The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-08

| beat the high cost of living is to re-
turn to the primitive. The way to re-
turn to the primitive is to return
''Where-where is the cook?'
ooh, 1 paid her off as soon as you
left the house this morning. 1 can do
all the simple life cooking there is to
be DONE
BY thunderr"
This pudding aand milk will remind
you of the days gone by"
Pudding and milk be hanged Mrs.
Rowser, told you
You did. Mr.. Bowser. 1 had my
orders to begin to save, and it was TO
be- the simple life for us. Give me a
day or two more and 1 can bring it
about"
sitting room The piano was closed
and covered up, and it bore card of
For Sale Cheap
What in b1azes does this mean?" he
shouted at Mrs. Bowser, who had fol-
lew him up.
she replied. when they wanted music
they got it from a jewsharp. Try and
remember to bring home a couple 10
morrow
IT,"
He couldn't get it out and he walked
down the hall and up the front stairs
The family bedroom had undergone a
change for the primitive The brass
bedstead had been replaced by an old
wooden one dug up from the basement
and there were no springs on it.
Tomorrow I will get an old-fash-
lcned straw-tick and a feather bed"
explained Mrs. Bowser. You know
it's hard to return to the PRINT
tive at days notice.
Mr. Bowser headed the way down
stairs and took a seat on one of the
cane chairs. 1t wabbled and groaned
and sighed under his weight
Dusk had come, and Mrs Bowser ex-
cused herself for a moment and
brought a lighted candle. 1t was an
cld-fashioned simple life candle, such
as father read and mother sewed by
and spoiled their eyes.
Mr.. Bowser stood up and tried to
light the gas.
No gas there.
I had it shut off at the meter"
explained Mrs. Bowser. Our fami-
lies never even heard of gas, and
what was good enough for them is
good enough for u.s.
There was silence for two long min
utes Then Mrs. Bowser brought out
from closet some clay pipes and a
bag of tobacco and said:
For you, dear to begin the simple
life on. L shall turn to snuff tomor-
row. 1t used to solace our mothers,
you know"
Mr.. Bowser sat dumb as a stone.
You want to get you some over
alls tomorrow, and I'll buy calico for
dress
Nothing from the man on the cane
seat
Il shall not now oppose your buy
ing q pig"
Still nothing.
I'VE shall have johnny-cake, fried
salt pork and corn coffee for break
fast"
Then Mr.. Bowser jumped to his
feet He jumped up and down. He
gasped. He gurgled. He threw his
arm about. Had he the power of
40 locomotives he could not have done
justice to the occasion. All of a sud
den he clattered down the hall and
opened the door and was gone Mrs
Bowser sat in the dim light of the SOL
itary candle when there was a clat-
ter of many feet and six men and four
women arrived The gas was turned
on in three minutes and then, direct
ed by Mr.. Bowser, the simple life was
thrown out of the windows. In just
one hour all the rugs and pictures
gang was paid off, and Mr.. Bowser
sat down to mop his perspiring brow.
rs the high cost of living to go
right on?" asked Mrs. Bowser.
No answer
Aren't we going to live the SIM
pie life?"
"Wo-wo-n'
No, he couldn't say it. He just
glared at her and went off to bed
Domestic economy had hit him
solar plexus blow, and he wanted at
1912. by Associat-
ed Literary Press.)