The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-16
Things Left
by Guests
Are Varied
Lincoln Maids Benefit If
Patrons Don't Ask
for Articles.
BY HELEN LINDSAY

II a gentleman, somewhat of the
former waistband proportions of
Paul Whiteman, appears in Indian
apolis needing clothing, Miss NJ. j.
Fox, executive housekeeper at Lin
coin, can outfit him.
Miss Fox can lend him pair of
dark blue trousers-only slightly
frayed at the bottoms; a pair of
black, size 10 double A, shoes, and a
wine colored tie.
She even can supply him with an
old-fashioned razor strop, and a
somewhat worn shaving brush. And,
if he isn't too fastidious, she can
lend him a tooth brush and tooth
paste.
All Left by Guests
All of these she has stored away
in a locker in the Lincoln linen
room, where articles which are left
behind by absent-minded guests are
stored for so or 80 days.
Miss Fox, who has held her posi-
ton for 10 years, is official keeper
of lost articles. Each day the hotel
maids bring to her articles which
departing guests have forgotten.
Each article, whether it is an ex-
pensive piece of jeWelry, or a ten
cent geWgaW, is wrapped carefully
in a separate package, marked with
the name Of the maid who found it.
the room number in which it was
found, and the date.
At the end of so or 80 days-9C
when the article has more than or
binary value-if the owner has not
called for his possessions, it is given
to the maid who found it.
Looks Like Rummage Sale
The locker today presents the ap-
pearance of well-stocked counter
for a rummage sale. There is a
large red felt hat, which some dark
eyed beauty probably is searching
for in WardrobeS and closets in her
home.
There is an old-fashioned black
umbrella, a can of beer, boxes Of
newspaper clippings and kilograms;
case of patent medicine-the Ia
bells proclaim it a cure-all; a tiny
dog collar, scores of razor straps
shaving brushes and tooth brushes
The collection includes military
brushes, combs, compacts and pow
der puffs. There is an embroidered
baby-pilloW; a paper-backed novel
There is a huge black bracelet, ane
a shiny malacca cane.
And there have been-often, Mis-!
Fox says-false teeth and bridge
work.
Put to Use by Hotel
Sometimes, if the lost articles are
not called for, they are put to USE
by the hotel for guests who have
come unprepared for overnight
visits. From this store of uncalled.
for objects, overnight kits have
been assembled for guests who have
missed their trains after baggage
has been sent on ahead.
Hardly a day goes by when the
maids do not find wallets under pill
lows, where they have been placed
by guests at night, and forgotten in
the morning. These always are
called for, Miss Fox says.
Today there is a very happy Negro
maid at the Lincoln. In her per-
sonal locker there is a package con-
tanning a tie, a slip, and a signet
ring. Last July she found these il
a guests room, and today they were
turned over to her, as the guests
had not called for them.
Patient Maid
Bernice's white teeth cleaned ir
her goodnatured face when Mis-
Fox handed the package to her.
Thank you, ma'am," she said
slipping the ring on to make sure
of the size. you know, I wished on
that ring, Miss Fox. I sure thought
it was pretty. They say everything
comes to him who waits, and I've
been waitin for that ring since
July"
When a guest writes back for a
forgotten article, it is mailed to him
at hotel expense. Miss Fox hopes
that the rodeo managers who were
here this fall will not ask to have
the heavy cowbell and rope for
Warded to them.
THE postage on that would be
terrible" she says.