written under
standing concerning repairs Moreover, a
woman should take pains to learn how long
q notice to Qui. is given or required, eS-
pecially if no mention OF this be made in
the lease. In some States ii is only thirty
days, in others a tenant renders himself
responsible for. a renewal of the lease IL
notice be not given three months before the
expiration of that which he has already
signed. For instance, lease ending In
May, 1894, is renewed by the mere neglect
of the tenant to give notice Feb. 1. 1884, that
ne does not want the house after May 1.
A genial landlord who believes that an
honest man need not be ashamed of telling
how he makes his money, has volunteered
the following points for the benefit OF those
who think of entering into any such bust
ness:
You must reckon rent, servants wages,
fuel, light and the interest on the money
YOU have invested in furniture. Provision
ing Is the smallest part of the problem and
that is why cannot make special rates for
children If you know anything about
housekeeping, you know what it costs per
head to feed your family each Week.
Reckon the same for your boarders. for,
when YOU come to allow for feeding your
servants, what they steal from you, what
YOU will be swindled out of and what will
be wasted in spite of you, you will not have
q large margin of profit resulting from the
discounts allowed you in buying wholesale.
II find that l have to refurnish every
three years. 1 don't mean to say that
have to buy one hundred bedsteads every
three years. but, for instance, L must get
new office carpet every year, and what
with breakages and the ordinary wear and
tear the entire cost OF refurnishlnS must
be met every three years.
1.-The way that / regulate prices is this
| set down all these items-interest on
money invested, rent. wages, provisions Tor
say 100, fuel and highland divide the sum
by the number of weeks in my season
me my running expenses. To this L add
what / feel / should have for my trouble
in short. my salary, and then arrange the
prices of my rooms so that they shall yield
that amount Ii takes close reckoning and
in bad season 1 lose my salary, and
sometimes more"
In all large concerns q most careful esti-
mate is made at regular times as to the
cost, not only of production but of selling
and the system is reduced to such detail
that the percentage of profit On each sales
man is computed. and he who IS not paying
for himself is promptly dismissed.
Business is a question OF dollars ant
cents as well as of hard work If you
know nothing of it and have no need to en-.
ter the struggle except your desire to pos
SesS more than competence, leave the
fight to those who are compelled to wage
it, Or IL the fascination be so strong that
you cannot resist. do nothing without the
advice of some honest business man, who
knows the ways of the world and whom
you can trust to guide you. Few of u.
are without some friend. and professional
advice can be bought at reasonable rates
by those who are lacking in friends or il
confidence