Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-07-10
SAWED THE HOUSE IN TWO.
The Equitable Division of a Cottage Owned Jointly by Two
 Chicago Aldermen.

Recently Alderman William T. May pole and his family and John Lyke and his family occupied the same cottage on the Ingleside shore of Fox lake. Each occupied half the structure. Each still occupies a half.
 4 few mornings ago MT. Lyke was awakened by the rip, rip of big saw, and stream of sawdust fell on the Turkish rug in the center of the floor. The worthy man looked up and saw a thin line of daylight along the middle of the ceiling, and through the aperture was working the flashing blade of saw.
 Two or three seasons ago Alderman Maypole and MT. Lyke, also a Chicago citizen, decided to build cottage at Fox Lake for their mutual occupation. They were great friends, and they knew it would be pleasanter for both if they should pool their interests in the mat ter of summer living.
 The cottage was built, a barn, an ice house, chicken coops, and all the nec- essary buildings for a summer home was erected and the joint owners sur veyed their work with pride. The warm weather came and the fam flies moved in, each occupying half of l the premises. l. was fine arrange ment for time. Mrs. Lyke and Mrs. Maypole borrowed sugar and raisins of each other, and the husbands traded cigars, which they smoked on the yeranda in the warm evenings. The cottage was the first to be built on that side of the lake, and they had no neigh bors to eneroaeh on their privacy. At first the fact that the LYl1es were of religious turn of mind and loved quiet and Sabbath calm, while the May poles liked dancing and games and all joined forces in singing the popular songs of the day, did not mar the hap piness of the flock The relations were cordial and the exchange of cigars and raisins and laundry soap continued.
 In time, however, the likes and dis likes of the families began to jar. Sometimes Mr. Lyke and his family would be tired ard retire early, only to have their nerves jump in tune to "Therell Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" or My Gal Is High Bon Lady" And in time, too, there came gentle suggestions that early hours and much quiet were best for city dwellers who were seeking rest and health in the country. On the other hand, there were as covert sug- | gestions that there was no need for 1 persons to be mummies simply because | q s,, fIa T cfr C+
 The rag-time melodies continued to make the shore of Fox lake echo, and the Lykes continued to retire early and court elusive Morpheus or seek the sub | stance of Fox's Martyrs at distance of Is feet from a rousing chorus, ac- companied by piano that was work l ing overtime.
 l The thread broke at last and the att mosphere about the Maypole-Lyke cot tage became such that the icehouse went into disuse. If either side wished l to have ice cream or sherbet for Sun day dinner it simply set the mixed in- gradients on the front porch and in five minutes the stuff was ready for the table.
 Last season Mr. Maypole and his fam fly left the cottage for the sole use of the Lykes. They spent the hot months elsewhere. The alderman thoughtlo over the proposition, and, as shrewd business man, came to the conclusion that it was poor policy to have vacant property on his hands. Under this train of thought a result was soon reached, and the next day a local car pentering firm sent a force of men to Fox lake with full kit of tools. The carpenters waited until the gray dawn appeared, and then they mounted the roof of the mutual cottage.
 They began to saw. Rip, rip, went the blades, and they did not stop until they had made halves of the structure from roof peak to basement. Then l they began on the barn. That was di- l yided, and the icehouse and chicken coop suffered a like fate. Not a hairs breadth from the center of the building did the carpenters digress. The alder man was fair man, and he only want ed his half. Every movable thing on the place was sawed in two before the worllmen ceased their labors.
 The halves have been moved a few feet apart and sided up, and now the Lykes and the Maypoles occupy their several portions in peace.-Chicagc Journal.
 "watches" on Board ships. Eor. the r111.nose If eonvenieuce and