The Detroit times., 1916-08-21
The Love of the SOrdid
BY OR. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1918, by Frank Cane)

There are some people who just like
dirt
Neatness to them is discomfort and
cleanliness a bore.
When old Pap Stevenson, back in
Springfield. had TO put on a clean shirt
he always manifested a consciousness Of
guilt; II was one of those shameful ne
cesSities which occur in life.
Jim Dolan's desk. remember, used to
be confused mass of litter, loose
sheaves of letters, raGgedy piles of old
papers, stray notebooks, everything
topsyturvy. How in the world he ever
found what he wanted is mystery.
Once, when new office girl Strengthened
things up. he was furious.
Mrs. Bates kitchen was similar She
was tousled and it was tousled She
liked it that way, and spoke with fine
scorn of pernickety folks who always had
things redded up.
When Abe Struthcrs dined with us on
one occasion-Abe ran the drav and did
odd jobs, and mother, being ho,pitable
and democratic. asked him 10 sit down
and have a bite-the clean tablecloth
worried him and the snow-whitc napkin
actually panied him. He would have
preferred eating from the oilcloth in the
kitchen.
Literary fellows waste deal Of SYM
pathy over the wretched conditions of
the poor. But Mrs OFlynn likes to
have two or three molasses-faced chill
dren on the floor. and the kitchen (also
used as dining room. reception room.
drawing room. and sitting room full Of
the odor of suds, and the genial air Of
chaos everywhere. To set everything in
order for her would make il seem like
somebody was dead.
Jane Adams tells Of some model tene-
ments that were built in the Sums and
bathtubs put in The tenants promptly
used the bathtubs for coal, the sloping
end being admirably suited 10 the shovel.
On the contrary little Mr.. Burkhardt,
who did washing and lived in one Of the
worst alleys in town, had everything
about her as neat as a pin; floors spot
less, rag rugs positively artistic. geYa-
NUNS blooming in the window, and her
clothes always beyond reproach.
Most people live about as they Ike TO
( live. Some DO not. But, while it is an
atTliction for a tidy soul TO be in wretch
ed quarters it is no less a trial Tor
clutteTed soul 10 live i'm order and Cieanli-
ness.
A good deal Of hohcmianism is Just
Icontentment with dirt. Some alleged
free souls simply love disorder, unclean-
iness, cheap and nasty environment.
And often morally and mentally as well
as physically.
Speaking of that unfortunate poetic
genius Ernest Dowson, it was said:
Without certain sordidnes9 in his sur
roundings he was never quite comfort
able, never quite himself
There's many a man VINO prefers the
beer saloon to his home because his
home Is clean and his heart is dirty.
And there are high HarUrr7, among
the poor as among the favored, who are
eternal centres Of order and beauty their
| line has gone out to all the earth, and
those that love them come under their
spell and are smitten with a sense Of
the wrong Of unshapely things So w.
3. Yates wrote Of the rose of his heart:
AN things uncomoy and broken aIl things
worn out and old,
The cry Of child by tuc roadway, me creak
Of numbering cart
The heavy steps or q p'uurhWan, spIafhlHg
the wintTy mould
Are wronging your image that blossoms q
rose "a the deeps OF ms heart