The Nome daily nugget., 1935-12-07
Melancholy Days
By James J. Montague

MONT believe the sentimentalists H who tell you that youth Is one
 grand sweet song. Maybe 1t Is more tuneful today than 1t used to be. You'll have to ask somebody younger than l about that. 1 was re minded of what are sometimes referred to as the days of happiness when man called me on the telephone and said:
 I'm sending a man around to you to get ten dollars"
 "Listen," inquired, "where would get ten dolars?" T don't care where you get 1t, as long as 1t comes back with the man, But what is it for?"
 Its for a Boys club" "A what" "A club for boys, you stupe club where they can swim in a pool and play baseball on a diamond, and play indoor games in the winter time. We can't keep it up without money, so have your ten ready" | So perhaps after all this Is an age when boys are considered. They were not seriously considered back in | well hate to think how far back that | was.
 They had fun, of course, but 1t wasn't supervised fun. They went out to look for it, and l admit that they found 1t pretty often, especially if they lived near a river or creek. with stretch of woodland on either side, or near enough to the railroad so they could make friends with the engi neers and firemen, and get a ride on locomotive now and then.
 But they had their troubles troubles which, as far as l can see, are today nonexistent. The worst of them-the very worst, came in house cleaning time.
 People do not clean house today like they did twenty-five or more years ago. If family hasn't a mechanical cleaner, machine backs up to the door once ever so often. runs out hose and proceeds to extract the ac cumulated dust of weeks or months. W hCh Nhdii anu tdDiCS SCt "Sdh III the knees they are sent to shop where the fractures are reduced and the varnish is made smooth and shiny again. A man in van comes for the carpet and bedding, and 1t is back the next day practically as good as ever. In the process of housecean ing nobody misses meal or a radio | is as comfortable as ever But years ago? Gosh
 would rise from the table at the sound of ''yoo-hoo" Altering in through the window, almost any day during the spring vacation, and walk nonchalantly toward the back door.
 After three steps in that direction a maternal voice would inquire, in firm steady tones: Where are you going, Willie?"
 "Well, I-we-that is, I mean me an Denny"
 Don't say me and Denny Say Denny and T."
 Well, Denny and I were goin' down to the crick to hunt for carnelians to give to the teacher and"
 And going swimming in the creek, | suppose"
 Well, yes'm. We thought If 1t was to get hOt-the weather l mean, we might maybe take little dip"
 "Um. can't spare you this morn ing. I'm going to start houseclean ing"
 Cleaning house!" For almost year had forgotten that horror or if l did think of 1t had indulgeu in the hope that the President or congress or somebody might abolish it. But no! Here IL had come again was cut short in the midst of lingering long look at the bright May world outside while l was forced to listen to briet but forcible instructions to start up stairs that minute and begin to take down the beds.
 Taking down heds is waarisorno