Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-11

AAVN9oAh uhA OhC
stories are being
toldeyery day by hundreds Of thousands
OF vlzlers daughters to their respective
sultans. But the bOwstring Will get
some OF 'em yet II they don't watch out
! heard a story, though, of one lady
caIiph. 1t Isn't precisely an ARABIAN
Nights" story, because 1t brings In
Cinderella, who hourished her dishrag
in another epoch and country. So II
yO0 don't mind the mixed dates (Which
seem to give 1t an eastern flavor, after
alD we'll get along.
In New York there Is an old, old
hotel You have seen wood cuts OF 1t
ia the magazines. 1t was built-lets
sec-at time when there was nothing
above Fourteenth street except the
Old Indian trail to Boston and Ham
mersteln's Office. Soon the old hostel
ry will be torn down. And as the
stout walls are rlYen apart and the
bricks go roaring down the chutes
crowds OF citizens will gather at the
nearest corners aud weep over the de-
structlon OF dear old landmark. Civ
ic pride Is strong In New Bagdad, and
tue wettest weeper and the lOudest
bowler against the iconoclasts will be
tue man Originally from Terre Haute)
whose fond memories OF the old hotel
are limited to his having been kicked
out from Its free lunch counter In 1873.
At this hotel always stopped Mrs.
Maggie Brown Mrs. Brown was a
bony woman Of sixty, dressed Ia the
rustlest black. and carrying handbag
made, apparently, from the hide OF the
original animal that Adam decided to
cali an alligator She always occupied
small parlor and bedroom at the
top OF the hotel at rental OF 81 per
day And always, while she was there,
each day came hurrying to see her
many men, sharp faced, anxious look
log, with only seconds to spare. For
Maggie Brown was said to be the third
richest woman In the world, and these
solicltous gentlemen We're only the
city's wealthiest brokers and business
men seeking trl1lng loans Of half a
dozen millions or so from the dlngy old
Indy with the prehistoric hand bag.
The stenographer and typewriter Of
the Acropolis hotel-there, I've let the
name Of 1t outl-was Miss Ida Bates.
She was a holdover from the Greek
classics. There wasn't a iaw In her
looks. Some old timer In paying his
regards to lady said, ITO have loved
her was liberal education" Well.
even to have looked over the back hair
0ad neat white shirt waist Of Miss
Bates was equal to full course In any
correspondence school In the country
She sometimes did little typewrltng
for me and, as she refused to take the
money in advance, she came to look
upon me as something of friend and
pr0tege. She had unfalllng klndllness
and good nature, aud not even a white
lead drummer or fur importer had
ever dared to cross the dead line of
good behavior IN her presence. The
entire force OF the Acropolls, from the
owner who lived In Vienna down to
the head porter, who had been bedrld,
den for sixteen years, would have
sprung to her defense IN moment
One day | walked past Miss Bates
little sanctum Remlngtorium and saw
Ia her place black haired unit -unmls
tpkably q person pounding with each
of her foreangcrs upon the keys,
Muslng on the mutbllily OF temporal
aHairs, ! passed on, The next day
went on a two weeks vacation. Re.
turning, ! stroled through the lobby
OF The Acropolls, and saw, with little
warm glow OF auld lang syne, Miss
Bates, as Greclan and kind aud aaw.
less as ever, Just putting the cover on
her machine. The hour for closing
hod come, but she asked me In to sit
for few minutes In the dlctotlon
chalr. Miss Bates explained her ab.
sence from and return to the Acropols
hotel Ia words Identical with or similar
10 these following:
"Well, maa, how are the stories com.
ingy'
Pretty regularly" said I, "Aboui
equal to their going"
grm sorry" said she. "Good type.
writing Is the main thing IN a story
You've missed me, haven't you"
NO one" said /, "whom have ever
Known knows as well as you DO how
20 space properly belt buckles. semi.
colons hotel guests ana halrplns. But
you've been away too. saw pack
nse Of peppermint pepsln In your place
the other day"
II was going to tell you about IT,"
said Miss Bates, N you hadn't inter
rupted me.
"0f course, you know about Maggie
Brown, who stops here. Wen. she's
worth Si0OO0000 she lives In Jersey
10 $40 fat She's always got mora
cash on hand than half a dozen b1sl
ness candidates for vice president. I
don't know whether she carrles It In
her stocking or not but know she's
mighty popular down IN the part Of