1883 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 



307 



I really believe that that is the kind of a man 

 friend M. has always been, and I trust al- 

 ways will be. We close our account of 

 liiend Muth by the following i'lom the p( n of 

 our good friend Mis. Harrison:— 



FRIEND MUTH AT HOME. 



As I was returEing from Lciingtcp, K3-., in the 

 fall of 188], where I had been to attend the National 

 Bee Convention, I had the misfortune to be trans- 

 ferred to the wrong depot, thus missing my train, 

 and had to remain in Cincinnati until Sunday eve- 

 ning. This misfortune turned out to be a blessing 

 in disguise, for (having a mortal dread of being cre- 

 mated in a hotel) I sought the hospitable roof of 

 friend Muth, whose latch-string always hangs out 

 to bee-keepers. I have been told, by those living in 

 the vicinitj', that they are always sure of a cordial 

 welcome by the Mutts, if they go ever so often. 



her. Mrsi. M. told me that she had had but three 

 girls in the last twenty years, and they all stayed 

 with her until they were married. I can plainly see 

 the U'lnj. Mrs. Muth inlrcduced me to her friend; 

 and a"? they were crowded for room, I occupied one 

 in which were two beds —one by myself, and the 

 other for this lady friend. 1 imagined that the lady 

 friend was a visitor, like myself; but on the mor- 

 row I learned that she was the "hired girl." I could 

 see no dillerence in the treatment she received, from 

 that of their own daughter, about her own age, and 

 she worked with a heartiness and zeal that I seldom 

 if ever saw equaled. She was serving her fiicndx. 



The store and home of friend Muth, with his apia- 

 ry upon the roof, are patterns of industry. His 

 business is a great one; but all the family are help- 

 ers — the wee daughter, and the grandson, Charles 

 thetbird, help with their love and prattle. Mrs. M. 



CHARLES F. MUTH, THE GREAT HONEY-3IAN OF CINCINNATI, O. 



I found friend Muth, with beaming countenance, 

 entertaining the youngest of the family, a little girl 

 apparently about four jears old. My intrusion upon 

 their pleasure seemed almost like sacrilege; but he 

 assured me that I had done the "correct thing in 

 coming to him." During this visit I saw more of 

 German life than I had ever seen before. When I 

 came down to breakfast, I found Mr. Muth "gone 

 already" to assist in a "children's feast" that was 

 held that day for the benefit of the Lutheran Or- 

 phans' Home. In the afternoon I accompanied Miss 

 Muth to this Home, and saw Germans as they are in 

 the far-off " vaterland." The house and grounds of 

 fie institution, and the adjacent sidewalks and 

 streets, were literally covered with people, as thick 

 a5 they could stand — acres upon acres of Germans, 

 drinking beer, smoking, and eating; but all was 

 good nature; no fighting nor drunkenness. Mr. M. 

 said that they expected to make 13000 that day, for 

 the benefit of the orphans. 



Here I learned that one woman in America could 

 employ good efficient help that would remain with 



told me that if I would remain until the next day I 

 could see her " cook three barrels of honey." She 

 had six square pails that fitted into a zinc pan witii 

 a rack in the bottom, so that they were all sur- 

 rounded with water. She took off the scum, as long 

 as any rose, and then it was poured into a tank from 

 which it was drawn through a gate into bottles. 

 The packages of extracted' honey that I saw there 

 were as near perfection as it Is possible to be. 



The bees came in and out of the store ad libitum; 

 and if a bee chanced to get into the hair of the 

 round-headed German lads, it was carefully helped 

 out, without stinging or getting injured, and cus- 

 tomers did not mind them. Mrs. L. Harrison. 



Peoria, 111., May, 1883. 



I am very glad indeed that you noted that 

 point in regard to the '' hired girl," Mrs. H., 

 for it is that spirit we need to solve all our 

 troubles about " help " in our homes. I 

 noted the same thing at friend Muth's, and 

 who can wonder that these girls all stayed 

 until they got married V 



