Ripley County democrat., 1910-08-19
Home
Atmosphere

1T was that magazines fault. Rk
had not published an article on Home
Atmoshpere for Business Women Il
would never have occurred to my aunt
that she had mission In life"
The bookkeeper lighted his pipe
and scowled. The assistant bookkeep-
or looked sympathetic. He always
felt that half his salary was earned
by listening TO the bookkeeper's trou-
bles.
Aunt Nan had been living In o
small town where the rent from her
Chicago house suficed for all needs.
After reading that article she came
back to Chicago. turned out her ten
ants and started In to make happy
home for librarian. q beauty doctor
and q stenographer."
TN bet there was something do
Ing"
There was--right from the first
Aunt Nan had refused to rent a room
TO me-said would be cutting out
some homesick girl. possibly. but the
librarian. the beauty doctor and the
steuosraphsr were oil strong In my
favor-i really am the only thing over
which they have been unanimously
enthusiastic"
The assistant bookkeeper shifted
gently. "But what about the homo
atmosphere3"
The home atmosphere received its
nrst setback when the librarian
brought In her piano. That was moth
Ing, however. to the installation OF the
telephone, which was put In at the
urgent request OF the beauty doctor.
II Aunt Nan climbed upstairs TO the
attic the telephone bell would ring
violently and down she would hurry,
70 learn that Mrs. Asterheldt wanted
. switch sent home at once; q trip
down cellar always meant my aunt's
rushing back 10 hear over the phone
that Mrs. Barker wanted 70 be mani
cured. shsmpooed, powdered and
puned. Even after my aunt had gone
to bed there would be hurry calls for
the beauty doctor. About the only
time the telephone bell didn't ring
was when nay aunt sat down IN front
OF II.
Originally no meals we're TO BE-
served In the house. but the girls said
II gave them such a homeless feeling
TO eat breakfast at the restaurant and
they didn't care for much"
Il suppose they assumed Q dry
crust will do for me' expression!"
The bookkeeper nodded. 'It won
the day. too. Aunt Nan said she
would give us coffee and toast ana
fruit for Is cents. It worked Just two
mornings. then the stenographer read
health book and cried for make-be-
heve coffee: the beauty doctor de-
cided to drink hot water and the II
brarian became addicted to the cocoa
habit OF course, stuck 10 coffee.
Breakfast became continuous per
fcrmance of keeping four different
drinks hot for one hour-ls cents
head.
Aunt Nan had been brought M to
look upon Susday a. q day Of rest
but n was considered BY the librarian
an appropriate day In which to prac-
tics rastims. Moreover, she mended
and ironed all the remainder Of the
day OF rest. Just where she was IN my
aunt's way, and a. for the beauty doc
tor. she took In washing over Sun
dsys-there were always q lot Of
switches and puffs drying oa the
ciothesline Uzhi"
IT must be rather wearing q you.s
commented the assistant az he glanced
n the direction Of the typewriter.
We'll, It vas II the close of one q
these long. Sad days that MP amt SCI
in her rocker thinking what "a angel
child waa-neysr wanting 70 iron
my hsndkerehlefs o. wash my haIr or
run her sewing madhine. she had
Just made up her mind that she would
tell ne girls 70 look elsewhere for
rooms and that she would raa 4
bscheiors' homs. when cane zorn
and asked Il she would iet ne h1vs
9 hot iron. e my tie needed prsaain<.
II was the last straw ana ne told d
al nat We could Eef out
wpuldnz fee1 20 bA6. buf tkat Is
ves % nerrpr. The siris xonx 1nesk
- me- nor md ny aunt 4 r1Izx e
rent Der toaze furnizh<d cd s ts<<