The Indianapolis journal., 1904-04-24

good old ante-flat days, when, no matter
how torn up the house was. there was al
ways some nook and Granny left snug and
taut for a refuge at night.
Housecleaning is not the only evil that
spring brings in her train. however. AS the
heroine of the melodrama usually puts
it. There is another" The other is moving.
The drawing of straws is about the only
way to settle which Is the most uncom-
Portable process, housecleaning or moving,
and then perhaps it would not stay settled.
In the springtime the instinct for change
begins to stir in the nomadic race that rents
its dwelling places, and the first of May
sees long procession of moving vans full
of all varieties of lareS and penateS moving
from the shelter of one vine and fig tree
to another more desirable one. At least
it looks more desirable just then, while
the moving process is on; but after things
have been settled in their places IL is usu-
ally discovered that the window fastenings
of the vine and fig tree do anything rather
than fasten. and that the neighbors are not
all that could be desired. So that by the
time another springtime rolls round, with
its procession of moving vans, there is an
other shifting of the lares and penates, and
the moving procession moves merrily on.
This is the true story of the experience
of one Indianapolis couple-virtually a NOV
ing story.
The couple in question have not been
housekeeping very long; in fact they have
not been married very long. This was their
first move, and consequently they did not
know all that is to be known of moves
~,
that they know all there is TO be known,
but they are several degrees sadder and
wiser.
Following the good old recipe they
caught their first hare of all. The new
house was duly and painstakingly selected
and made as nearly ready a house may
be before the time of moving. The pack
ing was systema tically done, and on Sat-
urday before the day the Mrs Blank
called up the transfer men and left an
order for the biggest van at half-past
Monday. Sunday she passed in
peaceful anticipation of the morrow.
The morrow came; likewise half-past
I; but the transfer men did not. AT
o'clock Mrs Blank called up the trans
order on our books" said the man at the
other end. How Mrs. Blank hated that
man.
You've got to have the order" she said
hotly. Il talked to you twice or Saturday,
and | know you have it,
Wait a minute said the man. You
always have TO wait minute when you
talk TO the transfer men. 1t was several
minutes this time before he returned Mrs
Blanks tone had been somewhat cutting
and his was correspondingly mild. We
have your order, but unfortunately we had
a couple of jobs left over from Saturday
and we've got to finish them up but we'll
get Our wagons up to you by half-past ten
and you'll get moved all right this morn
ing"
Mrs. Blank waited in peace and quiet
ness. The plumber man came and dis
CONNECTED her kitchen range. He did
something else that he didn't tell her
about but she found ii out later He
turned off the gas from the house. Then
the water man came. in accordance with
the orders of trusting Mr.. Blank down
town, and turned of the water. And Mrs.
Blank welcomed them all sweetly. for she
knew that there were other gases and
other waters in the house where she was
going-at haif-past ten.
But half-past ten came, and still vans:
eleven, and just as many She concluded
10 wait till noon. Then ii was no use TO
call them UP at the noon hour, so she
waited, expecting the vans directly after
lunch. She followed the waiting policy
till o'clock. then she resorted to the tel
ephone again. 1t was another man this
time. He spoke with decision. lie did not