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Show I U IN I MADRID FEARED HBl MADRID, Sept. 15. tCorrespond- KjHl ence). The laundrywomcn of Madrid HEBHh are probably the finest of their pro- KBJJ fession in the- world. Nowhere else KHl docs the linen come home so delight - KFBBJ fully clean and it is all accomplished flttBM with cold water Within sight of the flH windows of King Alfonso's palace, any uBB day of the week, including Sundays, BBB may be seen acre after acre of snow - BBBV white linen spread out to dry along the BBft banks of the sfansansrea in the tur- BBBB bulent waters of this creek for It is SjjHj nothing more in spite of its sonorous rarHB name, virtually all the washing for the JBnH million or so inhabitants of Madrid is HuBaL done. HBJV x closer corporation Ihnn that of B the M.idrld vvushermomcn can SCarce- BJ '"'v ij be conceived 8ome of those work- HflBD ing hero have been in the profession HmlBJ over 40 years, not always as pastmlst- BBBB resses, for they have to serve an ap- BBBB prenticeshlp lasting many years before BYJBM they are permitted to undertake work IPMHj on their own account- A woeful recep- ''jFl Hon meets any newcomer coming with HajHI a bundle of linen to wash. All kinds HuHV of insults are hurled at her by the reg- HB lllars; her linen disappears as if by HH magic and is found again onl after BmH long search Any man not an ordinary BBBB dirty linen porter is in even worse BBH case. He is splashed with suds and BBBfl is lucky If he escapes with his cloth- bbbb BBP The experienced laundry women as- BBBB sert no woman I earns how to wash BBB properly until she has passed 40 years BBB of age. Till then she must work as an BBB understudy to the others, earning only I the small pittance of one peseta dall; BBB while doing so. When she sets up for BBBBj herself, she at once takes apprentices BBBB and rapidly amasses a modest fortune. BBB It seems, however, they never retire BBI to enjoy their riches, for the call of BBBfl the tub is too strong for them ever to jfflflBfl desert the Manranarcs until the final flflflfl comes. |