The Washington herald., 1912-05-28
NATURES WILL SOON
BECOME DWARFBD
Where the Universal Language of
Beauty Is Unheard.
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.


Because there are so many girls and
women in the work-a-day world in New
York City, some OF the churches are
opening luncheon rooms to meet 3 need
OF the workingwomen in their vicinity.
p. Another has Just opened its doors, and
while the aesthetic feature OF the enter
prise is not the most practical Of all, II
stands out rather impressively, because
there are many girls and women who
would rather sit down to dinner OF
herbs" embeIIIshed by the grace OF
dainty serving and attractive environ
ment, than to a feast. with the charm
OF setting all gone.
And. that is why the decorations in the
little Dutch luncheon room are likely to
offer an attraction as potent even as the
pTice-l5 cents.
The walls are in orange, and the blue
border represents a merry lot OF Dutch
dancing maidens. The curtains are blue,
the tables and chairs yellow, and the
center OF each table is graced with a
small brass vase Of golden daffodils. II
is true, the darodIls are not Natures
own, but the color scheme is there, and
maybe when the summertime really
comes there will be the nodding field
daisies, with their yellow centers, fresh
from Lne kdIQGns public 10 all VI may
be the saucy black-eyed Susans will come
from the fields to vie with the deep
toned walls.
The china is blue and white-and
there's a rest room, furnished with easy
chairs.
And it is all for Is cents, with a silent
but eloquent sermon on Love beautifully
thrown in.
woman's Work.
Having told so much, it is only fair
to add the practical end and say that
these churchwomen-for it is a woman's
work-furnish a luncheon Of meat, one
vegetable. and bread and butter for the
stipulated price. with other items at the
rate Of fve cents a portion.
But what counts the most is the
CHEEKY, really pretty environment, for II
you have ever taken { look into some
Of the cheap Restaurants in a big city
you can guess what it means, to a wo-
man who cares, to be one of a lot OF
hurried, not-over-particular folk, all
intent, upon just food, ANXIOUS to get
through and away from a spot that Of
fers no single lure but the coarsely
practical.
For it is restfuI and encouraging. be-
tween bites to look out at something
JAdl IeSpOnQS 10 lne lONe VI Ine Dedu-
tiful implanted in US all, or at least In
those who were fortunate enough to
come to earth quite normal. 4
II is that very thing that makes II
harder for the woman-whO-cares when
she cannot choose her own atmosphere.
Only yesterday a bit Of conversation
drifted toward me which showed the
tribulatiOns that may beset the path Of
a householder With the modest ambition
OF achieving a pretty and "cieaned-up"
back yard.
Hostile Atmosphere.
She was one OF the women-who-care,
but it was not a single family house,
and she could not control its policy.
There were four others to determine the
degree Of cleanliness and beauty. She
cared and was willing 10 work to prove
t; one cared a bit, but would not prove
Il; one was indifferent; the fourth re-
zarded 4 back yard as serving just one
useful purpose-a convenient spot for
Junk. What chance would a few flowers
have to thrive in that hostile atmos- !
Dhere? And so It ended as a good many /
impulses have ended before-"What's the /
Ise?'
The woman who cares where she eats, !
the manner OF service apd what the en-
vironment, may thrive a while with |
nothing to assuage the beauty-hunger, !
but, day in and day day out, year in and |
it must wear away the finer |
streaks in her nature!
1t is likely the churches that are open |
ng luncheon rooms for working girls for |
The modest sum OF fifteen cents are doing /
I because the practical side has appealed !
most strongly; but It is quite apparent |
that they see the other side as well.
And Cne is glad OF it, for natures easily /
enough become dwarfed and narrowed In |
IN environment where the universal Ian
yuage Of beauty is seldom heard.
For isn't It true that one thinks better
thoughts, and drops disbursement like
IN ugly mantle when there is an atmos-
1here Of human love, human interests.
Ind soft, chaste beauty that somehow
Xpands ones nature?