The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-23

1t was the straight gameness Of Mrs.
MacChesney which appealed to Willy
Gaines and made him not only her
conscientious legal adviser, but her
staunch friend as we'll
AS he was interested in some mining
properties in that locality, he managed,
once or twice year, to get out to
Wapiti, a village far up in the Rocky
Mountains, with certain springs whose
medicinal qualities had suddenly be-
come famous; consequently, Mrs. Mac
Chesney seized the opportunity OF this
visit to present him her latest scheme
the white summer one-and Willy
Gaines, considering it gravely with
half-closed eyes, could not pick flaw
in it.
They we're both pleasant people to
look at as they sat talking on her
porch, about fortnight before the sea-
son at Wapiti opened. Willy was one
of those tall, thin, rather awkward
men, with certain definite quality
and distinction which most people
found more attractive than mere good
looks unaccompanied by agreeable
characteristics.
AS for Mrs. MacChesney. capability
and efficiency were written all over
her. She was in middle age of an
agreeable plumpness, with dark, quick,
bright eyes. wavy gray hair and a
placid. benevolent, motherly express
sion. She wore the trimmest of per-
fectly fitting gowns, the neatest and
most becoming of hats and the smart
est OF shoes. Both voice and attitude
betrayed the public speaker. Her enun-
citation was distinct and carefully cul-
tivated. and she always seemed to sit
with poised gayel. Under all circum-
stances, she appeared to be facing an
audience, while Willy Gaines, with his
air Of slight but definite absorption,
gave the impression of belonging ex-
clusively to himself
In further explanation Of her pres
ent intentions, Mrs. MacChesney went
on to say that she had decided to take
little time off from the State, county
and local politics, in which she was a
prominent figure, and from the various
womens clubs and philanthropic move
ments in which she was Interested
She also meant to turn her business
activities, including real estate, min
Ing, melon-raising and irrigation in the
valleys, speculation in stocks and
bonds, etc, into the hands of an agent,
and devote herself exclusively to the
development Of her new scheme.
And that-?" asked Gaines pa
tiently.
That" said Mrs. MacChesney, tap
ping the table gavel-wise with one
gloved forefinger, is this. We have
before us white summer. To ex-
plain" seeing his bewildered express
sion, women, the world over, will
wear little but white 1t is the alb
solute decree Of fashion. have it
from the best authorities. The cos
tunes, whether linen, lawn, lace or
embroidery, must be white, and white
must be all the accessories, hats, shoes,
stockings, parasols, gloves, even shop
ping bags.
Now, as he probably knew, she con-
tinued this was going to be an over
whelming season at Wapiti, and there
was not laundry in the place. She
had been to see the hotel-keeper. All
without exception were in despair OF
course, as each had pointed out, it was
desirable to maintain the wild and
primitive character of the place in so
far as possible, but they were fearful
that they could not house, with even
fair comfort the number of guests who
were writing for accommodation, so
great was the difficulty in Turing SER
wants to this remote mountain village
for so brief season. The innkeepers
had therefore been only too delighted
to have her settle this perplexing laun-
dry question, and had assured her, in
writing, of their patronage.
Then, to leave no stone unturned,
she had visited all the miners wives
in washing the previous season and
meant to do 1T again this summer.
She had got them to figure on their
profits of last year and had offered
them five dollars more week to work
steadily in the laundry the entire sea-
SON To woman they had accepted
She had already decided on the site
She meant to erect a small, snow
along the trail leading to the springs
Thus, since to drink the youth-pro-
longing waters was the ostensible rea-
son for anyone visiting Wapiti, none
might escape seeing the snow-white
uuiiuIuS, duu Delu5 luclcdllcE re-
minded that 1t was both noticeable and
necessary; two of the greatest factors
in successful advertising
tits great, Mrs. MacChesney, simply
great. can't pick flaw in it," said
Gaines enthusiastically.
The result of his commentator and
her conviction was that, by the time
the season opened, the Snowflake
Laundry was in admirable running
order, and Immediately began to do
flourishing business.
True, the prices charged we're enough
to make even the wives and daughters
of plutocrats open their eyes, but the
social law of that year was that one
must appear at Wapiti during the sum-
mer, and. equally arbitrary law of
feminine fashion, one must appear in
white; and white as fresh as the pro-
verbal paint and as crisp as pop
corn. 1t is, therefore, needless to say
that Mrs. MacChesney could charge
what she pleased. and equally SUI
perfluous to state that she did SO.
Therefore before depaTting for more