Bess in Boston

Thirty-five years ago Reuben Curtis, a cattle-raiser of Chatham Four Corners, Columbia County, N. Y., spent a comfortable night with his father at the Hotel Brunswick in Boston's fashionable Back Bay district. When Cattle-raiser Curtis went again to Boston last week, to sell 43 head of stock to the Brighton abattoir, he was reminded by his 97-year-old parent that "it's a durn good hotel." Accordingly he signed his name once more on the Brunswick's blotter and remarked casually to Desk Clerk Henry Nelson: "I guess you better take care of Bess out there."

Nelson looked out there, saw Bess, a shaggy black mare, patiently switching her tail, harnessed to an old-time buggy, haltered to a steel trolley-line pole. He demurred. "It's the law," said Reuben Curtis. A hundred guests soon filled the echoing lobby, but failed to decide the case. Reuben Curtis and a bellhop hustled to the nearest police court, quickly unearthed this 100-year-old statute:

Every innholder shall have upon his premises suitable rooms with beds and bedding for the lodging of his guests and, if the licensing authorities so require, be provided with stable-room, hay and prov- ender for their horses and cattle.

Reuben returned. "You gotta take care of my Bess," he repeated. Desk Clerk Nelson complied, rejoicing that Reuben Curtis had already sold his cattle.

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