The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

The average woman hes a firm belief
| that she could make living by keeping
boarders. If she had 10 earn money, and
all the failures iE that line cannot con-
vince her that there is more TO such a
business than a knowledge of house
keeping. Those Of us who have tried
boarding could tell tales Of discomfort
that ought To open the eyes Of over
confident women, yet doubt If even such
evidence would be convincing.
There are successful proprietors of
boarding houses as there are successors
in other lines Of bushes. but they are
true business women. giving the full value
of money received and exaeting similar
! treatment from those under their roof
They have to possess an inexhaustible
store Of patience. know how to buy closely
and economize in all directions and be a
bit hard-hearted toward those who can
not or will not pay. They cannot afford
to keep nonpaying boarders. for the
margin of profits is too narrow.
The wear and tear are things TO be
reckoned with Some of this is 10 be
expected. but large proportion is due to
carelessness and indifference and there is
no reason why it should not be charged
up to those who are responsible for the
mischief 1t will. have to be paid for or
the profits will be completely wiped out
NO enviable job will this prove TO be-
and it is only one OF multitude OF dis
agreeables that await anybody who tries
to cater to the bodily comfort Of men and
women of all ages. all dispositions and
varying degrees Of health.
Yet there is d grain Of comfort in such
business-it supplies a home for a
woman, a home of her own. She may not
be able to possess but a little corner
of it for herself, but it is a shelter in
health and sickness and that means a
heap to some women. Real homes are so
scarce that they are perpetually filed.
so the only chance for success lies in
giving boarders the best imitation of a
well-kept home that can be managed.
There must be comfortable rooms with
furniture in good repair. beds that will
rest the body, heat, hot water in abun-
dance, good light. clean bed linen, and
plenty of clean towels. Absolute neatness
must be conspicuous and the same ad-
smirable quality must characterize the
table. Plain food, well-cooked and served,
is better suited to refined palates than
elaboration of dubious character. Spot
less linen is a luxury even in private
homes, and hot plates are actually un-
known in many families.
But these, with well-made coffee and
tea, sweet butter and good bread, will
give a boarding house a reputation that
turns dollars in the till. 1t is not hard
to keep tablecloths clean. for spots can
be removed with hot water and the cloths
left to dry on the table. This planning
of removing every stain while fresh OBJ
tains in many families where it is nee
essary to economic on laundry work
and nowhere viii you find more per-
fectly appointed table every day in the
week. Two cloths do service for a whole
week. and there is no hint of economy.
l never could understand why boiled tea
prevails in boarding houses, for it is not
necessary to make the full supply at
once or cook It at all. Il might at least
be poured of from the leaves ard kept
hot, BETTY BRADEEN.