The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-23
lllustra tions by Penrhyn stanlaws.

U.--A DUMB-WAi ER pRAMA.
1t was while Nancy's family
were in Florida that she and Pris-
leila shared lodgings. They went
the dreary round of boarding
houses. Each new hall bedroom
was an additional sinker tied to
the spirits of the two girls. Pris-
ella grew morbid and found 1t
necessary to take a nerve tonic.
Even Nancy the irrepressible, lost
her appetite and her gayety and
became embittered. The sight OF
any of the man bachelor apart
ment houses scattered thru the
town moved her to impotent rage.
MY disposition is ruined" she
confessed dismally; when / pass
one of those baA.slor apartment
places where unworthy men can
get all the joys of paradise for n
$50 a month, I'm like a mad dog n
who sees water. I positively froth
at the mouth I'll marry the first
bachelor who asks me, for the
sake Of getting even with him. AS
IF petticoats weren't curse enough.
without adding hall bedrooms to
twoman's lott"
Just at the critical moment
when suicide, matrimony and
clearinghouse existence were the
courses being weighed in the
minds Of the forlorn young women,
: the SAINT OF DacnelOr girls,
+ who works over hours and musF
doze at times, woke up. He is
saint of eXpedients. He has to be.
He couldn't hold down his job or
his halo If he were not
He inspired a young married
couple who owned a three-room
apartment on a quiet downtown
street with wild longing for Eu-
ropean travel. Then he led the
z wife and Nancy who wara old
friends, into the shopping district, and
s; threw them into each others arms at a
bargain counter. They told their life
stories from the time of their last meet
Ing two months before up to. date.
They had seats at the counter, so the
women who were standing eight deep and
struggling for a chance at the saleswoman
didn't bother them, and they could chat
lazily.
The young wife confided her plans
for a European trip. Nancy sighed
forth the story of her quest of the
Iunattainable. Then they tumbled the
remnants on the counter until the
patron saint brought the young
wife up with a round turn. He couldn't
waste time. She gave the little cackle that
in certain feminine types always accom-
panies the laying Of an idea.
ooh, my dear, why not?" -.......
"Then, again, why-and what?" asked
Nancy, fippantly. .... ~N
ION, It's the lOVel1eSt Ideal
isn't 1t just" assented Nancy raptur-
ously
There's no reason why you shouldn't"
None in the world agreed Nancy.
"Then it's all settled?"
1T is" admitted Nancy, with sug
gestion of sarcasm; land now, since 1t is
all settled, would you mind telling me
what it is
The young wife looked surprised.
why, don't you understand? Cant you
guess?''
Il could" asserted Nancy, "but never
guess more than three things before
luncheon and I've had my three
You and Priscilla will just take our
rooms. We'd have to pay for them, any
way, and you can pay little part of the
rent for the use of the furniture and
things. It's the dearest little place., and
you'll have such a lark! Come right down
and see about things and tell Jack"
Maybe Jack wouldn't like it,.
The young wife's eyebrows surged to-
ward her pompadour ~
Nov, really, my dear, do you suppose
/ haven't started him better than that?'
The two women made a flying wedge
thru the bargain fiends and scurried
downtown to q fine old house which had
been remodeled for use unknown to New
York until few years ago. The suites
iof three, four or five rooms are artistic
to degree unknown in The ordinary flat:
there is diningroorn with each suite, but
mo kitchen. Not even a trace Of culinary
apparatus is in sight.
Ali meals are cooked in the Kitchen in
the basement and sent up on dumb
waters to the different apartments, where
the maid employed by the owner of the
rooms serves the meal and then piles the
dishes on the dumb waiter and sends
them down to the kitchen to be washed
land put away.
1t Is privacy and home life made easy,
a dedication Of the English clearinghouse
system to which, in it's humber form.
New York has never taken kindly.
Jack was complainant to degree that
spoke volumes for his wife's discipline.
The proprietor of the house was inter-
viewed and went down before Nancy's
beaux yeuN r.
The meals were the only stumbling
block. They were elaborate. The menus
were wonderfully and +, fearfuly con-
fstructed by an expensive French chef.
and the meals, like the chef, came high.
Il, 1--WE arrange it," said the affable
landlord, moved by Nancy's disappointed
upper lip. "It is exceptional. 1t must
not be told. I, have never allowed such an
arrangement but this is for a short time,
and like to accommodate my tenants
and Nancy Is so Internally pretty
added Jack soto voce.
"Can you put up with continental
breakfast" asked the landlord.
Nancy could.
Coffee, rolls, butter, eggs. That will
lido, then. Our regular breakfast has six
tcourses. Now about luncheon. We have
also q six-course luncheon.
1.-TWO courses would do for u.s." said
Nancy, humbly.
ITO be sure. The chef can send up
X the menu early, and you, can choose.
Then from the intercourse dinner you
might choose three courses. You could
live so?"
Nancy thought that she might drag out
starving existence on that provision
( Then she beamed upon the benevolent
Landlord, and the patron saint, feeling
THAT he had done his duty, pulled his
halo on firmly and started Off to attend
to the other bachelor girls He had pro-
vided Nancy with the time and the place
4 | and the man. He knew she could man
age the rest
SO the young married couple moved
out. and Nancy and Priscilla moved in;
and this is really where the story begins,
tho long preamble seemed q necessary
I evil
The girls had no maid. They couldn't
afford one, and they felt themselves
strong enough to take the dishes from
the dumbwaiter to the table. When this
arrangement was noised abroad the hall
boy assumed condescending air, and the
general house servants displayed a sort of
2 ! ,fx,