Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-10-09
Housekeeping vs.. Housekeeping.

The triest homes are often in houses not
especially well kept. where the comfort
and happiness of the inmates, rather than
the preservation OF the furniture. l. first
consulted. The object of home is TO be
the center. the point OF tenierest interest,
the pivot on which family life turns. The
first requisite is to make it attractive that
none OF its inmates shall care to linger
long outside its limits. All legitimate
means should be employed To this end. aud
no effort spared that can Contribute To the
purpose. Many houses called homes
Kept with waxy neatness by paiustaking
ANXIOUS women. are so oppressive in their
nicity as to exclude all no me feeling from
there spotless precints. The very name
OF home is synonymous with personal free
dom and relaxation from care. But mei-
Their of these can be felt where such ma
mia Tor external cleanliness prevales the
household as to render everything else
snbservient thereto. Many housewives, If
they see speck on floor or wall, or even
scrap of thread or bit OF paper on the
floor, rush at it, as II 1t were the seed of
pestilence which must be removed on the
instant. Their tempers depends upon
their maintenance Of perfect order and
purity. Ii there be any failure on their
part. or any combination of circumstances
against them, they fall into a pathetic de-
spair, and can hardly be lifted out. They
do not see that cheerfllness is more need
iul To home than all the spotlessness that
ever shone. Their disposition to wage
war upon maculateness of any sort in
crcases until they become slaves ct the
broom and dust-pan. Neatness is one
thing. and a state ofperpetual house clean
lng quite another.
out Of this grows by degree, the feeling
that certain things and apartments are too
good for daily use. Hence, chairs aud So
fas are covered. and rooms shut up. save
for special occasions, when they are pre-
mitied to reveal their violated ,acredne,>
IN 4 manner that mars every pretense of
hospitality. Nothing should he bought
which Is considered too fine for the fullest
6
plaine,t furniture, on which the children
can climb. than satin aud damask which
must be viewed with reverence Where.
anything i reserve or secluded. to dis
SHI>e the fact i extremely duiicnlt \
chilly air wraps it round. aud the repulsiou
OF ,iran"encs> i experienced hy thu most
tnScnsiblc.
There ar" few persons who have not
visited houses where they have tot been
introduced 10 what j. known ~ the COM
pAuy rarlor. They must remember how
uncomfortable they were white >ttin. in
II; how they found it mos, impossible to
be AZ ease. and mainly for the reason that
their host and hostess were not them.elye.
at ea>e The children were watched " it'll
isnN ewes lest they should di,place or ,oil
something; 50 that the entertainment OF
friend, become very much iiks social
discipline. They must recall, too. how
sweet the fresh air seemed ou,-of-,loor.
aud how they inwardly vowed. in leaving
that temple OF form and iidgetiness. that
something more than politenes would be
required To incite them TO return.
Home i not name, nor a form. nor a
routine. Ii is spiris presence, a prin-
cIpal. Material and mothod will not. and
cannot make it, Ii must get it, light and
sweetness from those who inhabit it, from
/ flowers and sunshine. from the sympathet-
/ ic natures which in their exercise Of .vm-
patty, can lay aside the tyranny of the
broom and the awful duty of endless
serubbing- Home aud Society" .Scri',-
MRS for OctOIer.