The Washington times., 1920-01-03
Borders at a
Profit
By Loretto G. Lynch.
An Authority on All Matters Reiat-
ing to Household Problems.


A BUSINESS woman in the city
"A OF New York met me the
\ other day with counter
ance. beaming with ecstasy and
said: Nv ell, at last-I've gotten
into Mrs. Benson's boarding house.
You know my name was on her
list one-year, and when she noti-
ned me that 1 might come 1 just
jumped with joy"
was Interested Immediately.
She was not the first person VINO
had talked delightedly OF Mrs.
Benson's. And / decided that
would find out why IT was that
Mrs. Benson had waiting llst "hiie
many boarding house keepers were
scarcely making expenses. ana 80
/ accepted my friends invitation TO
dine at Mrs. Benson's boarding
house that very evening.
Mrs. Benson greeted me in spot
less white uniform-there didn't
seem to be a single lock OF her
wavy iron-gray hair out OF place
She was a Southerner, a LADY, IN
deed, forced by circumstances to
leave her home in the south ana
seek living in the metropolis
She had a large brown-stone mouse
in a very desirable location. There
were ten sleeping rooms, delight
fully furnished, and she served htty
people at dinner each evening.
The ten sleeping-rooms accommo-
dated sixteen. These she mao LOT
breakfast as we'll as dinner. The
number who took luncheon at her
pIace each day averaged about
No house
one of the cheap ones of fction,
but a particularly attractive one
that charged a fair price and ca
tered to folks who appreciated
"perfect"-yes, mean perfect
cooking in as much as any human
performance may be perfect. -.
After dinner / asked her to tell
me some of. her secrets of success.
You may like to know them.
Long ago" she began, II real
txed that the most sought for tables
In a restaurant are the small ones,
where folks may chat with some de-
gree of privacy. l capitalized this
from the beginning. and I have no
long tables in my establishment. L
realize that by dong away with
these small tables I could squeeze
in a few more diners, but prefer
to give folks what they wish In
this respect"
The table cloths were snowy
white and there was a beautiful
shaded lamp on most every table.
Each table had pretty fern dish,
with a good, live fern collection in
IL. The woodwork of the room was
done In white enamel
The walls were painted creamy
yellow. There were few we'll
chosen pictures on the wall. And
the creamy-yellow cre'onne with a
wilderness OF large red and pink
roses and cool green foliage printed
upon II hung at the windows ana
gave cheer even on the dullest days.
The chairs were mahogany-fi finished
birch with cane bottoms. But the
tables Of various woods, l was told,
were done over to look like ma
hogary, but were always covered
"The frst two. years. I ran this
boarding house" Mrs. henson con-
tinued, 'T used to give ny guests a
card after Sunday dinner with the
request that they name some dishes
they'd particularly like to have me
cook Mt some future time. Much
asked for dishes I carefully noted
and in planning future meals ]
worked them In.
Another thing particularly
noted was the foods that were re.
turned. noted also how much was
returned of portions served. So
that now l am able to gauge ex-
actIy how much TO serve"
The boarding mistress pointed
out a very prosperous-looking gem
tleman who apparently was able 10
AFFORD more than the s25 a week
ne paid for his room and board.
"That gentleman leaving the room
IN with me over Ave years. He is a
business man, ard used TO have a
room at the Hotel M and eat a
10 carte. But he tells me that he
particularly likes the balance OF
my meals and the element OF sur
prise they usually possess. Ho
found II unusually annoying 10 his
busy mind to- have TO think just
what vegetables TO order with a
certain meat. md an appropriate
soup and dessert. Hts dinher IL
served TO him without worry or