North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-05-27
House Cleaning.

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Last week we stepped out Of that line Of
modesty, which usually distinguishes us,
and made a few remarks about house
cleaning. The reader will see what our
imprudence costs US, if he or she will read
the article below. Mrs. Soapsuds is ''afther
u.s. but we can't help it. No more will
we NEEDLE with woman affairs in the
housekeeping line. We 80 so far in
apology, as to hope they will clean house,
paper, paint, scrub, dust carpets, wash,
bake and iron every day in the week if i,
suits them. Sub rosa, we would like to
say, if such a rule is adopted our, books,
papers and triaing amount of clothing will
be stored at some bachelors s'den" where
distance will lend enchantment to the
view" Of cur better-half's taste in house.
keeping. Go on with your excellent ar
gument Mrs. S.:
HONE, May 22d, 1868.
Dear Times.
No doubt you think you .are we'll posted
in all the mysteries and miseries of house
cleaning, because you may, perchance,
have assisted to tack down u carpet when
hammer, tacks, &C., in readiness you may
have been found at home long enough to
secure your services; you may have filled a
straw tick, from the selfish consideration
of sleeping better for so doing, said straw
tick being nicely washed and handed you.
But what do you know about house
cleaning? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
You do not know what it is to have rooms
all en- dishabille and self ditto, and have the
friend for whom you would particularly
like everything in apple. pie order, sudden
ly make his or her advent. You do not
know what it is to have everything out OF
rooms ready for whitewashing, and have
the man engaged for the task, fail to make
his appearance. Do you? What do yo,
or "any other man. know Of the turning
darning, renovating and contriving to
make things, do, and make tae old look
''naaist as ,oeel as ae,v.' And when you
were trying your best to have everything
look clean, and fresh, and nice. even il
you did have to work very hard to accom-
plish it, how encouraging to have your
husband come in, and growl ut everything
being topsy-turvy and wish there was M
such thing as housekeeping! Well, WI
have one consolation. we know that if VIZ
did not clean house they would grow
about that, so l find the best plan is t.
pursue the seven tenor of our way" ane
let en- growl. Perhaps you may think thu.
hammering, and hammering carpets
filling straw ticks, &c., is all there is to do
You foget washing windows, cleanin;
paint, scrubbing floors, washing bed cloth.
cs, and the numerous details which every
woman understands and no man can.
What is to become Of the poor woman
| who endures all this and more, and doe
not even think swear p But then We
are the stronger set, and of course, SHOULD
bear our burdens with more patience thar
poor man have read some where tina
it takes more real skill and talent to en-
gineer household than it does to run {
ship more skill and talent to get up
good palatable meal, than to get up /;
weekly paper-I do not subscribe to al
that, for think man might get up quit
a decent meal with everything necessar,
Mt his fingers ends, but to keep it up da,
after day, year after year, making TIA
| change that is necessary to make it palata
BILE, that think would require woman
| talent.--lf you do hot believe it Col. tr,
it. And in conclusion, the next time yol
are requested to help in house cleaning
time, don't even think swear, and "grea
shall be your reward" in--smiles.
Mrs. SoAPsuDs.