The Washington times., 1907-10-20

NH ANY years ago, while travelling
m Italy, I met a good old Yam
vi kee housekeeper who came as
she herself told me. from way
down East" I think it was on the Maine
coast
What had ever moved her to leave
ner comfortable home and wander IN
never determine.
She was woefully homesick. and find
ing IN me a fellow-housekeeper of con-
genial tastes, she waXed confidential
life.
Say" she broke out one day when
We nad Deen exchanging domestic views
over cup OF tea IN my private sitting
room, did you ever keep boarders?''
I owned that this was branch of IN
dustry In which had had no experience
Neither did I,'' she said with vigor Il
hev washed and ] hev ironed, but that
IS one thing / jest won't do I won {
keep boardersi''
Perhaps one who has had no expe-
Tlence IN this line, and whose sentiments
against IL are as strong as were those
OF my old New England friend IS not
IN position 10 speak authoritatfvelv
on how to keep a boarding house.
And yet 1t IS the lOOker-Qn who sees
most OF the game.
II have not kept boarders I have
al least, for my sins, been kept as a
boaTder, and have thus had opportunity
70 form pretty clear views on the sub
sect.
Spotless Linen.
Let me preface them by saying that
ell my compassion goes out TO the keen
er Of boarding house.
I don't know a more thankless posl-
lion, unless II may be THAI OF a stem
mother.
AS q rule she satisfies few, and il she
pleases one she fails TO suit another.
In view Of all this, to my apprehen-
sion, the only thing she can 10 IS 10
50 ahead and follow the IeaGings Of her
own judgment, deferring as far as she
car 70 the preferences Of her bOarders,
but not permitting herself 10 be made
Of praise.
If / were asked what are the requisites
for keeping a boarding house well i am
pretty sure that among the first quail
hcations l would name cleanliness.
DouoIless some persons think that
would DC a matter OF course, but 1 can
assert confidently that il is not taken
Ter granted In all establishments where
bCarders are kept
A few Of such I have known whore
C9e table linen was spOtlcss 8 IL Is in
a well kept private house where the
bel linen was changed twice a week
wire the supply, OF clean towels was
Plentiful. where the napkins were fresh
at least once daily, if not DIT every
meal.
Plenty to Eat.
But these places were such exceptions
to the common rule that they had long
credit marks by their names in the
memory OF all who knew of them.
Mover shall 1 forget the awe-struck
tone in which a young friend of mine.
II recOunting the advantages Of a
boarding house al winter resort, add
ed as q browning touch, and they give
you fresh napkins at every meaI!'
Such cleanliness should, Of course, ex-
tend through every department of tho
house, and would mean well swept and
ven busted rooms neat maids spotless
china and glass. as we'll as fresh linen.
II takes time 20 achieve this, time and
patience and work and money. But
they are among the things I esteem in
dlspensaole IN keeping a boarding house.
Next, 1 would name hberality, and /
10 not put IL second because / hold il
or less Importance than cleanliness al
though I am not sure but what a clean
ana scanty meal Is more desirab BILE than
a plentiful supply where neatness is
left out
But Il you wish to keep a boarding
not TO be stingy.
1 DO not say you must not economize.
but II should not be In the meat and
vegetable and grocery bills.
Economy should be practiced by care
iulness IN the household. by watching
small leaks. by purchasing carefully.
by planning judiCiously.
All these are legitimate. What is not
Iair Is 70 take the money Of your board
ers and then give them poor food or to
have good food poorly cooked
You must have good servants, and pay
them we'll If you visa good service for
your DOarderS. You must get good
provisions, not cheap articles, If you
wish TO set a good table.
Another thing I would encourage is
sincerity, or rather lack OF pretense
would not try TO do what 1 could
not accomplish, or put so much time
would have no energy left TO make the
house or the food really good.
Too Much Style.
7 recoIlect very well what was said
TO me once by an old lady who had for
years kept one of the most successful
pensions in Florence. known and visited
by a recurring succession Of American
and English tourists. 10 whom the old
lady was a friend as well as a hostess.
As her health failed, her son took
up the work Ills first step was 10
tear out the OLD furniture which gave
the place its hOmelike look to put in
new and expensive decorations and
Qlenishings, and, as he said, ito bring
the place up 10 date
'.AIy son says people will like all
this" said the old lady, looking about
her rather wistfully at the made-over
salons.
Il don't know about It, but know one
or two things they do like They like a
good roast of beef and good cup Of
coffee. and a good piece or bread and
butter, and plenty Of other good whole
some fOod
For my own part, l don't believe
that all these frills and frescOes viii
take the place OF that
I may add that IL did not, and that
Under the new management the success
ful old house dwindled in popularity
md nrastiea TO such an extent that tnl