New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
The HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET.

Mrs Snark-not Shark. as many nlIsinformed per-
sons have often pronounced and supposed her name
70 belves in the house with the red window blinds
across the street There IS nothing in particular
about its appearance 10 distinguish Il from any OK
the other houses IN the same street. or TO invite
more than ordinary notice except Tor the fact that
certain days. generally ane days, with plenty Of
sunshine, one OF the 'front.' windows may be seen
decorated with q protusion OF spiendlo seIanluiAS
ana blooming fUchsias in red flower pots. Herein
Mrs Matilda Sharks house differs from the rest.
Precisely at O'Clock in the morning on such days
the red blind with a fringe OF white lace. which
drawn down behind The paT!or window the
night before, 5ies Up the window is raised. fancy
feather duster with long handle is thrust out
ID the dust On the window 81 rcAed on Just
=. AT reason Mrs. Shark may have for hiding her
ST while she performs this customary operation
has for a long tine puzzled her next door neighbors
who declare il IS merely baHit Mrs. Shark has
fallen inlo although there people living across
the street glO have said that Mrs Shark is fussy
old creature" and, what is more shocking, eccen-
tr1c' Il being pleasant summer morning. ana
Mrs. Shark, having busted the window SILL
emerges from the darkness of the psrlor and care
fully places d ful4 hlOCn-ec scarlet geEaIlLm In a
red flower pot outside the window II IS needless
say that Mrs. Shark has a passionate fOndness
}or Aowers-as great, perhaps, if not greater, than
her f5ndness for fresh shrtmps and buttered toast
both being necessary 10 sustain her existence,
she has repeatedly said. After arranging her
flower pots containing red GEd white geTaniurs
and 1uchsias In an artistic row on the window
sill, Mrs. Shark picks up a green watering can
from. the parlor floor anG proceeds TO spray them
lagishiy Win water. IRIS cone. she stands back
in = dramatic attitude from the window with the
watering can IN her hand and exclaims exultingly:
There" Then ss If remembering something she
cries out with rather shrill voice: Betsy
Yes, Mrs Shark answers the maid, who seems
have been hiding behind the parlor door and al
ways addresses her mistress Mrs. Shark" IN
less there is company when she the more
eustere term Of Yes. ma'sm"' Betsy" con-
Hnues Mrs. Shark. take this can downstairs and
give Snapper some milk. Snapper is a big tabby
cat reared from kitten by Mrs. Shark. who re-
marked al the time when she received IL in her
kitchen, Wen call him SNAPPER; he'll snap 'em
up (-aeaning the mice) But Il may be said that
so far in his career Snapper has never been known
10 pounce or q mouse due, no doubt, TO the excel
lent food provided for him by Betsy. Mrs Shark
getting q reply from Betsy that Snapper will re-
ceive mis- breakfast, draws an easy chair up In
front Of the window and sits down IN It COM
fortably. taking care. however first to smooth out
her black siken ringlets. which are artihc!alIy
cuEled and hang one on each side OF her face, and
which became slightly disarranged while she was
bending over the flower pots. Mrs. Shark sitting
In this position in her easy chair as though she
were inhaling the perfume Of flowers carried into
the parlor through the open window, remains alb
soroed II her Own uninterrupted reflections.