The Pensacola journal., 1919-08-04
Their Married Life

Hsien RealIzes the DJteor IonlInooo Of
Woman Alone In New York.
No miss. she hasn't come in yet"
drawled the colored boy 1T the switch
board.
BY the lonely ticking nickel clock on
top OF the switchboard it was now five
minutes after six Laura had said six,
but she had probably been detained at
the office.
Helen went over to the heavy carved
cax chair beside the heavy carved oak
table which were intended to give an air
OF pretentiousness to the MARBLE wainE-
coted. white-tiled recepeIon hall.
Il was one of the countless new apart
ment houses In the Washington Heights
section. and large enough to boast OF
both an elevator and q switchboard boy.
Musfngly Helen watched the people as
they came in. Laura had said that
many OF these apartments were rented
cut in separate rooms, which accounted
for the number Of women. evidently
clerks and stenographcrs. now coming
home from their work. Many OF them
| looked middle-aged and all Of then,
looked tired.
A few went first 70 the switchboard
to see il anyone had called them up.
but most of them went straight to the
elevator, pathetic admission that they
expected no calls.
Then Laura Wilson entered. flushed
and hurried.
"Oh. I'm % sorry to have kept you
waiting-but couldn't help 1t. Mr.
Richards asked me to take some letters
at the last moment. 1t always happens
when I want to get off early. Here's
On the eighth floor Laura unlocked
= door at the end of the corridor and
they entered the narrow hall OF q typical
seven-room flat.
ing the Kitchen as she led Helen into
a room intended for kitchen, but clev-
erly converted into bedroom.
"Oh. how quaint" Helen sank onto
the edge of the couch which took up the
srace meant for the range.
The ADVANTAGES.
II could get the small bedroom for the
same price; but I've more places to put
things nodding to the china closet
and shelves. Running water. too.''
drawing back chintz curtain which
concealed the sink.
But who fixed it up 30 cleverly7 Are
these your things?"
"oh. no; she furnishes all the rooms,
but / put up this curtain and the one
before the ice box"
THE ice box?'' laughed Helen. what
do you use an ice box for?"
Drawing back another curtain Laura
opened the ice box.
Two hats graced the compartment
low. instead of milk and butter. were
'sfces. slippers. and one shelf was neat
ly PILED with stationery.
well. that certainly is an ingenious
use for an ice-box."
And the linen closet IN the hall goes
with this room. They've taken out the
shelves so i can hang up my clothes.
Now. isn't this better than the dingy,
third story back in . smelly boarding
hcrse2"
"Unquestionably.'' 'IIelen's tone was
emphatic But isn't 1t more expen-
siva :.
mo. just about the same. This room
Is four dollars week. and my meals
cost only-.But wen have dinner before
! tell you about the meals Oh. we must
hurry, things are never 20 good when
you're late.
While Laura freshened up, Helen
looked around with keen interest. She
Thought of the many women living alone
o. meagre salaries in dingy furnished
room houses-surely this was the better
way.
The covered washtub beside the si1x
was used as a dressing table. And now
as Laura started to fix her hair. she
drew the electric light which hung by
ccrd from the ceiling. over to a hook be-
side the mirror.
And i never had decent light on a