Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-06-06
Homekeeping versus HOusekeeping.


The truest homes are Often in houses not es-
pecially well kept, where lhe comforts and
happiness Of the inmates, rather than the
preservation of the furniture, is first consulted.
The object Of home is 10 be the centre, the
point Of tendereSt interest, the pivot on which
family life turns Tie first requisite is to
make I; a.iractivo-so attractive that none OF
its inmates shall care to linser long outside OF
its limits. All legitimate means should DO
employed to this end, and no effort spared that
can contribute to the pprpose. Many houses
called homes, kept with waxy nes,ness by
painstaking, auxioas women, are SO oppressive
in their nicely as TO exclude all home-feelins
from their spotless precincts. The very name
Of home is synonymous with personal freedom
aud relaxation from care. But neither ofthesc
can be felt where such a mania for external
cleanliness prevadcs the house hold as to rem
der everything else subserviont thereto. Many
housewives, if they see speck on tho floor or
wall, or even q scrap Of thread or bit Of paper
on the floor, rash at j, as if it were the seed Of
pestence which mus, be removed on the in-
slant. Their temper depends upon their main
tenauce Of perfect purity and order. II there
is any failure on their part, or any conbna-
ton Of circumstances against them, they fall
into a pathetic despair, and can hardly be
lifted They do not zee that cheerfulness is
more needful to home than all the spotlessness
that ever shone, Their disposition to wage
war upon maculatsness Of any sort increases
until they become slaves Of the broom and the
dust-pan Neatness i. one thing. apd state
Of perpetual houso-cleaning quite another.
Out of this grows by degrees the feeling
that certain .hings and apartments are to good
for daily use. Hence, chairs aud sofas are
covered, aud rooms shut up. save for special
occasions, when they are permitted to reveal
their violated sacredpess in manner that
mars every pretencc Of hospitality. Nothing
should be bought which is considered too 6ne
for the fullest domestic appropriation. Far
better is the plainest furniture, on which the
children can climb, than satin aud demask
which must be viewed with reverence. Where
anything is reserved o. secluded, to disguise
the fact is extremely difficult. A chilly air
wraps it round aud the repulsiPp Of strange
ness is experienced by tho most inssusible.
There are few persons who have not visited
houses where they have been introduced 20
what is known as the company parlor. They
must remember how uncomfortable they wero
while sitting in it: how they found L almoS.
impossible TO be at case, aud ma,nly for tho
reason that their host aud hostess were not
themselves at ease The children were watch
ell with lynx eyes, les: they should displacO OF
soil something, so that the entertainment Of
| friends became very much like a social disei-
pline. They must recall, too, how sweet the
fresh air seemed out-of-doors. and how they
/ inwardiy vowed, 10 leaving that temple Of
form aud fdgc,iuess, that something moro
than politeness would be required to incItc
/ them TO return.
| Home is net name, nor form, nor rcd-
/ the 1t is spirit, presence, principle.
Material and method will not, and cannot
make it. Il must get its lisb. aud sweetness
from those who inhabit il, from flowers aud
sunshine, from the sympathetic natures which.
in their exercise Of sympathy. can lay aside
the tyranny Of the broom and the awful duty
Of endless scrubbing