The Washington herald., 1917-03-01

1t seems to me IL people would get rid
Of lot OF clutter In their lives, they
would enjoy life much more. We went
to call on an old friend of mothers not
SO very long ago, who lives In a really
pleasant house>in In the old portion OF New
York, down near Gramercy Park. 1t was
a four-story brown stone residence, with
a little iron railing around the area way.
and a colonial doorway with side lights
and a fan light overhead and a brass
knocker that looked as IL il belonged
there and had not been resurrected from
some brass shop and nailed on recently.
But inside, the house was one mass Of
accumulated clutter from several genera
| tions. You wanted to throw open the
windows. and get plenty OF air and sun
light into the shadowy corners, and try
the effect of nice clean ivory paint on
the dark old woodwork. There were three
family portraits on the wall in oil, and
some steel engravings out in the front
hallway, copy of the Declaration Of
Independence, and a picture of Washing
toms call on Betty Rose when they set
tied the colors of the flag.
| When mother talks, 1 always feel my
self lulled in a way. l love to listen to
her. no matter who she is talking to. she
is so dear and gay and always says the
| usual thing in a different sort OF a way
that interests you. So there she was.
| saying the incest things to these two
IIittle old ladies'. the aunts of her girl
hood friend. who had come down to en-
tertain US. and had a chance to look
around me.
Dear me, the front drawing-room was
full of relics. and what they couldn't find
room for there was out in the big sombTe
back room. And Miss C was telling
mother about wnen she was a girl and
showing her an old ring with somebody's 8
hair in 1t. John Quincy Adams or Noah
IWebster's. l forget which. And mother
| was saying. wasn't II nice she had ii to
look at often. Then the other Miss C
went over' to an old glass cabinet and
brought out a cut-glass goblet that Col
onel Washington had drunk from on his
first visit to New York when he had
ILeen but a youngster.
| My grandmother entertained him
then" she said. happily. We have the
very chair he sat in at dinner and the
IcUshion."
1t made me wonder and think a lot
| Out West, while we were taking Little
! Pal." l used to love to watch the forest
rangers at their work. All the brush
was cut out and piled up. so that the
young green tree shoots underneath
would have a chance to grow tall and
strong IN the sunlight. And isn't ciut-
ter the same? Does It pay to place so
| much importance on all these old things
from the past. so that we forget what a
really wonderful day We are living in
| now?
Still, perhaps. some day my great
grandchildren and Lottie's may be show
| ing some of our things, and telling how
interesting poor dear old great-grand-
! Iar-
to collect things. ] suppose we are just
as queer as they were. l love keep
| sakcs. and in our family. when anything
| special happens to one or the other, we
are likely TO give presents.
| When mother came out Of the hospital.
We all of US gave her something nice,
! and when / was a wee little thing, 1
| can remember she always had a surprise
| for me just soon as i began TO get
| better If l had little cold or anything
1 the matter with me.
Sc perhaps clutter is after all precious.