Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-24

4SxOlI MOND O1Ol a
- - -
ment provided that during certain por-
tions OF the twenty-four hours each girl
should remain in absolute, undisturbe1
possession OF her room.
BRIDGET.
Last Of all they secured n maid.
burning question rose I'm their minds as
TO the quality and capacity desired In
this adjunct. Ethelinda, who had some
experience I'm housekeeping. was decided
ly for paying reasonably large wages and
getting competent person. But the
others overrued her, and In accordance
with bright idea Of Polly's which could
only have occurred to q lady who knew
nothing OF domestic trials. a certain au-
tumn day when a transatlantic liner was
expected to arrive. two OF the quartette
repaired TO East Boston to await the land
ing OF pilgrims from foreign parts Not
many had come 10 seek their fortunes on
that trip. but as luck would have it. trip
ping down the gang plank into their very
arms appeared the neatest. rosiest. pref
test Irish lass in the world. A delicious
brogue had Miss Bridget, as she owned
that a place TO do homework was what
she wanted, and also that she had been
taught to cook and scrub and sweep by
the nuns In the convent at home. An
aunt and uncle were expecting her on the
pier. They felt a special dispensation OF
Providence had brought the ladies into
Bridget's destiny. and she accepted the
position with real gratitude at $50
week al first, which she regarded as per-
fectly magnificent pay.
Ethelinda, who was going to run the
house. frowned darkly when blue-eyed
Bridget appeared on the scene-a green
horn Of the most pronounced type, but
there was no resisting the pleasant smile
and unrufiled good nature Of the girl, ana
after many mistakes. mishaps. and misun-
| derstandings. she TUNED out faithful
and efficient retainer, who did not consid-
er a cap the badge OF servitude, rejoiced in
| fresh print dresses and snowy aprons, and
was always willing to do any service re-
| quired OF her. To be sure. she could
never get over running as If the house
were afire when the electric bell twittered
! over her head, had views Of her own
about washing and ironing with which
| she parted reluctantly. and INDUCED In
| Mysteries every time she climbed up on
the roof to hang out the clothes to dry.
But these were mere tries They paid
her 81 a week when her education was well
| under way, and Ethelinda found her a
real comfort. The latter lady. as / have
|
said she would agree to furnish a salts
factory table for 81 a week apiece, and she
did.
THE DAILY BILL OF FARE.
They breakfasted at 1870 on oatmeal,
fruit, coffee, with one substantial dish.
sometimes eggs. sometimes fish. some
times meat left over from the day before
and prepared in appetizing ways for
| Ethelnda had learned al cooking school
| that she who can Techauffer wei mas
| mastered the economy of food. Then they
| had luncheon at 1.-The undergraduates
| could not return before that time-ahd II
| always included bouillon piping not anu
| well seasoned made out of beef eNlracp'
perhaps there would be veal pie next OF
hot sausages. fried apples. and baked po-
tatoes-how good they were on colu WIN
ter days-or croquettes and r0ils Just ou'
Of the oveni And then fruit to cohciuue'
Dinner was AT $50. They had soup inVa-
riably-that's cheap. you know. anu use
ful economy because Il takes OIL the edSe
of an appetite-meat.' potatoes and one
other vegetable; a salad, except "heh
lettuce rose TO fearful prices, and SIM
ME sweet dish--omelette aux conitures
apple pie. occasionally plain boiled nee
AT which you may turn up your noses
gourmets. but which is uncommonly nice
with preserve and cream.
The girls are perfectly content WIN
this cost OF catering II they "ahteu
INV snecial dish they mentioned it, and
81, ,Yere not too expensive. it was forth
coming Guests were allowed. but not
"a take not luck. so closely had the house
| l,oener calculated, and they were 10 be
raid for at the rate of % cents meal
Once or twice during the winter lhey
cave real dinner parties though only loui
9ddItional people could be invited. as the
r1otes and forks would not go round, bul
these came out Of the entertainment
fund. TO which each girl contributed aho
we're not included in the regular running
! expenses.
THE COST PER WEEK
Of course. all this took a good deal oil
Ethelinda's time. but not SO much as on,
would suppose. especially after bTldge'
had been taught her duties. hut Ethel
india could not be writing stories Tor SINAI
children all the time. IT WAS pleasah'
diversion for her To plan the meals anC
,rs,lt tho butcher and baker. She liked
IL md she did ii also, which was. per
hans. one OF the principal reasons why th'
| ut,ie establishment went on so smoothly
ond made the members of II so well sat
isded with their experiment. NO wohuer
rrbev were living i'm the city within reaci
of all the intellectual pleasures that ON!
a great city could give, and were con
scious that their small salaries were CIV
ing them an amount of comfort ana ever
luxury of a certain sort that they ha'
never enjoyed before.
See what it cost them month: Dividinj
tho monthly rent of the apartment b!
four. each paid SOP month. Bridget.
wages were $l2; quarter of that was IS
and the 81 per week for the table adde'
sl6 more TO the monthly account. Tha
made the total cost of board, lodging
. washing. and service less than 81 day 70
each one of them. leaving comfortabl
little surplus out of the $50 month whic
represented on an average their indiVidua
earnings.
How n TarnntuIa Sheds Its skin.
Country Gentleman)
lf,.a, TIT voc