Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-27
Let the sun po It.

The next day when the sun had mounted
high and the little waves we're sparkling
in the front yard, the family rest from the
mornings activities (the word work is
tabooed) and yield to the invitation of the
lake. Then says the man:
Come, you pampered child of civilization,
get your little seersucker napkin and come
in washing. Everybody in this household
has to be his OF her own lsundress"
He leads the procession himself, with his
arms full Of soap and seersucker. and the
women plunge into the waves after him,
with the blouses they wore an hour before
and a couple of babies rompers apiece.
Then the fun begins. This washing is not
taken very seriously even by the mistress
of the household. who only keeps a watch
full eye on her husband to see that he rubs
the tablecloth in the places where II was
soiled. For the rest 1t is all splashing and
laughing, sousing the clothes up and down
in the soft water, throwing them out where
the water is waist high, and racing after
them as they float indifferently away on
the current. For those who cannot swim
the washing provides an endless source Of
amusement, and for those who can 1t is
soon dispensed with and left to soak"
Woe TO the negligent, however! Far out
In the deep water, where light hearts have
forgotten their wash and are disporting
themselves joyously, there comes a re-
proachful shout from the shore:
some spots Overlooked.
Bert. We are going in now, and you
didn't get the collar band of your shirt
clean, and, Mary. one OF your stockings
is floating away down by the point"
When II is all over and the family as
sembles again, attired in more seersucker.
washed the day before, the visitor and the
women of the family hang up the wash
on the lines strung between the white
birch trees, the men being employed mean
while building the fire for the night
You see" confides the wise woman, that
we have a good-sized wash here. Now, II
had to iron IL all It would take me three
or four hours tomorrow morning. AS II is
there is nothing more TO do with it, and ]
can go on the picnic with the rest of you
Moreover, we really keep a great deal
cleaner by wearing seersucker, for often
/ II had to iron my dresses I'd make them
/ do a few days longer, but now as soon
as one gets the least bit dirty l just go in
washing with IT, and It is all part OF the
days fun"
And there's the romantic part of it. too
ihNeiiuPleu Nhe uauBntefs Ion you rec
like the beautiful heroines in the novel:
who are always discovered doing the family
wash by the river? The hero hears merry
laughter, and peers through the bushes
you know, to see an enhancing vision OF
maidens with beautiful bare arms, theil
golden hair cleaning in the sunlight. anC
the snowy garments in the sparkling watel
only feeble imitation OF their dazzling
white teeth. There was NausicRn In Homer
and when the washing was done she anC
her maids played with a golden ball anC
then there was Ramona, out In California
and somebody else in a Scotch story. Fie
ton is fun OF these washtub romRnces. anS
I'm Just scared all the time lest some Prime
Charming will peek through the blueberrl
bushes At us when we go in washing. ant
I'm a fright IN that old bathing suit."-'Nev
York Tribune.