The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-25
EVENING STORY
RatiOned.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

Mans was the only studio in the o,d |
building down in Chelsea that pos
sessed a balcony. And perhaps Nan
was the only American among the
tenants, all of whom earned their
daily rations by means OF one OF the
arts. Nan Moore herself was q writer
and sent back stories to America and
conducted a column on how to pre-
pare food in war times Mans small
typewriter clicked at almost any hour
of the day or night.
For a few weeks past Mans alert
eyes had noticed the various quaint
characters that came aid went into
the other stu 1ios in the building on
the Thames For the most part they
lived alone, each pursuing MS craft IN
his own-way-
DO you know" she said to Char
lotte Manor, who at that moment was
helping herself to a second cup of fra
grant coffee from Mans percolator
that stood always on the wicker tea
cart. this rationing business is the
limit. All these poor artists who live
alone, like me, can hardly get up a
decent meal more than once week.
About twelve ounces of meat for a
good husky person is not enough to
stretch over seven days. I honestly
think some of these men get their
| weekly rations and eat it all up in one
| days"
Its bad enough to get a meal for
| two with such. a tiny bit Of joint
added Charlotte, who had a husband;
| 1--WE are so tired of beef. and that's
the only thing it pays to get. 1 think
we would get about a chop and a
| half IL we took mutton Fancy! But
I manage to get UP pretty fair meals"
| "Oh, so do L." exclaimed Nan, but
| IS these artists feel sorry for. They
all begin to look half fed. Artists al
ways do have a soul hunger radiatins
| from them. but I Just can't stand see
ing them look really hungry" Her
big human eyes gazed down at a fell
low artist who was even then maxi
| ing his way along the EN- bankment
| carrying his violin. Bobby BRUCE. is
positively white today" she lamented.
Il wish L could cook a great big steak
and onions and invite the whole build
| ing in to share IT.
Then an idea came to her so sudden
ly that with the expression of it she
nearly dumped Charlotte, coffee and
all, from the great hammock that
swung across the balcony.
| 'Charlotte!" she cried happily. 81
building to pool his rations and we can
all have dandy meals. If there are
twelve of US We shall be>able- to get q
fine big joint of the best cut every
| Week-perhaps about twelve pounds
And you know we could make that go
SO much further and taste so much
better than twelve individual bits of
meat cut from most any part Of the
COW. Isn't it great?" She jumped up,
wanting then and there to go to each
studio door and unfold the plan which
was .secondarily developing in her fer
tile brain.
Charlotte had good many drops of
cold water to pour on Mans enthusi-
asm, but fortunately for Nan she knew
what she wanted and went straight
for it. water or no water.
Her plan was nnfolded. at each stu
dio. Almost, without exception it wa.
met with JOY. 1t had been difficult
thru out the building, where so many
lived alone, to get up appetizing meals.
This way" ended Nan. lone of "
who likes to do the buying can do IT
all, and 1 love to cook, as it is in my
line. We can use that old room on the
ground floor for our dining room and
get a little char girl to wash our
dishes. I think it will be a perfectly
heavenly and sociable time"
So the Billy Wrights, Bobby bruce,
Helen Mclean. little Sammy Twain
and all the Chelsea buildings artists
held meeting in Mans studio to plan
Land pool ration cards. Little sammy
who tho he was poster artist, knew
something about figures and weights
land measures. added UP and. made
the grand discovery that, pooled. their
meat rations would allow of nearly fif-
teen pounds of meat week.
(Which will go beautifully thru sew
en- days IL judiciously carved. and with
fish to break the monotony.' put in
Nan. whoever can cut the thin
nest slices of meat to look like big
ones will be the official carver"
So the sugar and BUTTER bacon and
meat rations cards We're all handed
over to Nan. Fortunately they. one
and all. had taken out their cards with
the nearest grocer and butcher so that
the trouble OF various stores was done
laway with.
Perhaps 1t was because Nan wa.
American and one of Britains allies
or perhaps it was because she chattet
with her trades people and asked
about their babies and what they fec
them and told them about America
and tho great army in khaki ovel
there-anyway, whatever the reason
Nan always found the best of joints
the finest of bacon and the best Eng
fish butter for the artists. She wal
a splendid buyer
Their first family dinner was a grea
} success. There had not been so pleas
! ant an evening in Chelsea building
since the last raid and there was ne
less excitement. On that night. ar
, rayed in various quaint CARDS hastil,
put on. they had met In the big attit
where a splendid view of the air figh
was possible, and when the raider.
were driven off and the all clear
signal had sounded, Nan had invited
them all into her studio for a cup Of
coffee and apple pie. 1t was O'Clock
in the morning, but that was a small
matter in studio life.
Conversation ran high and deep al
| that dinner table. Brains long used
to sparkling thoughts. vivid bits Of
= grim war and the wonderful inspiring
| exchange of art talk tripped about the
table and made everybody bless Mar
) for her big idea The cooking was q
tremendous success and created muef
, comment 1t would seem from TIN
abundant table that war was a thinf
, Of the past. Nan had cooked every
thing with the help of the girl artist.
The caretaker's little girl was giver
four shillings a week to clear up and