The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-28
SAWED, THE HOUSE IN TWO.
The Equitable Division of n Cottage
Owned Jointly by Two Chicago Men


From the Chicago Journal.
Recently Alderman William T. Maypole
and his family aud John Lyke and his
family occupied the same cottage on the
Ingleside shore of Fox lake Each occu-
pied half the structure. Each sill ocou-
pies half
A few mornings ago Mr.. Lyke was awak-
ened by tho rip. rip of a big saw, and a
stream of sawdust fell on the Turkish rug
in the center Of the floor. The worthy
man looked up and saw thin line Of day
light along the middle of the ceiling, and
through the aperture was working the
flashing blade of a saw.
Two or three seasons ago Alderman
Maypole and Mr.. I4yNe, also a Chicago cit
izen decided to build a cottage at Fox
Lake for their mutual occupation. They
were great friends, and they knew 1t
would be pleasanter for both IL they should
pool their interests in the matter of sum
mer living.
The cottage was built a barn. an Ice
house, chicken coops, and all the necessary
buildings for a summer home We're erect
ed, and the Joint owners surveyed their
work with pride
lies moved in, each occupying half of the
premises. 1t was a fine arrangement for
a time. Mrs. Lyke and Mrs. Maypole bor-
rowed sugar and rasins of each other,
and the husbands traded cigars, which
they smoked on the veranda in the warm
evenings. The cottage was the first to be
built on the side of the lake, and they had
no neighbors to encroach on their privacy.
Al hTst the fact that the Lykes were of a
religious turn OF mind, an dloVed quiet and
Sabbath calm, while the Maypoles liked
dancing and games and all Joined voices
n singing the popular songs of the day
dad not mar the happiness of the flock
The relations were cordial and the ex-
change of cigars and rasins and laundry
soap continued
In time, however, the likes and disIikes of
the families began TO jar. Sometimes MIR.
Lyke and his family would be tired and re-
tire early, only to have their nerves fump
in tune to "There'll Be a Hot Time In the
IN time to "There'll Be Hot Time in the
Old Town Tonight" or My Gal is a
High Born Lady" And in time, too. there
came gentle suggestions that early hours
and much quiet We're best for city dwell
ers who We're seeking rest and health in
the country. On the other hand. there
We're as covert suggestions that there was
no need for persons to be mummies simply
because they We're In the rural districts
The rag-time melodies continued to make
the shore of Fox lake echo and the I,vkes
continued 20 retire early and court eh-
sive Morpheus or seek the substance of
FoNs Martyrs at a distance of fifteen
feet from a rousing chorus, accompanied
by Nano that was working overtime
The thread broke at last and the atmos-
phere about the Maypole-Lyke cottage
became such that the icehouse went into
disuse. If either side wished to have ice
cream or sherbet for Sunday dinner il
simply set the mixed ingredients on the
front porch and in five minutes the stuff
was ready for the table.
Last season Mr.. Maypole and his family
left the cottage for the sole use of me
Lykes. They spent the hot months else
where. The alderman thought long over
the proposition, and, as a shrewd business
man, came to the conclusion that il was
poor policy to have vacant property on his
hands. Under this train of thought a
result was soon reached. and the next
day local carpentering firm sent a force
of the men to Fox lake with a 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 they began
on the barn. That suffered a like fate.
Not a hairs breadth from the center of
the building did the carpenters digress.
The alderman was fair man, and he only
wanted his half. Every movable thing
on the place was sawed in two before the
workmen ceased their labors.
The halves have been moved. few feet
apart and sided Up, and now the Lykes ara
the Maypoles occupy their several por-
tons in peace.