South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-23
THEIR MARRIED LIFE
By MABEL HERBERT URNER
THEY BUY CHINA CLOSET ATTEMPTS
T.
BY MABEL HERBERT

Dear, the china closet has come
and It's wonderful. Yes, just now
the men just left It fits in that
Oh what is the matter with this
phone." and Helen sharply shook the
receiver hook. Central Central, can't
you give me a better connection"
But the wires were crossed and it
was several minutes before the buzz
ing ceased and Warren's voice came
clearly in an impatient Hello"
Hello, on. il fits in that corner
perfectly-not an inch TO spare. And
there's no question about il being an
old onei II only il didn't have that
high polish Dear couldn't / rub il
down IN some way?. No, no; that
would make it cost us mOrei No. I
want to do it myself only knew
what 90 usei"
When Helen hurried back to the
dining room Nora was up on the
kitchen stepiader-chair wiping off
the top shelf Of the new china closet.
Mora. Mr.. Curtis says well spoil
IL if we try 20 rub it down" regret
fully. HE says it takes a man who
understands it,"
But Nora who could not see why
any one would prefer "a duh finish to
a nice shiny one, was not sympa-
thetic
1t was an old Sheraton cabinet
with quaint diamond paneled doors,
and Helen was convinced that il was
worth more than $40 she had paid.
She had bought it on the last day OF
"A retiring from business sale" Of a
Fourth av. shop, and SO had to take 1t
as 1t was. with one small pane broken
and that hideous high polish.
How could any one so desecrate a
beautiful old piece by vanishing it
up like that2 The more she looked
at it the more the high polish grated
on her.
Nov ma'am. the shelves are all
washed" announced Nora
Then came the fascinating work Of
arranging the china. Underneath
each shelf Helen screwed a row Of
hooks for the coffee, tea and bOuillon
cups. The plates and meat platters
she stood up in the back.
1t looked like an illustration in her
bOoI; of old English furniture. she
thought proudly, as she stood back
10 view IT, Ever since they were
married she had wanted a china
closet. but she wanted an antique
And this was the first one she had
seen at a moderate price
Nora, / believe we can rub that
down ?" determinedly. I'm going to
call mp Castelli's and ask them about
it."
The next moment Helen was look
ing up CastellTs Antique shop in the
telephone book.
Hello is this Mr.. Castelli? This
is Mrs. w T. CuTtis-you remember
we bought a sidebOard from yOu2
Wen. I've just bought an old china
closet, and unfortunately it's been
very highly polished / wonder if you
could tell me how to rub il down.
oh. no, / want to do it myself Oh.
/ see" stiffiy. Very well-gOOdbye."
With flaming cheeks Helen slammed
Up the receiver. She would never
buy another thing OF that man! He
had refused TO tell her anything. in
sisting that she should send it around
and let him do il over.
Promptly she called up another
dealer. who. in marked contrast to
CastelH, very generously told her
what TO do. Fine powdered pumice
stone and crude oil,-rub it with the
grain of the wood that's all.
Helen thanked him effusively, de-
terming 10 trade with and recon-
mend him wherever she could.
Gleefully she ran back to Nora,
who was now washing the glass door.
Nora, / want YOU To go TO the paint
store around the corner and get some
fue-pOwdered pumice-stone and some
crude oil. This bottle Will do for the
oil about ten cents worth. and say
you want enough pumic-stOne to rub
down a china closet. Now, hurry. |
want TO get this done before Mr..
Curtis comes home-Tm sure we
can"
When Nora returned Helen eagerly
opened the box of pumice-stOne.
Now put some OF this in 81 saucer
and put some crude oil in another
saucer. and get me couple of soft
cloths"
Hurriedly she slipped on an old
wrapper and pair of working gloves
and started in with eager anticipation
Il guess we'd better try II on an
other piece first. Get me that little
stool from the library, 1 never liked
the finish on that
Nora brought the foot-stool and
Helen dipped her cloth in the oil
then in the powdered pUmice-stOnt
and began rubbing gently. IT was
fascinatinR work and when she wipe'
of the paste with a soft cloth the
effect was magical. 1t had taken of
rot only the Objectionable shine bu
also the smeary finger prints and lef
soft dull lustre
Il knew we could do it," triumph
antly.
Emboldened by the easy success