The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-04

A New York Woman whe Cleans aaA
Dusss Houses fer Her FrsenAs.

a New York Woman Who Cleans ana
Dusss Hssses for Her FrienAs.
Sweep" said the tall, weil.fcrmed
Young woman. with = big bandana tied
over her crisp dark hair. . big white
apron over cotton gown, and her cheeks
flushed with exercise. who WAS putting
10 rights the parior OF . handsome up
tcwn kpuse which had just received its
weekly cleaning. In answer to a question.
"feS that Is my business. But l can't
give you my name and address," she
added with laugh, for I have more
work than ! know how to do among my
friends. and l can't undertake anything
else. II 10 a funny business, you think,
tor a-weli. for a lady: Yes. perhaps it
ts. but II you knew the need. you would
consider me a phiianthropist, notwiths
standing the fact that I have regular
price for my work. and viii not Abato
one iot or little Of IL.
Il commenced my work an \ profession.
nj right In this house." said the sweeper.
as she settled herself to talk, In q com
Portable chair and looked around the big
parior where everything WAS spotlessly
clean and fresh flowers arranged Ia dif-
ferent appropriate receptacies with an air
OF satisfaction. Mrs. Blank does not
mind admitting that her lady sweeper
II friend OF hers. 30 I will repeat that
we are friends. though she 10 blessed with
more OF this worlds goods than I am.
She was grooming one day about this
room. which contains 50 many treasures,
souvenirs of all sorts that are priceless,
and which she said made her heart sick
to think OF having handled by the SER
wants. 1t was for some special occasion
that she wished to have things thorough
~ cleaned. and the room slightly reArs
ranged. But how can I set Il DONE she
said with groan. I know Just how
want II. but no servant could do II. un.
less under my careful supervision. and
have not moment TO spare. want
to have everything thoroughly busted.
hut to suggest that to the servants means
a prolonged handling OF my greatest
treasures. and consequent agony OF soul
on my part. I simply am In despair
why not let me do it!' said. i have
nothing In particular TO do just now;
there 10 nothing love 20 much a. TO put
ter around q house among pretty thlnga
and will do II with pleasure That was
the beginning. Mrs. Blank accepted my
offer with the greatest Joy for that spe-
cial occasion. I busted everything in cab
inets and out. and had everything In ship.
shape for the special evening for whicA
she was preparing. and don't think she
was in the house Ave minutes during that
week except to eat and sleep. But her
conscience was clear. she told me, and
she further invited me 70 see that the
rest Of the house was swept and gars
nished In detail.
Then she came down to . plain busas
ness talk. She handed me 4 bill for the
work l had done for that occasion. ana
proposed that come regularly and ~
stated intervals and sweep and dust GER
tain rooms In her house, and she would
pay mo for Il.
II objected at first to taking the money
for what I had already done. or to take
money for anything might d. but she
reasoned with me for time. and finaI-
iy consented. I did not hesitate from
feelings Of pride. but because II seemed
such an absurd thing 70 do and hardly
worth paying for.
THAT was the beginning OF my busi-
ness career. and IL 10 surprising TO know
the real need there Ia Of Just such help -
mine. II - the careful. intelligent inter-
est that the mistress OF the house sives.
but which 20 many women now In com
pick city life have not time to bestow.
It isn't play by any means. either. though
don't always do the sweeping. and
have the servants To help me In any why
necessary. I see when there IL . little
wear In = covering or . little tear in q
curtain. and I polish tho big mahogany
table in the dining room. or have Il done
under my close supervision I see that
tbe ftStn taiSUce8 on tho Oo0n oI0 put
on straiEht--that N one little thing that
means great deal--and SEQ 70 q thou
sand and one little things like that. which
In the work Of a housekeeper.
why not have regular houneksper in
the house, That In long story. for the
horsekeerer problem 10 ~ difacuit Ia IL
way n the servant problem.
''Of course my work IN not confined -
this house now. for have many ciisntp-
you see I consider myself Z professional
housewife-and ! make enough money TO
keep me in pretty gowns and hats. II isn't
bit harder work than playing golf. and
have had good deal OF experience With
that, All the talent Il requires II COM
mon sense and interest, and II 10 surpris-
Ing how seldom those two commodities
are to be found" Then the professional
housewife ran lightly upstairs. doffed her
cotton gown, apron and bsndana. and the
eharminxiy Gewned young woman WIN
came downstairs q little later and was
driven away in = hanson with the mis-
trcss OF the house. did not look like 3
lady sweep&r."--New York T!mes.
100000 Insurance o. = JePoey Dul1.