American citizen., 1878-11-16
4" Slip-ShOd."

1t is said that among the presents re-
ceived by bride was table-mat beat-
tifully worked by an old lady. Though
the age of the old lady who made the
offering gave it a special interest, and
though the elegance of the design and
the perfection of the work furnished
sufficient causes for admiration, there
was still another reason for approval
one which alone would entitle the en-
broidery to distinguished consideration.
1t was the motto artistic yet legible,
"DoN'T BE sL1P-sHoD." On the table
at breakfast and tea time Especially at
breakfast) this legend was a reminder
that before sitting down all the appa-
ratus for ready service and comfortable
enjoyment should be provided. There
should be no demand for the supply of
deficiencies, no call for forgotten arti-
cles, no jumping up from the table to
change or replace, no summonses to
the handmade and consequent opening
and shutting of doors. There is an old
proverb that a man is known by the
company he keeps. 1t is equally true
that the housekeeper is known by the
appearance of her table. 1t is a COM
plete index of the manner in which the
housekeeping generally is conducted.
The proof of good housekeeping is not
in the elegance of furnishing but in the
order and neatness with which even the
most humble equipage can be arranged.
There are tables of families of moderate
means which by the appetizing manner
in which they are set out put to shame
the confusion of some expensive house
holds. Profusion is even a greater
temptation to slip-shod ways than strait
ened circumstances are.
But housewives have been enough
talked to and written at on the subject
of domestic management. They know
their own business best, and if they be-
come slip-shoditis is not usually their fault.
A chief cause of household confusion is
always with the men. 1t is just as easy
to be orderly and neat in personal
habits as it is provoking to be unpunc-
tual, negligent and untidy. When the
breakfast-table is carefully set out, and
every thing upon it is at the precise
point of perfection, the women folks
are justly entitled to be exasperated if
the indifference of their families causes
all this trouble to be lost. And it is the
most patural, if not the most nece sary
thing in the world, all the household
I" slip-shod," that the madam should
become so herself. Where is the use
in her order and neatness if husband
and children Especially boys) are dis
orderly and carelessp Life with her is
constant struggle to bring order out
of confusion. The necessary wear and
tear of household furnishing can not be
avoided. To meet this fair demand on
woman's time need not even tire her
patience. 1t is but pleasant
employment. But, as has been
said upon graver subjects, there
is point where patience ceases
to be virtue. This point is reach
ed when all the housekeeper's care
is foiled by the households careless
ness. It is sententiously pronounced
to be woman's duty to make home at
tractive. But in too many cases it is a
duty as difficult of performance as the
keeping of f1ower-beds and lawn in Or
der while obtrusive pigs and audacious
fowls have the freedom of the premises.
People who allow themselves to be
unsystematic and careless in their per-
sonal habits-indolent when they should
be employed, hurried when they ought
to have enough reserved time, and negli-
gent when little thought would spare
others from trouble and themselves
from discomfort carry into great trans
actions the faults to which they are adj
dicted in small. Their business be-
comes a series of surprises, and their
operations are efforts against the con-
sequences of their own neglect. They
are never square with their appoint
ments, and their ingenuity is exhausted
in expedients and temporary measures
Their books are blind record, hastily
kept, and not even an expert can un
ravel them without assistance. Ever
then assistance is insufficient if they
have been in the habit of acting on the
plan of I" well enough for now," which
is only "slip-shod" written out witt
more length of words.-Philadelphis
Ledger.