The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-27

high cost of running a family hotel.
| She also declared hers was a quiet
place, infested only "by students and
office people,
Initiation came at supper when the
cook betrayed his nationality by put
ting onions in everything from soup
to dessert. The dessert was interest
ing-a concoction 1 hadn't met before.
To the rest tho it seemed to arouse
no more than usual interest.
A pantomime intermingled with vo-
cal explosions took our minds from
the soup. A young lady and youth
with his hair reached were RESPONSE
BILE and had apparently strangled.
The tired-eyed steno next to the
Missus giggled.
you may as we'll find It out first
as last" she volunteered. "AI this
gang talk like that-they're the stu
dents Mrs. Schwartz tells boarders
about before they move in-students
from the Northwestern Stammering
school. The conversation is too pain
full for me. I'm going next week"
We beat her out by three days and
a night.
Gee, but Mrs Schwartz is sore"
she volunteered as the drayman left
with our trunk: The place you're
going to is run by her sister"
end episode with fade out OF
train headed toward, Chicago. The
intervening week didn't matter.)
"The Hog Capital of the West
Chicago's oldest nickname, has been
advertised with a. new meaning in the
last year or two.
Naturally, when one moves into
Chicago he expects to find a profiteer
behind every tree. and a monthly in
crease in rent. Perhaps the best dis
Iillusionment is that fact that a better
decorated, ventilated and more. roomy
apartment can be had on the North
Side lake front for $40 to $50 than
can be had in the large majority of
middle western cities at any price.
Chicago's apartment districts are
probably one of the premier secrets OF
the city's growth. The rich man, poor
man, clerk, mechanic or average man
of most any financial rating or profess
sion can move into Chicago and find
an apartment to fit his taste and
pocketbook with little trouble.
Despite the fact several Topeka fac
tories have been having trouble for
months in securing trained men be-
cause of the house and apartment
shortage, a Topeka business man,
rated wealthy, told friends the other
day he would like to erect big 100-
apartment house in Topeka but
definite guarantee it would be kept
filled. This according to Kansas ave-
nue. gossip. Suffice probably to say,
this man refused to have anything to,
do with a plan to house poor families
in a big hall downtown during the coal
shortage because he feared the mem
bers of the different families would
fight"
In Milwaukee this summer I met a
former Kansas railroad conductor,
who. few years ago. before govern
ment increases in salaries, couldn't
make both ends meet. His wife
started a neighborhood grocery store
while he continued on his run. Two
months ago he owned a half block of
apartment houses in a northwestern
city. He got his basis for his first
apartment from the grocery store and
did the rest with rentals. Last spring
when flat and apartment owners of
the city boosted~rentalS 10 per cent
this man refused to raise his rate. He
has made thousands of dollars out of
apartments and a tenant hasn't moved
out of his places in months The IN
cident may have a moral.
But about Chicago. We left the
big lake and rail terminal reluctantly.
adequate. Rentals, clothing and food
stuffs. and even amusements, quality
considered, weEe more economical than
yet discovered.
1t was raining when we pulled into
Des Moines, via the Rock Island. We
were met at the station by a street car
that would make a Shorey conductor
envioUs. 1t seemed that Iowa was
just emerging from a period of sun
shine. Old Sol had acted on the roof
of the street car much as dry sum-
mer on a rain barrel If the Missus
had any doubts that her hat was
ruined by crumpling in a sleeper berth
that rain did the rest
Luck seemed at our elbow as far as
the hone-finding business, was con-
cerned. We located the first floor of
a duplex the day we landed say
landed because Walnut street looked
like the Shunganunga in a freshet-
Old King Jinx was right behind
Lady Luck. however. On the third
night, after a street car ride that
somehow made me think of Albert
"a u