The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-06-17
SUMMER A TIME WHEN THE WOMAN
HAS HER TROUBLES WITH THE
LAUNDRESS DOUBLED.

And here beginneth the usual summer
troubles With the lauadress. All the
winter the laundress works along like
quie. old horse. with her artistic tenn
permanent neatly folded away like an
umbrella out OF sight.
To see her during the cold months one
would think she was just an ordinary
person. with a good disposition, war
ranted TO stand without hitching, and 70
90 as we'll in double as single harness.
At the appearance OF the first linen
skirt in the clothes bag, however. the
artistic temperament begins 70 unfold.
When two or three long frilly white
petticoats follow, with, say. linen suit,
you feel I'm some psychic manner that
you are about TO be honored with a
visit from you own particular Dinah.
She comes IN one evening about dusk
and asks for you in a fearful voice. You
obey the call trembHngly.'
When you reach your apartment Di-
nah IS tanning her face with a handker-
chief and her wrath with the recoiIec-
ti0n OF her injuries. and she begins TO
talk with a vehemencs that Is quite
startling.
"Look-a-hesh, Mis- Leonore. honey. "
she says. what yuh doin' putin ali
dem white skirts I'm dis yer wash TO- Al
one timer 'Clar to gracious. I didn't
tink was nevah goin' eft through wild
EN-. Ruffles and fun and slch lax.
j amt ~cvah seen so many close in
one baskit In my whole lifelong. Nom.
Yuh suht'inly mus pay mo- ef 20 Is
goln' 70 have all dem things IN. Yes
sum.
"Sco'ched" the White Linen.
"Yuhm I'm yore white linen skirt a
little Eco'ched. an dat Iavendah organ
dies done faded a bit, but it sho' did
take meh mon day JUS TO do it. deed
II did I'd LAX 70 yuh tub glib meh dat
white skirl. cause It faint no good. no
how. an Il Jus fits meh. Ieastwise II
looks like IL would, an I'll have 70 raise
the price Jus twice wat I'm Citing,
cause I got a Misty in NAH back now
from dom slch wuk"
II takes on this occasion an extra Or
cent piece. a half-worn shirt waist and
cup Of coffee In the kitchen to restore
Dinah's equanimity and subdue her ar
tisic temperament But this last UNI
fortunate attribute rises with renewed
Vigor every now and then during the
summsr-once when you put in a lin
gerie gown that IS particularly trouble
some and once when you put In shirt
waist frock that shrinks just 10 D!nah's
size. and is therefore appropriated by
her ia a fine burst or poetic rhetoric
that leaves you stunned and helpless in
her grasp.
The other day a friend Of mine sent
10 wash large number Of white waists
all made with tho high collar now IA
tally fashionable. and all the collars
MADE on forms which were stifencd
IN the approved fashion with feather
b0HinE.
The waists we're returned nicely wash
ed and iroued, and with them was sent
back IN a little parcel the bones which
had once stinened the collar. The laun-
dress IN a moment OF inspiration had re
moved them. and now the owner Is Ia
boriously putting them back again.
Came in Early Morning.
Then there was Amanda OF accursed
memory, who used 10 come for my
laundry at some unheard-of hour on
summer morning. and. disregarding the
fact that Il had been carefully placed
outside my door. so that she might
get fl without disturbing me, invaria-
bly, knocked sharply at the portal with
her sturdy knuckles. and when I cried
out a sleepy What IS it?' replied
cheerfuIy Il Jes' wanted 10 ask how
IS yuh dis maWuin' Miss2' an attention
for which 7 always had 10 appear
grateful even though ] were a raven
ing wolf within.
Amanda took the. clothes early on
Monday. Occasionally she succeeded
in getting some parG OF them back
late on Saturday night after the hotel
had retired as a man. Then she left
them on the front porch, with a
scrawled line 20 ask me to bring her
the money next day, as she needed il
for viCtUsIs"
II was she whom I found at a coIored
camp-meeting once. singing hymns in
an aL.stacu Of raIia-Inrra fart-cr "A r.-nar