TlfR BEE: OMAHA, SATURDAY, XOVKMHKR 2, 1012.
The ee'g Ma3a 7j 1 ""UP Pa
SILK HAT HARRY'S DIVORCE SUIT
e
Married Life the Third Year
Helen Interviews a Number of Girls for General
Housework. '
Ky MA lUCh 1IEUI1EKT IJRN'ER.
"And the washing ma'am, you have that
done out?" i
"We have a laundress who comes every
Thursday and does the washing and part
of the Ironing," answered Helen. "But
I'd expect you to
finish whatever
Ironing she couldn't
do In the one' day."
"Well, I , might
Iron a few pieces,"
c o n d e a cendlngly.
"But I wouldn't
want to go no
place where I was
expected to wash.
Every place I ever
stayed they always
had the washing
done out. What
days do you give
! off r
"Every Thursday
and every other
. Sunday."
The girl was
, glancing around now with a critical ga-se
"These are mighty big rooms, ma'am"
'You wouldn't expect a girl to 'get dowh
on Tier knees and wash up, these floors
would you?"
"Why, yes, of course. How else would
you keep them clean?" '
"Well, there's mops and bruskes and
all sorts of things nowadays for hnhd
wood floors. There ain't no need 'getting
down on your knees."
"Yes, I have a long brush and a pol
isher," explained Helen, "but you'd have
to wipe them up with a damp cloth at
least once a week."
"Well, I keep my floors clean, all right,"
obstinately, ''but I don't' want to get
down on my knees."
"Now, is there' anything else you don't
want to do?" asked Helen, quietly. "You
don't want to wash, you don't want to
Iron and you don't want to get down to
the floors. Now what else?"
But Helen's quiet sarcasm was wholly
lost, for the girl answer complacently;
"That's ,flll, I guess, except of course
house cleantn'. I don't never do that."
"House cleaning?" Helen repeated
coldly. "Just what do you mean by
house cleaning? I told you we didn't
keep any other servant,' and wo don't ex
pect to have any outside help."
"You'd have to have somebody house
clcanln' times. I couldn't wash all this
wood work.""
"Oh, I see," murmured- Helen. "Well,
I'm afraid the work here would hardly
suit you."
"No, m'am," pertly, as she rose to go,
"I guess It wouldn't."
"Here's your car fare," handing her a
dime. "I don't want you to be out that."
The" girl took It with a begrudging
"Thanks," and stalked out.
Helen went Into the kitchen where Mrs.
McGrady, her washerwoman, was helping
with the work until she could get a ser
vant ''Oh, she was dreadful!" laughed Helen.
"Why she didn't want to do anything.",
"That's'' the way most 'em are ' now,
m'am," as she- hung up the tea;towels.
"They all want big wages and don't want
to do nothing for It."
"Yell, I wouldn't have had her at any
price. She was the most overbearing-
Oh, there's the bell. X suppose that's' an -
other ono"
Mrs. McGrady went to tho door und
ishered In an ovcrdresred young woman
ushered In an ovcrdresred young woman;
with a near willow plume, a gold bracelet
and an air of .assurance.
"I got this letter yesterday," taking on
envelope from her handbag.
It was one of Helen's letters. So far
there had been no applicants from those
Warren had written.
"You've been doing general house
work?" asked MIelen.
"Yes, ma'am, but my last place I was
second chambermaid. That was with Mrs..
Van Tassel," loftily, , ''tho, Van Tassels on
Park avenue. Guess' you've heard .of
them?"
Helen admitted that she had not.
"Well, they'ro great society folks. And
'fore that I was with Mrs. DeLacy three
years. I got her reference right here,"
taking out another envelope.
'"But this Isn't only chambermaid work."
explained Helen, glancing at the stereo
typed reference. "-"We keep no othor
servant, and you'd bo expected to do
everything. Are you a good cook?"
"Oh, yes'um. I don't like to brag
about myself, but there ain't nothing I
can't cook."
"We don't care for fancy cooking We
rarely have desserts or fancy salads. But
we want some one who can cook meats
I
pppii IIK3
and vegetables. .Both Mr. Curtis and I
like plain, wholesome food."
"Ycs'um. Well I ain't never had nobody
find fault with my cooking. What do yqu
"Twenty-flvo dollars and havo ' .the
washing done, or thirty and you do, the
washing." ' '
The ncar-wlllow plumo tossed arro
gantly. "Sirs. DeLacy gave me thirty
and she Bent all her clothes out. Since
I had my operations for appendicitis,"
proudly, "the doctor says I mustn't do
no washing."
"Then If you don't do the washing 1
could only. pay twenty-five."
"Well, ot course, since It's a small
family," with a patronizing air, "and If
the work ain't heavy I might think aboM
it" Then as an after thought. "About the
windows of course I wouldn't Hive to do
them?''
HeTen's patience was now exhausted
"No, wp don't expect the maid to'wash
the windows, but I think you can find'
some place you would like better. I want
a girl who Isn't afraid to work."
"Well, If you only, pay twenty-flva df.l
bus,'' Impudently, "you can't expect a
girl to do everything."
And'When the -door closed 'after her It
was with an Indignant bang.
Tho afternoon passed and 'there werj'nt)
other applicants. Helen was thoroughly
worried. Mrs. McGrady could stay w'th
her tomorrow, but Friday arid Saturday
were her regular cleaning days for two
other customers. So they must Si, a
maid by Saturday. They , could not be
without one bver Sunday.
It was almost C when the doorbell ran
again. This time it was a mlddle-agod
Irish woman, plainly dressed. Helen llkeo
her at oncet She had not . the assertive.
Independent air of tho others, but seemed
really to vrasyC the placei And for the first
time Helen found herself In tho posltlor
of questioning instead If being questioned
"We want Borne one who is a good plait?
cook and a good general houseworkcr,
and who Is pleasant and willing. I sup
poso you have references?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am: Mrs. Ellison, the lady
I was with last never gives written refer
ences, but she fold me anybody could call
her up. An J hero's some other references,"
handing Helen several letters.
One .was written from DrlBcoll Court, a
most exclusive apartment. '
"Mary O'Connor was with me" for three
years and I always found her an honest
and conscientious worker. She Is a good
cook, very economical, and takes an In-
-Merest In her work. I shall be glad to
recommend, her personally, at any time.
"juts, a., w. iiuoBErvr."
"Yes; these are very good." murmured
Helen, as she glanced through the others
and handed them back.
Just then came the sound of a closing
door, and Helen heard Warren's step In
the hall. She ran out to meet him.
"Oh, dear," In a hurried whisper.
'There's a woman here now. There's
been two others who were Impossible
but I think this one's very good. You go
In and see her and make the arrange
ments,"
"All right," as he hung up his hat and
coat. "I'm on the Job."
".Mary, this Is Mr. Curtis," as they went
""lCK ln' llle "uns room.
, Warren In his brlak. bulnessl!ke way
atked her a few quettlons and then said
br1'efly:
"Xavc, Mary, If. y
OWl it. jou oo your worn wen,
yw'H f!n'1 a ood home here. If you
want to try It for a week, you can come
tomorrow. We'll look an your refer
ences in the meantime but I think they'll
, be a11 rlfht-"
Yes. sir. I'm sure you'll find they
are. What time do you want me to come
tomorrow, s'r?"
"Soon as you can get here. First thing
In the morning." ,
Oh, dear, won't you ilk.e her?' asked
Helen eagerly, when she had gone. "Don't
you think she'll be all right?',
"Yea, looks like a good, sensible wo
man. If she doesn't drink I should say
she'd make a first-class maid. '
"Doesn't drink?" repeated Helen In astonishment-
"Yes, most of the middle-aged ones do.
But she doesn't look like a drinking
woman."
"Why. dear, you don't mean that when
; they set older moat of these girls
drink?
"That's about the s'zc of It. As a rule
people don't want them over 33 or 10
years old "
"Then v.'hat becomes of them after 40
l years vt
j Warren t t Jgged his shoulders, "Scrub
T T T
JDcdULy 111 V duUcVlliC Clean Livinp
.By,.MARGAKKT . IIUIUIARD AVER
i Outsldo the ' Bronx theater the great
big electric sign spelled "Belle Baker" In
flashing letters, proclaiming to all the
World how Important a person that young
favorite Is In vaudeville.
Ilut behind the scenes In her dressing
room Bello Baker, wrapped up In, two
warm kimonos, despite the warm
Weather, was shivering with nervous
ness and worry, und was far removed
from tho Joyous and joy-lt.splilug artist
Who wins the hearts of .her audience by
iier excellent' comedy work, her rich
vdlco' rihjl her' winning personality.
"Ch, I'm always so hervous every
Moudny," said Miss Bilker, looking i:t
me with great big mournful eyes.
"But this Is Tuesday. Why should you
worry? Besides, you're a headlliic'r and
you olways m(lko ,good. Doesn't the
electric sign say so?"
Belle HaUer wouldn't be comforted.
She Is not yet 19-years old that Is, her
uqtual age; not her stage age.
Her pretty round face Is still that of a
child, and only the great, big, dark eyes
show ,thht Belle .Baker's career has not
always been an easy one, and that her
success has been earned liy much work,
hard struggle and anxiety.
I am going to repeat what Miss Baker
told me about her life, because while I
hope .It 'will scare some foolish glpls from
the mad desire of breaking Into vaude
ville, It will show others, those few
who really have the talent, nerve, per
sistency and who lack vanity enough to
learn by their own mistakes, that y(hls
great country of ours Is full of oppor
tunltles for tho girl with the right
spirit
You've probably all seen Belle Baker:
you know that she can. take her audience
right -alOntf With herf you've" seen her
nam? printed In fat type on the prqgram.
you know that she's the hit of the bill
and that she gets a corresponding big
salary.
"I know I'm foolish to worrv." roc.
plained Miss Baker to me. "But you sec,
there's responsibility) It Just -weighs me
down. The responsibility of making good
at every slnglo performance, and especi
al)' Monday,' with a new audience at a
new theater.
VI always feel I have to 'make rood'
all over niralii, and that's why I Just
dread Monday so, and why I get so ner
vous that 1 almost lose my voice, and
I'm. always hoarse and nick.
'('I've, been working for a Ions time,
ever since I was a little bit pf a girl,
and !' had heavy responsibilities, my
parents to take care of and now that I'm
women, I suppose. Not much else they
could dd."
"Oh, how cruel! To have to spend the
best of their life at housework, knowing
that when they get a little older they
will not be wanted even for thatl No
wonder they drink. We're always read
Ink about the old men and how hard it
Is' for them to get work surely, dear,
If. 'harder for tho old women."
"Yes, It's pretty tough," admitted Vvar
rep. For the rest of the ovenlng Helen was
haunted with the tragedy of all tlje ser
vant girls who grow old In tho drudgery
of housework, and who can only look
forward In their old aire to tht greater
drudgery of the scrub woman.
And when they ate too old and tea
feeble for scrub women what then?
Jenkins Knew, Believe Us
"i !"right. 191S, "National News
H'lUlllI'l'l
It i llili: 1 Ih.f 1 l.i.i..iiil .i , i i i i ill liiul'iUlllit III ll.t m II. fXZ-l
3 Belle Baker Tells
MIPS BKL.UK
reully doing wt'll I alwavH worry for
I fear that something will happen.
"When I wum a little girl I worked In
I a waist factory; I was so little und t.n
much under uge that when thn factory In
Ispector came around tlicy used to put
mo In the bg boxes and cover mo uver
with the waists. Then 1 sold lemoiiuile
! for a time and finally I got a little en
gagement with Jacob Atller at his
, theater.
I "Oh, that was a wonderful time. b
'cause that was whero I got so much of
my training. Everybody worked with
their whole heart and soul In that th -titer,
and I learntd to do It, too, Mr. and Mrs.
Adler were wonderfully kind and clever,
and they taught and encouraged too ' a
great deal. But, alas, the theater closet
down, and I couldn't find any kind of an
engagement,
"There was nothing I could do. My
mother was 111, and I felt all the re
sponsibility of her welfare resting on mo;
finally, I got a Job at u moving picture
theater. I signed with them for $W n
week, but before I began with them I
rang one Sunday night at tho Academy
of Music, and got several offers from
managers light away. But I felt that I
had promised tho movlngplcture people,
and that 1 mustn't go back on my word.
So I went down and sang between tho
pictures all the afternoons and evenings,
and sent my mother to the country with
the money I had made.
"Well, In a little while I felt that I
could end that engagement und take one
of the. better ones that had been , of
fered me In straight vuudevllle. So 'I wan
sent out on tour, and I did make good
that time."
Mis Baker's eyes beamed. That tour
Ireftns to have been u triumphant pio
esslon Jn which the bugbear of New
York had not yet appeared.
I "Well, continued Miss Baker, "tie
managers thought I was doing so well
out there that they sent for me to como
How Hard Work md Good
Preserves Her Good looks.,
BAKEIl.
to New York,
ferent thing.
But it was
1 only had
very dlf- 1
t I till"
I'tt'le old
dres that I had worn at a wedding, and,
oh, I was very sud, Indeed.
n..A nHitlA .... I .. 1 1 . . ' .... , .. ,1
mo to a"flnHh. I had saved enough .
money to stop for a little, and I took '"! tl,,! ""t ?" of, llfB' ,
nix weeks to get new sonxs.and study. I 8,,,n ur'',,, iubna to he sensible,
and get a nice .ires-. Then I went to,""'1 "cn llovv ' 10 wa" uatctl not
tho same critic and said, '1 won't over xKct too much of her.
go back on the stage until you say that 1'e ceaHi"d t0 e,ect aythlng of Her
.... nana Viao Otitis U it M n tTWitliat flftut" n Mmn
I sang all my
veidlct was,
jhear m( but (-made him.
innnirs Ihrnueli. nnil htn
S'o.i're bad, but not quite as bad as you
,were.' 'Very well,' said I, 'I'm coining
.back tomorrow.' He gave me a few sug-
gestlons to Improve iny work. I weiu
.home and workod on those suggestions
and came back to slmr for I.I... ..,
tho following day,
"Kach day he safd my performance was
lens Impossible, than tho day before, and
finally he got Interested enough to really
help me, with my singing and uctlng, and
every one of his suggestions was grate
fully accepted and acted ur-on. On the
day he said my act wus good I started
out and got a new engagement and I've
been working now steadily for two years.
"Whatever I am I think I owe to that
critic .mid to my huahand, who manages
my business arrangements for me, and
It's the reFponilbillty of living up to the
good work they expect of mo that wor
ries .mo so much," continued the vaude
ville' star, with a little shiver of nervous
ness. ,
'.'Do. you .fcnow. MUs Baker,, I-was going
to.ask.you' how you keep your health and
good looks. You ran't help being young,
und you are an nlmolulo contradiction to
the aduge thai tays 'Worry makes wrin
kles. '
"I don't do anything but work, sleep
uli'l cut. hu11 ho head! per. who Is (till
altnoit a little ft rl "but some dav when
( 1 vv niadtt enough muney,' 1 shall rctlru
Drawn for
I. 1
Ella Wheeler
Wilcox
ON
Wifehood and Motherhood
Complete Devotion to Chil
dren Often Drives Cupid from
the Former's Side, 1
Ily KIjIjA WIIKKIjKU WILCOX.
Tho devoted mother. nbaorbd hi her moviiVlo bloom.
children. Is an admirable being offtlmon,
But It depends upon tho extent of her
absorption- Whether she Is really admlr
ulilo or not.
Hhn huh been
know n to drive
Cupid fn:n her ido
to destroy thu hap
piness of her home,
. and to oblltoruta
beauty and charip
fronj her person
ality. A pretty Rlrl mur
l led a young limn
of her own ago.
He was proud of
1 her- attractive ap-
pearance, and he
loved to soo her
attired In dainty
Kurments, and to
IBKO HIT 1(11 til I.KIIlirillK. v
great comrades und filends, and his pi;
name for her wus "lV.tlle J'al." ,
wel'O
By mill ly the huuy nimo, and It wan
a new dc Ight both 1Iv.hv It ho'W"3
for a tlmo to add mucli and to take way
hunting,
But km tho newnexH .if fatherhood
passed, tho husband was conscious, that
he received Httlo attention from Iih wlfn
' Siie was rarely able tu go nut with him
There wits always something which re
quired her presence, lit Immo even wliei
provided with a nuise nr the anslKtance
cf competent relative to look lifter the
baby. '
And when she did K, she win restless
to be buck with the tmby. .'After' thi sec
ond child I'Bino. It war still -in'oie. u ill-
I'ded fact' Unit thi husband wan elim
inated far h children In the tiiolightH of
'thn wife. ,
HeMde forgetting Ills needs oMiercum
panlonKhlp, the wl'n furgdt'tw tnuko lier
Hijlf nttraollvn, All Iier pretty woman's
vanity was put aside. . ,
Hho rolled her lovely holr in a tight
iinbecomtnr knot. Hhu woro plain 8r-
j
motit! wjtlt'llo little touches, of grii'io
und neauiy Willi li a man loves in
it bout a woman.
I Ulllll Kill.
hud no time, for such
p0 ,IU ouklt his comradeship at tho club,
l"11" ,n B,n,f Par,,el,i un'' t,,en ttftr a
,,e ,om,a wW". nd.slngo women
w"' W,VB"
aH. . . ,
. ousp;vd that many women wero
lKood mothers and good ' comradf s and
:OQaoie cmr.ens ai uie same umo; ana
mad up his. mind that he had married
a woman who was only capable of being
b devoted mother and so he .left her to
fill her'sphor.e.
,A' time passed, the woman grew pro
matunily old; from lack of attention, her
Physical charms faded; but arte believed
she had' sacrificed them on' the altar of
motherhood.
Her hair was dry. and begun to grow
grizzly gray: merely because the took
no time to brush It. and feed Itn roots
with oil, and to Coax and love It Into
bt-comlngiiestt, and beauty.
A woman's, hair, like a vino or a plant,
irsponds to care and thought and affec
tion, and fades from laok of It.
Iier complexion, once foft und full of
and live comfortably, and then perhap.i
I can tell you something about the pres
ervation of beauty. I'll have more tlm
to cull my own," said Belle Baker, us
she begun mad Ins up for the evening
performance.
"Vaudeville
tics,' " Md
rts ' ij
IfU't ull 'bct-r and rklt
to the elf' trie tlgn us 1
Viid t v sign w uked In a
( knowing way
The Bee bv Tad
became nnllow nnl
parched for tho name cause lack of care.
And nil the time tho woman believed
she had glvrn her. charms to her chil
dren, and that nho wan a naityr to ma
ternal duty. "
Tliero was no subject on which sh-i
mid her husband could meet In sympathy,
fiivo the children; and even there they
disagreed; for ho told her sho wns mak
ing them selfish by giving her whole life
to them; mid that they would be better
off wore sho to couilder herself and her
huiihand, mid her friends to the panic de
gree, and teach her children to wu t upon
her Instead of being a willing slave to
their caprices mid pleusurcs.
Ho was absolutely right and time proved
It.
The Holland daughter took her devo
tion us a mutter of course, and when
they married tho daughter expected her
husband to bo her slave, because her
iiiuiuer fiuu ueeu; nun mo sou oxpe leu
tho smno nacr'flccH from the wife that hi
mother had nuule, and both were d,inp
pointed, and so three families wero un
happy, through tho short-sighted qutlootc
mid narrow1 understanding of one womun.
When a woman marries, her first duty
la to Jior huiband. That means that Mhe
Is to rnako herself In every por-slblo way
his comrade, filepd, companion and help
meet. She Ih to keep hcrfelf physically charm
ing, mentally uwuko mid vp'rltunlly In
advance of h!ni; mid If she does the flnl
two, ho will be ready to follow her 'n
the third p.it'i t' H'f an oxtent i tm
mimcullnn soul can follow tho femlplno on
this planet.
And If i.he,dnoi nil theso thing?, w'tli
high ideas regarding thorn, she Js sure to
hn n good mother, anil u tuod nelgfrbo",
and a good friend as wll.--Copyrl'jlit.
1912, by Amnrlcaii-Joiiriiiil-tCxamlner
Red and Blue Colors
Do Some Queer Tricki
If on a screen of black velvet placed at
n distance of ten f?ct from the spectator
largo letters arc. pasted, some blue, some
red, tlmy will not appcur to be at an equal
dlstnnce from tho eyes. To some persons
tho red letters will seem nearer than the
blue letters, while to other persons tho
contrary' effect will bo manifested.
To produce this effect both eyos must bo
employed. When ono eyo Is closed tha
letters nro all seen at tho same dlstaii'e.
On opening the other eye one set of letters
Immediately seems to take a position In
advance of tho others.
Tho explanation offered for this effect
Is that ti sort of sterooscoplo Illusion h
produced in the eyo itself, depending upon
color. The Image of a blue object
shifted by the eye toward one side and
that of a red object toward the other side.
If on looking at blue mid red letters on
a black background placed ten or twelve
feet awuy you sen the red letters neurer
than the blue, screen off one-half of tho
pupil of each eye on tho outside and you
will see the red letters retire behind tha
blue 6nes.
If you screen tho pupils on the side to
ward the nose, you will sco the red letters
advance apparently still further ahead ot
the blue ones. If, on the other hand, you
naturally see tho blue In advance, screen
the Inner side of tho pupils of your eyes
and tho red will come to tha front.
Beautiful effects are produced with one
eye alone, when, instead'of letters, red or
bluo rlnga are pasted on a background of
the opposite color. 1'laclng red rings on
blue paper and using the right eye with
the Jnner side of the pupil covered the ap
pearance Is thqt of cl.r;ula.r red IiIUqck
resting on a bluo ground.
To produce this effect In Its highest -degree
tho paper must bo held to the left
and sloping In that direction. Wi'en the
outer side of tho pupil Is screened the red
rings w II become clr ular trenches In tni
blue pupcr New York I'ost