The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-12-23
Sinclair Inn
Story of a Christmas
House Party
BY SARAH BAXTER

plainly dressed, emerged from Sinclair
station and called cab.
Take me to the Sinclair House.
she said to the cabman.
There were two houses in the place,
one the Sinclair inn, the other the resi-
dence Of Mrs. Sinclair, rich and
fashionable woman. The hotel had
been named for the Sinclair family.
who had for generations been the
mainstay Of the town. Mrs. Sinclair,
like most fashionable women Of those
days, had taken up fad in the serv-
ant problem. Her theory was that
servants should be treated with the
same consideration as governesses,
secretaries and persons Of that Xix.
They should associate with their en-
ployers, In small families, where there
were but one or two persons, eating at
the same table with them.
But Mrs. Sinclair was endeavoring
to work out her theory for others, not
herself In her homestead In the VII
lage Of Sinclair-everything was Sin
clair In the place-her servants treated
her with the utmost Difference. 1t
happened that when the lady who had
just arrived at the station, Miss Mil
bred Abercrombie, was being driven
to the Sinclair House Mrs. Sinclair
was entertaining Christmas house
party. The cabman, who was very stu
pid and a recent conner to the place,
got the two houses mixed In his mind
and drove Miss Abercrombie to the
private house.
Now, 1t happened that several Of the
guests were sitting in the wainscoted
hall before huge fireplace, on the
hearth of which blazed the Yule log,
Naturally they were merry, and their
principal amusement was cracking
jokes at one another. When therefore
Miss Abercrombie entered and asked
If the proprietor were in. one Of the
young men, Mr. Jack Edwards, arose
and said politely:
IL am the clerk. Would you like a
room"
"Yes; 1 would like room for the
holidays"
The party sitting before the fireplace
repressed smiles or hid them while Mr..
Edwards took the ladys handbag and
other light articles, set them in cor
ner, handed her a chair and said:
"Mrs. Sinclair runs this house. will
see her. and a maid will come and
show you to your ROOM"
With this he vanished and reported
to the hostess that pretty girl had ar
rived who had mistaken the house for
a hotel and 1t would be jolly good
fun to permit her to remain for awhile
In ignorance. Mrs. Sinclair. who felt
the responsibilities Of an entertainer.
seized upon the idea with alacrity,
called a maid and. going to the new ar
rival, welcomed her and sent her I'M
mediately to room. The young lady
having gone upstairs, the hostess
charged her guests to keep the secret
from the new arrival, each one striving
to carry out the joke.
An hour later, when the guests were
dressing for dinner, Miss Abercrombie
went downstairs to the hall or room
used for lounging, where she found the
hostess, whose manner was so friendly
that she at once won her guests conf
dence.
II have come away from the city,"
said Miss Abercrombie. "to escape
Christmas-not that would not gladly
welcome the holidays, but during the
past few years l have lost all who
might make them enjoyable for me.
felt this year that l could not remain
at home, and, hearing Of your family
inn that 1t was comfortable and home
like, | concluded to pass the holidays
here"
81 can understand your feelings per
fectly," replied the hostess, land we
will endeavor to alleviate your loneli-
ness so far as possible. My guests are
all en- rapport and will be happy to re-
ceive you into the circle"
81 have heard Of lady Of your name
in the city who is endeavorlng to solve
the servant problem"
Mrs. Sinclair pricked her ears An idea
came and developed into purpose.
"That Mrs. Sinclair is connection of
mine and | am convert to her theory
! have not dared however, to put 1t In
practice all at once, but am expert
mentlng by treating certain Of my-as-
clerk, of course, is superior to serv-
ant, and I'm his case | have no trouble.
/ have one maid who. being more re-
fined than the others, Is treated as one
OF us. My butler Is treated likewise.
Then, too, several OF my lady guests,
having been captivated by the new
idea, are putting their maids on the
same footing with themselves"
That's very nice" replied Miss Aber-
cromble. II have always pltied poor
girl in family keeping but one maid
the lonely life she is forced to lead. l
assure you that while guest In your
house | will do all In my power to
carry out your benevolent plan"
Mrs. Sinclair excused herself and
FASTENED upstairs to coach her guests
before they should come down to din
ner that their dupe had been prepared
to consider some Of them servants.
Bob Elliot, an inveterate Joker. was
appointed to play butler, the regular
butler lending Bob livery. Miss Ster-
ling, n success in private theatricals,
was uniformed as chief maid for the
inn, and several other girls were to
play ladies' maids All preliminaries