The San Francisco call., 1910-10-09

TT WAS my laundress who suggested
the title Of our paper. The sub
ject was brewing in my mind with
more activity than usually attends
a weekly function. Circumstances had
borne it in forcibly upon my attention.
IS 1 shall presently explain. Paper and
typewriter were in place when the
clean clothes came in from the wash,
and l left the desk to sort them.
1T is wonderful how these wear" 1
remarked. laying away couple of cam
brio morning gowns. Il have worn
them for five summers"
Handmade things always outwear
slopwork They don't go to pieces in
the washing" rejoined the woman SEN
tentiously. That's what 1 call all ready
made clothes, no matter how much
they cost and how fine they are
trimmed. It's all slopwork to me. It's
bound to give way somewhere. II it
isn't in the seam. It's the trimming or
the hem. And as for buttonsl You're
lucky IL they hang on until you get
the things home"
paid her and let her 60 II had
obeyed my impulse I should have over
paid her. Not for the work. but for
the phrases slipped into my ears and
thought in the very nick of my need.
Handmade things always outlast
slopwork. They don't go to pieces in
the washing"
That was why the breeding OF man
I had talked with that morning gave
way Unexpectedly 10 me. I had met
him often in society and he had scquit-
ted himself more than well. Well
dressed, ready Of speech, urbane and
punctilious in the observance Of the
least as of the greatest OF social by
laws and established customs. he passed
with me, and with the world at large.
as gentleman I was making a busi-
ness call at his Office. He had received
ne cordially. rising at my entrance,
setting a chair for me and inquiring
after my health before settling down
TO discussion OF the errand that had
brought me to our interview. It was
rather a vexatious matter for him. Ger
tain Affairs had not turned out as he
meant they should II was neither his
fault nor mine. but both of US were
affected by the miscarriage Of the prof.
ect I saw his color rise as he talked.
and I secretly admired the courteous
eelf-possession that held voice, language
and demeanor firm. Early In the inter-
view a stenographer had been called in
and taken instructions with regard TO
two letters which were 10 be written
and submitted TO him as soon as they
were done.
lii - o-,
Of perhaps 40, and deep dressed IN
mourning. I learned afterward that she
IS a widow and has a child dependent
upon her.
Her employer struck the bell at his ell
bow sharply by and by. Tell Mrs.
Austin it is high time those letters were
done" TO a boy who answered the call.
It was perhaps three minutes later
when the stenographer appeared. Her
pale face was flushed: she was evidently
greatly perturbed. / received the i'm
preston instantly that she stood in awe
of her superior. She began in tremu-
lOus voice;
7 am very sor1 sir. but an accident
work than I should have"
He interrupted her imperiously. His
THAT will dol You are good at ex-
CASeS. Lei me sec NAal YOU nave uont.
TEMPER "oN THE MOVE
When say that he snatched the pa
per from the shaking hands / DO not ex-
eggera1e the rude gesture. His brows
met angrily in perusing it. It was plain
that HIS temper was, as Dickens would
have put il, 'ton the move" / was as
sure as II he had said il that he would
have taken savage pleasure in detect
ing a flaw in the work. Since it was
well done. he merely grunted in pass
ing the papers back 10 her. In the act
one dropped TO the floor.
DO be carefuii" he growled and let
her stoop to pick il up. The careless
ness was his and not hers. but he
TO the door with his eyes with the ex-
preston Of one incensed TO the limit Of
forbearance. 1t was clear to my un-
Drejudiced senses that he would have
sworn at her had he dared, so inclement
Gas his mood. Yet he smoothed his face
Sato the customary blandness that had
Fso7 for him the name OF being a jolly
good fellow and save the markD "a
perfect gentleman" He bade me good
day with smile. and on my way to
the door, which he sent the Office boy
10 open, / heard the oath / had sus-
pected was on his tongue. He flung II
at an employe. as was quite safe
The mans history was known to me.
came OF rich but honest parents and
was, in no sense of the term, self
made" He had college education I;
he had married a respectable woman
nevertheless, vulgarian, as his father
was before him. In his early home
and now in that he had made for HIM
self the amenities of life were dis
dained He said what came TO his lips
TO wife and children. and kept what