Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05

M were perfectly independent.
Et Frequently they reminded
eech other Of the fact, and
always with pride In hoity-
tci'y moments Mrs, Hanauer said to
her daughter and SoH-in-law las did
?..s Grimm to hcr son and daughter
- SvD "you don't have to look after
ns lv,apuv mas 10 bother about me.
I'm perfectly independent"
This independence WIS not the only
tie that bound tlcse two. Both were
widows. Each elwelt alone. comfortably.
occupying two rooms and bath in an
expensive family hotel overlooking ito
quote the al Central Park They en-
loved mah-iong and bridge. commenting
on each o.hcr's play with an insulting
<vanSncss that. IL professional game
Of chance. could have been wiped out
only with blood, Each used the other
as a safcty-valye. Alternately Mrs
Eanauer bTaeged and complained to
Mrs. Grimm of her daughter and SON.
in-law. Mis-. Gr;mnl'S son and daush-
ter-in-law came III for the same treat
m>nt
IN moments of triumph: You'd
think tn>y couldn't do anything With
out me. It's Mother. what do you think
az this; Mother. what Go YOU think OF
that I told them they didn't
WANT an Ola WuNlHsl SASitSs out Why
said. All right II YOU don't so. then
We won't. They spoil me. Honestly.
YOU'D think I was
IN other moments: Il told them! If
I don't tell them the truth. who will!
I'm not a person TO make trouble be-
tween husband and wife. And Stella
can't say that ever said a word TO
turn Ed against her. I hope I'm too
modern q nlother-in-la Law for that. But
said to Ed yesterday. said Ed, mark
MY words : OF. course. they're
spelling those children. but you can't
make them see that Wen: l
didn't say another word. ! marched
r!ght out of the house. hardly got
into the room when the telephone rang
and there she was. saying she was sor-
~. and that she had spoken hastily.
because she was worried. I told her II
vss all right. but that ! wouldn't take
tat from anybody. daughter or no
tGlghter. I don't have to. I'm per-
fcotly Independent.
Enthusiastically though each might
eeplore shortening in one of her own
family. 10 criticism of that family was
tolerated in the other. oh. that's be-
cause you don't really know Bernice.
She never was one TO make fuss III
public But she doesn't select a piece
of chintz for a bedroom curtain that
she doesn't want me TO 60 along 10 give
my opinion"
Side by side. then. with their favor
tie boast of their own independence was
the MYTHICAL belief in their families
dependence on them The children say
its all right for me TO live here in the
hotel during the Winter. if insist. But
IN the Summer nothing viii do but that
I've got 10 be with them. wherever they
are" For years. Mrs. Hanauer declared.
her daughters family had gone to the
mountains. because she, Mrs. Hanauer.
could not stand the sea air. Mrs.
Grimm. with her sons family. spent the
Summer at the seaShore. because the
mountains were bad for her heart.
THE hotel apartments OF the two
women were in the same section,
though Mrs Grimms was five floors
higher than Mrs. HanauerS, and cost
lier. She was the more moneyed- Sit
tine--oom and bedroom OF each pre-
sente3 a bewildering diversity Of tastes
and periods. Some hotel furniture.
some saved from their own housekeep-
Ing DAYS, some selected by the modern
daughter or daughter-in-la Before
then widowhood each had lived In one
OF those narrow. high-stooped houses
that line New Yorkis side streets. From
these days each had cherished certain
pieces Of furniture or bric-a-brac. grim
II Victorian in mold
There were pert pillows. gay hang
tngs. colorful bookends Quarreling With
oyBpeptic old vases and dtsgrunsled
desks. A costly toilet set Of enanal
reposed on the broad bosom Of hope
Iessly old-Style bureau. AL these odds
Ae EnA tn IN nj ~
ant harmony. through which ran the
motif Of comfort A Vernis-Martin
cabinet displayed an array OF china
and silver that was rather surprising,
when one remembered that these were
non-housekeeping apartments Mrs.
Hanauer and Mrs. Grimm would ex-
plain.
''I never do any cooking In my room.
wouldn't bother. I'm at the children's
two nights a week. They'd make me
come every night. II ] would have
! can make myself cup OF tea with
OFT sending downstairs for II. Besides.
the stun they send up. Boiled straw.
nv dauRl1ter-in-law calls IL"
In the bedroom and In the sitting
room were photographs OF infants.
Mrs. Hanauer and Mrs. Grimm always
called attention 70 These. My grand
. ch.Icren."
How lovely How old are they7"
Let's see. Junior is Is and Sister
Is going on p
But these pictures mus. have been
taken years ago. They're babies!"
Oh YES. They're old pictures But
] ike them better than the new ones.
always think Of them az babies"
MRS. GRIMM was not q, ali like
AVA Mrs Hansuer Tiny. dark. nerv-
OILS. you thought Of an intelligent little
stn3.sl, as you saw her quick move
nsnts. heard her scoIding chatter.
watched The dsrting venom Of her
ceep-Set black eyes Despite her years.
Era. Gyimn's hair had remained black.
Her eyebrows TOO were DARK and yig-
ofoaIs ck-temperec. arrogant. she
was Ike little blsck-snc-tan terrier
e. she snapped flsr disapp.oysl
GOpgy Eagaauer was what IL known
IS ezSygoing Though slightly older
than her friend she iooEed younger by
20 3eAYg. This. paran0zicslIy enough.
IN spite " her white hair Plump
cushions of fat uDhoistered her gener-
ols did frame She YVES no; above US
ing caSt1 Of rouge 10 f1eiRh,en the ef-
feet " her white hair. Of which she
vas very proud
Mrs Esnsuer and hrs. Grimm we're
~ two II many yell-to-co elderly wo-
men living IN TIE comfortable caTe-free
atmosphere u the hotel. They enjoyed
eomI laining about the fGssd Yearly
they announced their decision not 10 re-
new The lease on rainy Gays and dur
!ne Winter months, IL whs pleasant
nj " ~ obliged " go oit TOR company
Or recreation. Almost any afternoon or
a
broken By the rsttle OF NAH long tiles
They often sddTessed one another by
'hs Jss. nene only. Coming from them
J, produced q piquhnt effect nost star
sing end family favored with rowdy-
Esn1 Hello. Jhs. you. Hsnsusrf Whas