The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
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toward the aesthetic, the DedullIul
IHt}xA5 and the harmonious. might find
some more appropriate way of
celebrating the gentle springtime than by
the prosaic processes OF housekeeping and
moving-but she doesn't. The lovehest sea-
son of the year is marred by a general up
heavaI OF household arrangements, and
nine-tenths OF housekeeping femininity
spend the early weeks of spring, during
which the most wonderful transformation
OF the year is taking place out of doors,
with a towel around it's head and its skirts
tucked up, in digging into corners and
cracks of houses for the elusive dust speck
and the tormenting cobweb. and in superin-
tending the uptaking and down-putting of
carpets and rugs.
This year the long-lngering zero weather
rather deferred the housecleaning, but the
few warm days of the past week or two
has set the ball in motion, and now the
air is full of the music of carpet-beaters
and compressed aid cleaners. and all the
various noises attendant upon the re-
Mobilization of the dwelling place.
The mover thus far is less in evidence
than the housecleaner. and indeed it will
he full month before the procession of
moving vans gets fairly started. Moving
day in Indianapolis is assuming a definite
date the rental agents say. Time was
when Indianapolis moved unfortunately
and moving day was any day in the whole
year when lovely woman elected to shake
the dust OF one house from her feet and
her carpets. and to put them-both feet and
carpets-down In another. But indianapolis
Is growing up. and in addition to the other
metropolitan airs 1t is assuming it is TAX
ing on the big city habit of doing its NOV
ing on the first day of May. 1t seems a
pity. too. to spoil the romantic flush of
Mayday by so tiresome a process as that
OF moving. but ii is decidedly the most
propitious time of the year for moving and
practical considerations are apt to over
ride romantic ones. The weather is
definitely warm by that time. though
not too warm to make vigorous effort a
WEAKNESS to the flesh and it gives the
moving ones chance TO change their quar-
ters with some degree of comfort and to
settle down in their new abode before the
real article in the way of heat comes along
TO render them inert
The reason for a definitely dated moving
day. as given by the rental agents. is due
70 the increasing habit of indianapolis
renters OF taking yearly leases for their
dwelling places. Those people who begin
their lease-as most Of them do-with the
1st of May. naturally wait until the ex-
piration of their lease to move, if they
conclude TO move, and that, of course
forces anyone who wishes to lease that
house to wait also until the 1st of MAY
Consequently each year the LIST of Nav
moving company increases. and joined by
the army of those who lease by the month.
but who choose Mayday as the most de-
sirabie time for moving, it makes UP a
goodIy cavalcade
WHEN WOMAN MOVES.
Probably no woman ever moved who
didn't do so with absolute comfort and no
upsetting of her household arrangements-
in her mind. Preliminary to moving day
the woman at the helm maps out her
course. and it is always easy sailing. She
will have the carpets taken up i'm the
old house and put down in the new one a
day two before: the new shades shall be
hing; all the furniture and household be-
longings shall be packed systematically.
and everything shall be left in the room
where II belongs by the truckmen. and
all that is necessary after the work of
the moving man shall be little arrange
ment. IL Is lust as easy.
This is the way il usually turns ont
The carpets are down in the new house to
be sure, but for days they have been up
In the old one, and if the mover happens
e choose an early date the thermometer
is sure to take a drop and the bare cheer
less rooms are chilly TO the look and to the
feel For two three days the family
eats in chaos because so many of the
dishes have been packed, and dresses in
trying incompleteaess. for clothes and col
lars and stocks have been carefully tucked
into locked chinonier drawers and trunks
But moving day comes at last and every.
body is up bright and early-so early that
by the time the usual rising hour arrive:
there is no brightness left. But the mov
ing men have stipulated that everything
must be ready at an early hour, for they
have another Job afterward. so the fam
lily rises in the dark and prepares for tn,
final day.
The hours come and go, but the movins
men do neither. Cook has been sent to III,
other house TO look after the fires anC
to receive the furniture as il arrives an,
point out its destination. Noon arrives
and no sign of the moving van. but the mar
OF the family arrives for lunch. OF cours,
mother has forgotten 10 tell him not I,
come, and. manlike. he follows the time
worn path OF habit. There is nothing I,
eat. so he goes down town again and moth
and Mary sit on the boxes in the deserted
house and wonder III all men are as col,
and cruel as father and the moving mar
As 1 o'clock the arrives. and tn,
men explain that they concluded to do tn
other job first. 1t has begun TO rain. an,
the prospect both within and without il
ever had a happy home. The moving i
hurried through in gloom and doubt, an,
finally the last load is off and mother an,
Mary turn the key in the door and TAX
their way TO the new house, where the,
know there is warmth and comfort-aH tn
furniture conveniently placed and Dime
well under way. After dinner they viii
do a little arranging and perhaps hang som
of the pictures-they don't feel so tired
really. oh, moving isn't such a bother /
one does IL systematically.
The new house is dark and rush O
expected warmth greets them as they ente
the front door. They stumble over a bo,
OF books left in the middle OF the hall
The noise OF their entrance brings cool
from remote regions. aud she stands
ghostly though substantial figure in tn
gloom of the pale light from without.
''Why isn't the gas lit Bridget?' demand
mother querulously
sure an / didn't think you'd want
lit an all the new naybors starin' in a
this litter"
well. why don't you pull down tn
shades them
'.Sure. an there amt none 10 pull down
Mother and Mary look at the window
and gasp Those dreadful men.
The drapery men had promised over an
over that all the shades should be up b.
noon; but the twilight falls through win
dows unrelieyed by shade or blind. Their
ere eSen no outside Understanding TO shu