6 A.M.
The city is justly famed as a hot house of forced knowledge . One thing Louie could not learn . He could not bring himself to accept the V in Sophy 's dress . Louie 's mother had been one of the old-fashioned kind who wore a blue-and-white checked gingham apron from 6 A.M. to 2 P.M. , when she took it off to go downtown and help the ladies of the church at the cake sale in the empty window of the gas company 's office , only to don it again when she fried the potatoes for supper . Among other things she had taught Louie to wipe his feet before coming in , to respect and help women , and to change his socks often . After a month of Chicago Louie forgot the first lesson ; had more difficulty than I can tell you in reverencing a woman who only said , `` Aw , do n't get fresh now ! '' when the other men put their arms about her ; and adhered to the third only after a struggle , in which he had to do a small private washing in his own wash-bowl in the evening .