Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-27

should demand double the rent they could
possibly get from ordinary FIAT" tenants.
The bachelor. of necessity, pertorce,
passes the bachelor apartments by and
makes shift in various ways. A common
expedient lie to invade an ordinary apart
ment or fiat house, furnish the fat after
bachelor ideas, engage servants who can
cook simple breakfasts and care for the
rooms. In this way a family Of single men
live comfortably and at reasonable cost.
Cut Down Expenses
An interesting experiment was that re-
Gently made by Eve unmarried men who
are workers in one of the West Side slum
settlements. They rented an entire three
story house in an obscure street for $500 a
year. After thoroughly renovating it they
furnished Ave bedrooms on the second and
third floors and converted the first floor
into an attractive parlor and study. The
basement they let to the women who cared
for the house--rent eTualizing service.
Each floor they valued at $500 a year, SO
for the parlor and study every man con-
tributed $50. Til two men who occupied
the second floor paid $50 each, while the
three above paid 800 apiece. Thus, for
an average cost Of $3.50 a year beyond the
expense Of furnishing, which bore not too
heavily on the Ave, a comfortable home
was provided for the cost of one narrow
hall bedroom.
Until the experiment is actually under
taken the matter Of housekeeping appears
simple enough to the ordinary man. But
afterward! Three young men took a fiat
on October 1 Of this year, finding, after a
AT --oaL -w4AL Ill
but thrown into the street from three
separate furnished rooms that had been
given up, an apartment far enough down
town to suit the latest sleeper.
First it was the new wall paper and in
itial cleaning that dragged on from day
to day in the most discouraging way. The
fact that the young mems hours down
town conceded exactly with those Of the
apartment house agent uptown did not
tend to hasten the matter, But after two
weeks came a day when the walls were
newly covered and the floors freshly var
nished. The bachelors began to look about
for other furniture to supplement their
three beds and two chairs.
what do we absolutely need?" asked
one. Very gravely the second answered:
I'VE must have a hall carpet, a door mat
and waste paper baskets"
some Things Overlooked.
AN art square for the dining ROOM"
volunteered the third. Portieres, towel
racks and special burners were suggested
before II occurred to me to begin with the
floor and ascend in making out a list Of
necessities. So It happened that rugs were
obtained, chairs and a dining room table
bought. The day before the servant APP
peared to cook the first breakfast the fact
that they had provided no kitchen utensils
dawned upon them. IAN egg heater and a
sink shovel are absolutely necessary" as
serted one. He had received the informa-
tion from a woman Of long experience. The
breakfast was prepared, after two, hurried
trips by one OF the trio to the grocery
and dairy.
The servant made a list. then, of indls-
pensable articles, explained that a grocer
would call to take orders and that milk
and butter would be delivered fresh every
morning. This appeared to be welcome in
formation to the bachelors, who had tried
to show their foresight by laying in a
supply OF milk and cream the day before It
was to be used.
Wen arrange TO have dinner here" said
one, looking hopefully across the breakfast
table, when the three of us are to be at
ASAAo AeB0tuci. Inc lucd seemed 10 be a
good one. One knew OF four men living
on stuyvesant square who had adopted that
plan. What did they have for dinner?
That was not known, but there was roast
beef And leg of lamb" put In the second.
Steak" asserted the third, "and chops
can be easily cooked on our trusty gas
stove" TIL servant was called in.
I'VE may want dinners here sometimes
began the diplomat. Wen always let you
know In the morning interrupted the sec
ond, land WI might have some Of the
things done over for breakfast" This ques-
tion from the third startled the silence:
Can you cook a dinner?" The honest old
woman smiled apologetically as she an
sWered. Il don't know. sir; l never tried. -
And Il never dawned upon them until that
moment that the woman who had been
recommended to them had spent a long and
useful existence as a hotel chambermaid.
The nrst dinner in that fiat is yet TO be
cooked. Upon all friends who seem to have
an Invitation to dinner on their lips these
three bachelors smile with deceptive eordi-
ality.
OF course, TO the spenders these problems
are not so grave. When II is considered
that they frequently pay from 5000 70