The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-07
Has Worked Her Way Through Europe, and Is Now Companion for
a Lady in This Cty-"The Great Thing to Do" She Says,
"ls to Keep a Laugh Up Your Sleeve and Let the
Humorous Side of Things Strike You First"

I moro fun out of It. Have you foun that
out? The second time / visited Paris an
uncle Of mine was there and We spent four
| times as much, without doing any more or
getting any more enjoyment out of it."
did you ever go to switzerland"
'Oh. yes; several times. You see. l was
better paid in France, and got two months
holiday every year, so that 1 colid take lit
tie trips 1t was rather funny; Ma1ame L.
was 30 shocked at my travelling alone that
she made me- buy and wear a wedding ring.
and begged me to register as Mrs. l re-
member I bought q Decent rilS, and when
I got to Basic my finger was greer Will
%verdigris, so I gave Up the subta:!ugs AMI
dropped the ring into the HIN What
good times one can have. af.ar all! Tho
mere thought of Switzerland makes lie
seem more worth the living"
well, tell me-what did you do after
leaving France?"
"Oh. I went home for a time: but Just
when I was beginning to find 1t would never
do, and my mother and sister BEGAN to
think I was converted a friend offered TO
take me to the West Indies as companion.
OF course, I went-no need to tail you that
and oh. what a glorious time we ha1l I muse
not start telling you. for I sho7;d never
stop expatiating. O n the glofies OF tEose
wonderful Islands At the end Of the winter
Alice went home, but I weot to Canada
Will - 1oAy oAN Az
lucky, my getting the chance? ThoJ wanted
me to stay with them, but when I found
they were each going to England / re-
fused, for I felt 1t would be a shame to
leave America without visiting the States"
And so you came to St Louis-why
here7"
II knew a girl who had married an
ways wanted me to come. I arrived at
rather an unfortunate moment. though, for
her husband had thrown up a good position
for what proved to he q wili-'o. the -wisp.
hat seems to be quite 4 usua. event here.
though"
Ibid she ind you something to do"
"She tried to, but we soon found 1t was
by no means easy. OF course. presented
my letters Of introduction and explained
my circumstances with the result that
every one promised to do what they could
and meanwhile invited me to lunch. They
were all very kind. but somehow I had not
great faith in the practical result. SO I adj
vertlsed. That was very funny! I got, as
q reward, an offer Of marriage. various
pamphlets about profitable work at home.
a promising looking reply which my friend
would not allow me to follow up when she
saw the address given, and a postal card
from a lady who wanted q housegirl! 1t
not promising and my money was fast
disappearing. SO I scanned the newspapers
once more. Then I saw that quite a num-
Der Of people wanted companions-why. that
the very thing! l started out quite
hopefully. 1t would make it too long to
tell you all the funny people I interviewed |
I remember. was the ook-the mistress
was out-so she stood. arms akimbo. and
catechiSed me-"
''You poor girl"
'Poor? Not a bit Of It'll I enjoy It. I
felt all the time I was acting a part and
was 50 impressed by the humor Of 1t
that I%had much ado to keep my face
straight\ Just imagine my mothers cook
interviewing a prospective companion In the |
drawing-room!"
But in the end?" |
'In the end I was fortunate enough to |
find a lady who seemed likely to understand |
and to her I told more or less Of my story. |
the result that she engaged me ON |