The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15

rightly Mary did not manage to earn the
bread and butter, even If she could not
compass the raspberry jam upon it.
i sometimes think that it is the women
who have been most gently bred who are
most willing to do that honest work which
their hands find for them to do. The
world and all of Us in ii have fashion OF
jeering at boarding-houses, and yet, l
know no more honest way and no mere
living than by making a home for those
who have none. Unfortunately, most
women do not look at this in the right
way. They start out with the determlna-
tion to make as much money and give as
little consideration as possible, forgetting
that everything put in the market is only
worth the market price. Consequently,
she who offers to her boarders an untidy
table, a badly cooked dinner, rooms not
properly cared for, and none of the polite
ness which hotel keeper shows his guests,
need not expect to make enough money to
pay her landlord. Good cooking does not
cost any more than that which is bad, and
only little more care is required to
| achieve dainty table than an untidy one.
Some time ago young woman came to
me who was eager to make her living. She
was alone in the world, except-and always
when woman needs to earn her living
there comes that exception one old lady
who depended on her. She had little
money and few diamonds, and she
thought she would succeed on news
paper. | threw my whole soul in my talk
to her. Generally, l do not indulge in
that worst of vices-advice. But in this
case l did, and the result is-success.
This young woman rented a small house
in the neigh borhood of the big clubs; she
got man friend in each club to permit
her to use his name on her cards, which
were business cards and nothing else.
They stated that she would rent COM
Portable rooms at reasonable price; that
she would serve a light breakfast, if de-
sired, and that valet would come every
morning to attend those gentlemen who
wished his services. The first month she
lost money, but her diamonds went into
pawn that her rent for the next month
might be paid in advance, and at the end
of that time she had made enough money
to pay the rent, though the furniture and
the valet were still a loss. However, |
used TO see her and cheer her up, and We
would have a lovely cry together. In four
months time her house was full. Now
she is making money, the furniture is paid
for long ago, and she says she doesn't
believe any lodger will leave until he dies.
Because? Because she has given what
she promised-value for value received.
Instead of one small towel, strongly sug-
gestiye of a dinner napkin, the towel racks
in the bedrooms are covered with great big
ones, such as men like, and there are DAM
ask ones, and rough ones, and Turkish
ones. The rooms are kept immaculate.
The bathrooms, on each floor, do not have
in one corner collection of brooms and
dustpans, IN another three or four trunks
piled up, while the hot water doesn't run
until II o'clock IN the morning, and no
water runs after IL O'Clock at night. The
tub itself does not require thorough bath
before one enters it, but there is COM
Portable chair, foot baths, plenty of towels
and bathtub that shines so you can see
your face in it. The only request made is
posted in the bathrooms: AFTER using
bath gentlemen are requested to ring the
bell, so that the room may Immediately be
put in order" She pays the valet 50 much
a month; she charges the men who require
his services so much a week. and makes a
good percentage on this. Breakfast is
served at a cost of 30 cents a morning. 1t
consists of pot of the best coffee, boiling
hot, not tepid; two French rolls, pat of
fresh butter, a pitcher of boiling, not tepid,
milk, and all this is served on dainty
napery and IN delicate china.
There are no rules and regulations. If
Mr.. Burgundy fancleS coming in at in
the morning and not getting up until 3
the next afternoon that is entirely his busi-
ness, and as my friend refused to receive
her house she docs not fear the scandals
that occasionally arise in houses where
people are not known
Do think keeping boarding house is
easy work? [ do not. But | think if
women want to make money out of it they
had better find out what their boarders
would like, and cater to the people who
pay them. The average landiady seems to
regard her boarders as enemies, wretched
people from whom she must try to get the
most and give the last. My friend, this is
not the way to succeed in business. and if
women must go into business let them
show what fine creatures they are by max
ing successes of whatever they undertake.
Miss Determination, who has taken her
degree as lawyer, SCOTS at the very fem
inine ways by which / think woman can
earn her living. But wonder how many
cases she has had that have been paid for.
| suppose woman lawyer is all right, but
L prefer a man to conduct any case in
which might be interested.
|. Miss Chatter SCOTS at my quiet ways of
making money, for she is a doctor; some
how wonder If there aren't times when,
like all other women, she is capricious and
nervous and wishes she were dead, and
conclude that would rather have man,
stupid though he may be, to attend me
when / am i'll, to find fault with me if L
have not taken good care of myself, and to
make me conscious OF Iue 1dCC CDdI am
going to get well. 1t may be only igno-
rance, but / don't like to think of Miss
Determination in court pleading for some
horrid wretch who is guilty and for whom
she is forced to lie. Honestly, I would
rather the men would do the dirty work.
That sounds very mean, but it is true. l
don't like to think of little Miss Chatter,
who is going to marry your son or your
neighbor's son, coming into a sickroom
with business-llke air. feeling your pulse
and making doubtful statement. Oh,
am glad if she can be nurse; | am glad
if her fingers SO cool and soft, can touch
the hot forehead and make it seem better.
but I don't fancy women lawyers and
women doctors and women preachers.
/ think we want something bigger. phys
ically, than ourselves, to fill these posi-
tions. Men may not compare with US
mentally, but they are greater; and, no
matter what you say, you will have to ac-
knowledge that it is true, physically.
They were built that way; and we can
talk about new woman and new CEN
tury, and every thing else new that we
like but it is the old man that we stick to.
That one whose arms are strong enough
f0IS bon han hot