Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-01-14


there Is an ancient land
~ mark-not the one in which
Mrs. Southworth wrote her
first novels, nor the other one with
black iron steps, where Lafayette
used to stay, but the farthest-out
one-that shows a hulking red-brtck
shoulder to the corner, and which IN
its day was called "the ark" On
Sundays pilgrims from all over every
where used to gather around the
house to watch any signs Of life go
ing on inside among the different
families congregated in its rooms,
for tho ark was the very first house
in the District, SO the old-timers say,
to start the industry of renting rooms.
Boarding houses were as the sands
Of the sea. But just plain rented
rooms, where a family could cook for
itself! This seed OF an idea produced
a crop of room renters that over
flowed every resident section of the
city, until. in turn, apartments
stepped into the scheme of local life.
If you stop to think your friends
over, you will notice that every BUSH
ness woman, and even the ordinary
clerking young man, lives in an
apartment Of some sort; some alone,
but mostly in punches. In q fiat you
have a kitchenette and can fix your
own menu according TO fancy or in
come. In a rented room there is
always a landlady who objects
! nearly always-to what we call light
housekeeping, which is perfectly
proper, seeing a tenant has no right
20 burn her gas or smoke up her
walls, and SO on.
For one case in hand, there is a
young fellow in the commission line
who still has his way to make-a nice
young fellow, whom a. quite stylish
buddy called on the other evening.
The room was gray with smoke and
the nice young fellow was frying
green sausage Gin advance" so that
he could have them ready for break
fast. Also. he had fried a steak to
eat at once, having before that fried
rashers OF breakfast bacon to get
Of all the messes! And the Joy!
Better stay outside IL you have
your good suit on. I'm about
! through. See. all have to do is turn
off the gas and open the window
Come in and have a bite
The buddy, who has an apartment
with two other buddies and money
enough among them to hire a cook,
wanted an explanation Of the big
| idea. The host laid a newspaper on
a chair, surrounded the guest with
bottles, jars and cans that meant
pickles, horseradish, sauces and may
onnaise; put him in touch with celery,
lettuce and a tomato: turned a
Drowned slab of porterhouse on his
plate and told him to go ahead.
Its great, son. One day 1t struck
me that could get stuff at cost rates
from the commission house, and I've
! been a blooming cereus ever since.
1 give the lady / live with so cents a
| week for gas. and, as the old roost
wants repapering anyhow, she lets
| me do this cooking. You see, il I
had a sink and a regular place to get
rid of the trash-say, ! got some
| bully fresh eggs at cost price. Want
a dozen with my compliments?'
| Buddy did, and, having insisted on
payment, tucked the box under his
arm to take back to the fiat.
Which, in a small way, helps TO
answer the question why so many
] apartment houses are rising up every
day in every way,
tVIIHEN the Antediluvian Club met
| w the other night. not in the New
Ebbitt, Miss Matte May. acting presi-
J dent in the absence OF Miss Alkaline,
who was unavoidably detained, an
nounced that Miss Cornelia Ann
Blank, who was to have lectured on
my Travels in Florida" illustrated
with post cards, would be unable to
to be present, and lie any member
! would kindly-with a look of arch in
vitation all around
No member would. Distinctly not
with no preparation whatever. Miss
Teeny Clorine, who was the ante
jdiluvianist member present, and OBJ