The guardian., 1939-06-03
Meat and Drink
By OSCAR EKLUND
(Released by Associated Newspapers
WNU Service


before the gorgeously decorated win
dows of the building which she had
been in such haste to reach. She
had boarded the 7:30 downtown car
in order to be among the first to
enter the doors, yet here she stood
transfiXed as usual by the beauty
displayed in the windows. Stand
ing in bold relief was an old Chi
nese vase; Lucia knew nothing of its
value-that its reign mark showed
1t to be a genuine Ming-but she
did know that its old green enamel
against that background of dark blue
drapery was thing of beauty which
satisfied some need within her. A
jolly, fat, round pewter bowl, of
which she was particularly fond,
was still there, and a duck of an
old tea-caddy with brass handles
and an ivory knob; some wonderful
goblets-Jacobite had she but known
it-a pink luster tea-set and an old
sampler with exquisite stitchery.
How she loved them all! She had
formed the habit of coming to these
windows every time she had occa-
sion to visit this downtown section.
Time had flown faster than she
realized and so it was that upon
reaching the offices of the building
she found five men ahead of her.
The switchboard operator nodded
to them one by one to enter door
marked "Private." While Lucia
waited each one of the five came out
of the inner room within five min
utes of his entrance.
He wants man." the girl at the
switchboard told her when she asked
to see the manager about the posi-
ton advertised.
Il know, but you see I'm going
to try to persuade him that I'm just
the person he needs" said Lucia
with the friendly, confidential man.
ner that had won her friends ever
since she was three years old. "That
is" she coaxed, eff you'll only
let me see him."
The girl seemed appreciative if
dubious. She motioned for Lucia to
enter the private office, however,
saying, Good luck to you, dearie,
but take it from me, he's no easy
mark"
Il came to see about your ad,"
began Lucia, ''for a salesperson in
your art shop"
How did you get in here?"
barked voice from behind a big
desk. Il advertised for a man and
that-that-gir at the board knows
it. She's paid to keep people out
of here and this is the way she does
it," The voice had grown more and
more irritable as Lucia made no
move toward the door.
But you really don't know how
badly l want to work for you and
thought perhaps if I made you un-
derstand you'd let me try"
'Work for me? Why for me any
more than for someone else, I'd like
to know? l never hire women when
l can help it. They can't appre-
ciate things that they don't own"
"Oh, but l do" cried Lucia. "I
love your shop" she went on pas
sionately "Your windows have been
just-just-meat and drink to me-"
If nothing else Lucia had captured
the attention of the manager and
owner of the famous art shop.
What do you mean, meat and
drink'?" he asked curiously.
did you ever" inquired Lucia,
Give in one little back room, with
horrible red and green and yellow
paper on the walls and with battered
golden oak furniture and a view
from the window of back stairways,
milk bottles and grayish-white wash
ings on clothes lines that are worked
by pulleys?"
That's why your windows are
meat and drink to me. l love the
soft colors of the draperies and the
pottery. Of course 1 don't know
the names of the old china and the
beautiful glassware, but I could
learn them quickly-really l could.
There are art books there in the
library and could read them at
night"
Lucia was breathless with emo
ton.
"How old are you?" he asked
abruptly.
Nineteen" said Lucia, her cheeks
growing redder and her eyes bright
er.
"You don't look it, said he medi-
tatively. cts the short hair and
short skirts, l suppose. By the
way, what makes you think you
could suit me? I've a reputation of
being hard man to work for"
Lucia smiled in her friendly fash
ion.
GIVE always felt that you must
love your beautiful things in just
the same way that do" she said
eagerly, land people who love the
same things always get along well
together"
eff you really mean all that you've
said" he began.
"Oh, do mean every word of it, /"
interrupted Lucia fervently. I'll
think I've been starved for beauti-
full things"
81 can use you," was the terse