The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-30

Out manage IhCm.
''I shall be SO glad to have you back
in your old home,'' said Mrs. Weeks,
leaning back languidly IA her COM
Portable porch rocker.
"Of course it goes without saying
that we shall be glad to be back"
answered Eleanor with smile of
such happiness that it arrested the
wandering attention of the scatter
brain little neighbor.
II believe you are the happiest fam
lily I know" She looked at Eleanor
with child's wonder in her face.
II do not see how any one could be-
happier" Eleanor playfully shook
the chubby child in her arms. What
could any one want to make her hap
my possessions
Your possessions 80 This was said
wonderingly.
Eleanor laughed. ..'You think of
things, l suppose, when say pos
sessions. Do things make people
happy? You ought to know, for of
all my friends you have the largest
assortment
81 have everything that you have
and more, too, but 1 think you are
and children have a better time than
mine. Is it because We have SO
much?" The question was asked hon
estly, and Eleanor repressed the smile
that the remark called forth. 81 have
so much trouble with M servants,
continued Mrs. Weeks almost in a
complaining tone. My cook gave no.
tice this morning and she is a good
cook and L hate the bother of getting
used to a new one, triedtto find out
her hands helplessly into her lap.
What was the trouble ?'' asked
leanor encouragingly.
''Oh, she thinks there is too much
discrimination used between her and
the second girl Both those girls are
their own particular sphere and they
lie awake nights to draw fine line
of demarkation, and the chauffeur is
no better. 1 had to hire a man to
come in to clean the windows with
| those three good for nothings loafing
around doing nothing" was the fret
full answer TT was not the work of
any one of the three"
DO you mean that you can not
call upon your servants for. anything
| you want done?''. asked Eleanor in
astonishment.
We'll, 1 should say not, and the
laundress is no better. Do you know
1 have to put away the laundry my
| self because the SECOND girl says 1t
| is the laundress's job, as she does the
ironing" Mrs. Weeks shrugged her
shoulders.
But you want to put it away. don't
| y
over to see what needs mending."
Eleanor rose to take something away
from the meddlesome fingers of her
| baby and sat down again with the
| child in her lap.
| "Oh, the nurse does the mending,"
she replied easily.
Pardon me, but what do you do?''
| Eleanor smiled.
Il am as busy as a bird dog all
| day" Mrs. Weeks laughed. Il have
| these
Really sometimes 1 think it would be
easier to get along without any, only
1 am not very strong and
Il am sorry can't help you in such
| troubles" Eleanor smiled as she would
at a discontinued child. Il am SO in
dependent that can't imagine what
it would be to have an army of dis
contented people to keep well oiled
| and in running order
We'll, it does take a lot of ma IA ge-
ment. My husband seems TO think
that as he furnishes so many servants
1 should never be tired: that 1 have
nothing to do The little woman
sighed.
II think there is no question that
you have a hard thing to do. 1t takes
a peculiar gift to manage people sue
cessfully. Not every one possesses it.
1 am sure I should fail utterly. 1t is
so much easier to do the things that
are to be done than to sit by and
make someone else do them; someone
who is not interested and whose main
object in life is to do as little pos
| sible." Eleanor paused. ;'That is why
1 say that the simple way of living is
most sure to bring happiness 1 am
deeply interested in my family and
everything that 1 do for them is a
real joy; it is not work. Besides it
is a joy to be efficient; to be able to
| have a sense of power over things.
That is the attraction that business
has for most men aside from the
profits
That is worth thinking about" an
swered Mrs. Weeks.
4 (To be continued.)