Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-06-05
A WAGER WITH MAMIE


paragraph IN support of my claim that
many Americans preferred any country
to their own
bet you ten dollars to new shirt
waist that you haven't fiat in London
at an ordinary rent in which an Ameri
can would live week. she said. I
was tired OF hearing our manners, meth
ods ana men decried, and I had heard
lliuch OF our modern flats. l accepted
the challenge and we sailed forth.
Inc situation of the first fiat was per
iect. FROM the drawing room window
one could catch glimpse of the park.
ana ten minutes in a taxi-cab would
take you to the best shops and all the
tnealefs there was a garage round
the corner, livery stable close bv. a
restaurant almost next door, and a
halrdresser's over the way There were
two charming reception rooms" and a
dining room, three bedrooms and bath
room, with kitchen and servants quar-
tiers shut off by double doors. The deco
ratlons were artistic, paneled walls.
painted ceilings, and bronze finger plates,
The rent was 5000 a year, because "the
position is unique"
Name cast a cursOry glance over the
decorations, and asked why the dining
room was placed at the point farthest
from the kitchen. The agent did not
know, and evidently deemed the cues
ton trivial.
There was an air of childlike inquiry
about Mamie that | know heralded dan
ger, as she inspected the bedrooms.
Where am | expected to keep my
clothes? see no cupboards," she said
sWeetly.
The house agent smiled with a supe-
rior air.
I'VE usually find, madam. that our
clients prefer to supply their own ward
robes. [ can give you the name of
firm that makes a speciality of fitments
for bedrooms in flats"
''Hm!" Mamie put her head on one
side and considered. ''Where is the hot
air closet for linen?"
''There isn't one?"
ooh! Do people in this country put
on undergarments that are damp?"
asked Mamie.
The house agent gazed refectively
over her head at the strip of gray sky
visible between the chimney pots Il
believe that such things are aired be-
fore the kitchen fire." he said, in tone
in which embarrassment and vexation
struggled for mastery.
you don't say" said Mamie, fol-
lowing meekly to the Servants Offices"
which proved to consist of a kitchen
and scullery in one and two small bed
rooms.
you see there are two large cup
boards here, Mamie," l said, eagerly.
eyes. The larder shelves are zinc
covered It is conducive to cleanliness
and coolness," added the agent.
MY, but the larder is close to the
cooking range!" she exclaimed. "How-
ever, I suppose there is refrigerator"
mo, madam, but, as you see, here is
a flight of steps leading to the coal eel
lars. You could have a small retrlger-
etor put on the landing, no doubt.
"And wine cellar?''
''You see, madam" the agent pre-
served an air of elaborate patience,
people who live in flats seldom enter
tain or dine at home; we have never
had a demand for the things you men,
tion''
Mamie glanced refund the kitchen
thoughtfully.
''How many servants would one want
for a fiat like this?' she asked.
''Well, madam, I suppose cook-house-
keeper, housemaid, and parlor maid.
1t is usual to pay the porter or boy
to do knives, boots, and fill coal boxes
and so on
81 see. You have three girls, who eat
and sit and cook and wash up and so on
in the kitchen and sleep In those two
little bedrooms No wonder your serV-
ant problem is becoming acute"
The agent shrugged his shoulders.
sWe find people quite content with the
accommodation" he observed.
.And what about ones maid? And
a nursery?'
"People who live in flats usually find
Il convenient to do without resident
maid There are young women VINO
are quite willing to attend to sewing
etc to be had. I can recommend sew
eral There is hairdresser and mani
curist over the way, and
"And the nursery?'
"PeoplA who live in flats seldom have
children, madam"
The agents feelings were plainl y rut-
fed and Mamie refrained from further
comment at the moment, inspecting the
Lo+hroom fitted with shower bath, APP
nroved of the communal hot-Water sup
XIV and the heating of the passages,
and expressed herself agreeably surprised ea
o+ the presence of telephone on each
Iandino. a messenger call in the hall, and
a night porter. Then a sudden , idea
struck her. In her best English man
ner, she said briskly:
Now, show me the servants, oath-
ROOM" ~, ,+
II suppose, if they desire oath' theS
use the one you have just seem;
"Ah." Mamie smiled up at him with
her most bewitching smile. Then | am
afraid this won't suit me. | could "a nave and
dome without a wine cellar and hot
sir closet. | have no children, and would
have consented to dine and , Lunch h., OUT
"ann6t share my bathroom with my
cook t, or be served by a cook who never
wants a bath" .o4
That was only the first. We inspect
cd about fifteen others, from t4oo TO
Gao yearly. and in all cases the hapiesS
aoent was left thanking his lucky stars
9