The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-03-18
FORTUNE. CAME IN AUTO.
How One Farm Was Freed From q
Mortgage by a Wife.


MY method Of adding to our income
Is by keeping an inn for automobile
Travellers" q farmers wife who recent
ly paid visit of several weeks to
New York city told the reporter. "Our
farm is ten miles away from the near
est railroad station, and it was next
to impossible to get summer boarders.
1t was 80 difficult for me to market
my butter and eggs and chickens that
1t didn't seem worth while.
II used to be always wishing we
could get nearer the station. 1t seemed
to me that If we could only get where
city people would be willing to come
in the summer our. fortune would be
made. have always been a good
housekeeper, and my husband Is
known all through our part Of the
country as good provider. Some peo-
pie used to say that was the reason
we never could get rid of the mortgage
on the farm.
"The children and I had all but per-
suaded him to sell out and move to the
village when our eldest daughter sug-
.gested opening an inn for the automo-
bilists, who were continually stopping
at our place for water and other little
things My two daughters set at work
and frightened up the house and
yards. Then they put out a sign ut the
crossroads and another on the front
gatepost stating that we were pre-
pared to furnish meals and lodgings
for small parties.
Then small parties soon began to
come in, and they have been increasing
in size and number ever since. At
first there were only two rooms III
which we could accommodate those
who wished to remain overnight. but
as my children have married off three
more have become available.
Eyes, both my daughters have mar
ried since we turned our farmhouse
into an inn four years ago, and during
the last year both sons married also.
That leaves me alone with niece to
look after the inn, while my husband
still devotes himself to the farm.
"From the first our object In keep.
ing the inn has been to brighten our
home and add to the value Of the
farm. The house is old fashioned, and
besides the kitchen there are eight
rooms. They were very bare when
we began to take in automobiles, but
now, thanks to the money that they
have left with us, there are not many
farmhouses In this part of the country
where you would find more books and
more comfortable furnishings.
Zone of the boys took course at
the agricultural college of Cornell uni
yersity, and the other could have
done that also if he hadn't preferred
the Institute of Technology IN Bos.
ton. AS soon as he finished there last
summer he took job that was wait
ing for him, and then he got married
His speciality is electricity, and be
wired our house and put in electric
bells almost two years ago. That is
one Of the conveniences we would new
er have had If we hadn't opened the
inn.
1--WE don't pretend to give our visit
ors anything fancy to eat-just the
things raised on the farm well cooked
and served. My niece has studied do
nestle science, so she knows how te
cook by the new methods, while l can
do about as well as the next one with
my old recipes.
"You mustn't think we have had
things all our own way. Several farm
ers who live near the road have put
out the inn sign, and some Of them
have good business, but as we be.
gan first and have kept our place uE
to the standard the visitors have con
tinued to stop with us instead Of 60
ing to neighboring inns. Besides, we
haven't tried to change our house very
much, only to freshen it up and make
1t more comfortable.
Il have found that what folks want
when they come to the country is good
country eating. That is what we give
them at our inn-a plenty Of it and
with fresh. clean linen and china that
Is washed and polished until 1t shines
We no longer have a mortgage on the
farm, and we have money in bank"