The story
Old Mrs. McFadden had a great leaning to looking out of the window, harmless enough habit to be sure, but in Mrs. McFadden’s instance it was a menace and a danger. She would spend hours at the front window to the great hurt of her house duties and everything else. One day the result of her dread weakness all came to a climax. While she kept her window-vigil in front, her daughter eloped from the rear. After she went out, the installment furniture people came in and took back the articles they had furnished her, although she had the money due them right in her purse, and would have paid them had she known they were around. As the lady continues to street-gaze, a blaze breaks forth in a rear room and, as there are none on hand to quell it, spreads. The firemen come—by the rear way—and fight the flames valiantly with axe and hose. The latter gives Mrs. McFadden her first intimation that she had better leave the window. A stream from the hose ‘gets’ her in the ear. Then she comes in from out of the window.
Summary from The Moving Picture World · 8 February 1913
