The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-28
Dolly and | Put Relatives
House in Order for
Winter.
HOST OF HELPERS
MIX THINGS BADLY
Comments of Owner When Work
Is Completed, Cause Us to
Swear Off"

Dolly and very recently received a
letter from a relative. which, opening
with some aowery figures Of speech
about our executive ability, our amiabil-
ity, and our general Attractiveness.
went on TO ask If We would not see that
her town house was put in order for
the winter.
Charles. she said, had the measles, and
Mary was threatened with the pneu-
MONA, and It was impossible for her to
leave LonesOmehurst until they were
better.
When we had finished this remarkable
communication Dolly looked at me and
looked at Dolly.
It's a perfectly reasonable request:
shall be glad to do it," said my friend.
and her magnanimity so shamed me for
my reluctance that arose Immediately
and pinned q my hat
Scene of Devastation
Tt can't be IN such dreadful condi-
ton. for Robert has been staying there
ell GUNNER I said as we started forth
Robert is the husband OF our relative,
shall not attempt 10 describe the
scene OF devastation in detail lest in
rend the heart Of some housekeeper.
Robert had had papering, painting and
plasteriny done. Also he had not had
the satin p5rtieres removed while the
Improvements were being added, and
their IUstrOus surface was very much
the worse for contact with these sub
stances More than this. he had slept
IN all the beds. and had had feasts all
over the house, other lonely husbands
as his EuestR
important engagement this morning.
said I. turning TO leave, but Dolly held
me back by the skirt. NO you don't
she said "SinCe we have undertaken
II we are going to clean this house"
She's a host in herself, is Dolly. so
selected a quiet and comparatively
clean corner Of the library and sat IN
II and listened 70 her telephOning for
assistance in every direction
1t was 2.50 .. m. that day before we
succeeded in getting meek and mild
cOlOred man and his aggressive wife 10
come TO our assistance, and re secured
them by dint Of going out on the pave
ment and dragging them In as they
passed en- route 10 the police station,
where the wife was taking her husband
u have him arrested for some ouensa,
The nature OF which she was not IL
actly certain
At 800 another man was added to our
hand He was floor polisher and he
said that he could not do anything 10
floors which looked like that, but that
he would be back in two or three days.
when he hoped things would be cleaned
up
At o'clock we had engaged three
more workers. all Of whom persisted in
labOring in the same vicinity and in
carrying on an animated conversation
about their society, whatever that may
At we all left d house which gave
no evidence that it had been touched
by the hand Of man-except the devas-
Eating hand
The next day we mustered our CO.
horts early; having learned by expert
ence, We went 10 their homes for them
and drove them before US 20 the scene
OF action The procession was much
admired by those who saw II, and II at
tracted TO II Yet other workers. all or
whom prOfessed to be specialists in their
line, but who sOmewhow turned out not
Finally. however. the last picture was
hung, the last corner cleaned. the last
last Seance with our employees, who had
formed themselves into a feeting show
and came and went at will, and paid
them of at union rates with our bless
Ing
AT least" said Dolly. when she had
locked the door, ana had facetioUsiy
made as II she would put the huge key
down her back Ouilp-TaslIiOn, at least
there Is some comfort IN the thought
that everything IS done so perfectly that
Nellie cannot find fault with it."
But we had reckOned without Nellie,
for when we went to see her the day
after she came nome we were coldly
received and unkindly-
Tho wrong rugs are in the library"
said she.
We gasped-
And whoever did the floors did them
miserably."
Dolly looked at me. but I refused TO
meet her gaze
ct took an extraordinary number OF
servants to do q very small amount Of
work II seems TO me, for Robert says
everything was in almost perfect order
when he left the house"
7 looked at Dolly now, and found her
nodding like a little mandarin Bear
witness" she said. that II ever I
break my finger nails and laCerate my
feelings again 10 oblige a relative I am
insane and must be taken TO an asylum
instantly
I've understand that perfectly said
Dolly.
Certainly not" said I between my
set teeth. and then. not wanting 10
hear more of the delinquencies OF our
employees, we stood not upon the order
of our going, but turned Indignant
backs and went at once
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