Evening star., 1947-10-09

machine. Will I be able to handle
it, I asked myself. Is my touch
sensitive enough for its many con-
trolls? Tomorrow will furnish the
answer. Either I'll come back with
my wings" or wear a dirty shirt
all next week, because, you see, I
am going to solo on our new electric
washing machine.
Only Three Days instruction.
1t was installed while we were in
South America and I have had only
three days of instruction from the
regular pilots OF the big, white ma
chine. My instructors were James
and Ernestine, who work for us.
Ernestine has had upwards Of 20
missions" and her maids uniform
is covered with ribbons. Like the
Air Corps, Jean and I believe in
giving credit whether it is due or
not. James, who works it only when
Ernestine isn't available, has rinse
ribbon and five bluing clusters.
Three more washings and both are
due to 60 home on rotation, which
is why I am going to try to take
over.
The book of instructions which
came with the washing machine,
and which I have been boning up
on until the wee small hours OF
the night, says that it is so much
fun to run it that the operator Will
smile and laugh and chuckle and
snicker whenever he is at the con-
trolls. When I read all of this I
wasn't quite sure whether I had
bought machine to take dirt out
of clothes or something that was
such a scream that it might be a
combination of Fred Allen, Henry
Morgan, the Marx Brothers and DR..
Cranes Worry Clinic.
But my first lesson taught me
it was no joke My washing machine
has a mind Of its own. 1t was
taught by a smart pack OF engi-
neers just what to do. Leave 1t
alone, and it'll tell you what needs
to be done to your laundry. It'll
swish two minutes, reverse its field
and slosh for two more, grab a
handful more of soap, cry like a
baby for water softener, soak the
stuff while. and then go through
motion that must have been
copied from the first hula dancer.
VIII Master Machine.
But I don't believe that any ma
chine knows as much about fam
ily's laundry as the family itself.
I decided right from the start that
I must let the machine know that
I was the guy who paid for it, built
a little home for it, and was IN
charge. Otherwise, have no doubt
that the Washing machine, feeling 1t
was superior, would in no time at
all walk into my house and start
ordering what we wanted for dinner,
and take to wearing my clothes,
sleeping in my bed, and signing
checks with my name on them.
MY solo tomorrow will not be an
all-out try. I am not going to
"take-off" with a full load. I am
going to be trusted only with some
old kitchen curtains that are to be
washed and then used for dust rags,
some roller towels, and all the bath
ing suits which were used by the
people who invaded our house dur
ing our absence.
Funny thing, how many Of our
friends came to visit us when they
were sure we were away. This
must have been quite merry hos
telry, from all reports.
Now, I'm off to bed, with slug
of camomile tea to quiet my nerves
and insure me of good night OF
sleep.
iii get my final briefing around 7
a m.
If all goes well, I too will have
the right to wear a medal. Who
knows but If the curtains come out
all right that I won't be given a
colonelcy?
Over! Rogeri
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