The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-05
MRS. AI'KINLEY'S SLIPPERS.
Twenty Pairs Said to BE Eaten Up by
White House Moths.
New York Press.

New York Press.
There is a plague fallen upon Washing
ton, one that Pharaoh never heard or II
is moths. An enthusiastic student OF social
science from Europe in Washington re-
Gently for the purpose of gathering ln1Or-
nation on the subject of a government or
the people, by the people and for the peo-
pie. She had letters to all the great foIk IN
the capital. When asked about her trip on
her return to New York, she said
"Oh, Washington is lovely-pertectly love
ly But the moths-that is the only thing
they would talk to me about down there;
l went everywhere and saw everything and
everybody but when l began to ask ques-
lions about what doing, must believe
that all the people were hunting moths.
Il met Mrs. Mckinley in her reception
room upstairs, above the entrance to the
White House. She was surrounded by Ia
dies, who sat rather close to her. and was
as beautiful as any queen nave seen al
home. She was crocheting slippers, ana
had several balls Of beautiful WorSted IN
her lap. When l hid been presented ana the
reason Of my visit had been explained, she
said that she would be glad to be of any
service to me. She was in hearty accord
with anything that would increase a gqod
fellowship and mutual understanding be-
tween the women on opposite sides OF the
water. L extremely pleased, OF course,
and then she asked me if had heard about
the moths.
They have caused no end of trouble to
us here said Mrs Mckinley. Why, I've
had twenty pairs of slippers ruined by
them, and I've been here hardly two
months yet. You see, knit a great deal
doctor II
exercise and occupation that need, and
have been industrious since L left the West
But the moths got into every pair ana they
are ruined. 1t it were not for that should
beg you to accept some perfectly lovely
blue ones that L made the second day that
l was here
permost in her thoughts. l had come in
just as every one was talking or the raw
ages Of the pest and naturally t9e t cna erih
ject where it had been dropped when L en-
tered the room.
s'Those who sat with her each had some
tale of woe one remarked that Pharaoh
would have let the children of Israel go out
of Egypt much sooner If Moses had sent
moths into his best Gobeln tapestries TO eat
holes therein and ruin them inc way ners
had been ruined. Then she spOAR or rem
edies and preventives. Some one said moth
q Yes she answered, I used to believe
that moth balls were effective until found
a lot of eggs laid inside one the other DAY
sixteen eggs in a bunch. That was the
number for I counted them. I've read all
the books on moths 1 can get
asn of s0dooF went fonnd moths ne The
good people to whom l brought letters from
friends on the other side or from mere IN
New York were as kind as could be, ana
put themselves quite at my disposal, but
each and every one of them apologized for
the condition of his or her house.
" You see, the moths are here, ana we
have had to take everything up one WpuId
say-like an echo of what all the oIners
said. We have had tC give up any lued
of more receptions or parties of any KIND
because our carpets and hangingS, our bed
ding and our clothes even are going 10
pieces. We are so sorry, for otherwise we
could have shown you Washington at us
best -, -. 1900
thing was wrong-for any one coulq see
that the houses all over the city We're beng
pulled to pieces in an extraordinary way.
Carpet beaters were everywhere IN evil
dence and looked awfully oVerWorked All
sorts of brushes and cleaners were adVer-
tised in the shops, and always with par
ticular reference to their discovering ana
celebrating the moth. PeddlerS OF nos
trums were going about in professions. L
was told that these persons would be r1cher
than the society folk at the end OF the sea-
son. Houses had queer odors. Camphor,
turpentine, tobacco, pepper ana sulphur
were noticeable whenever [ entered pri-
vate dwelling. No wonder all thought Oh
entertainment had been given up.
Moths have shortened the season TINS
wear and have interfered with every one S
plans People are going away much Garner
than usual. Washington will be empty as
soon as all the household fabrics nave been
brushed fumigated, disinfected ana stored
away in camphOr chests that have been
sealed with parafine And the houses nave
been handed over to cleaning companies,
which guarantee to purify them perfectly
from roof to basement.
Moths lay their eggs in May ana June,
which accounts for the extraordinary pre-
cautions that were taken when L was on
nv visit to the capital. / had a glorious
chief interest was from unexpected quar-