The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-08

Our Southern ladies are excellent
housekeepers in all that pertains 20
hospitality and generous living. But
they cannot now, as III the days OF
slavery, have unlimited purses to draw
o therefore it may be well for
many o fthem to study these hints in
this article from the Householl-ED.
f. & NJ.
There are many ''arts" of the house
hold to which a thorough and sklllIui
houSekeeper must give attention, II
She would also be a hOme-maker.
Home-making begins in the kitchen;
and the woman who anuOt manage
her kitchen properly may grace her
parlor like a princess, but the happl-
ness of her family rests on a precarlous
foundation. Opening the Kitchen
door often reveals the temper OF the
family for, ii order and economy
reign there, we may safely assert that
the family is comfortable, nerves are
not 'out Of tune" and that the neces
sary cares and duties ofthe house. and
even its drudgery, shall not ditfuse
their unpleaSantnesS beyond its walls.
Let the routine of daily work go on
without interruption as far as posi-
bic. that the methOdical workers may
not be put out" and the mistress be
saved much daily planning and talk
ig. Let every useful article have a
place for its OWn so that every mem
Der of thefamily can find Gn the dark,
if necessary the broom, duSt-pan,
poker, coal-hod, hammer, wrapping
paper, matches, lamps. strings, and
tacks. Any woman can With a gimlet
Ill 49, %
stout string through the hole and
there should be a box, III some IN
cealed corner, where the family can
put. and a find when wanted, bro
ken Shoe-StringS, stou cords, tapes,
traids. and strips of leather. These
are often useful for various repairs
and III supporting plants, shrubs, and
0rape-VIneS. Cotton tWlne may be
wound in a ball when undoing packa-
ges, the paper to be folded smoothly
and put III its place, till called for.
Pat away whole newspapers III a bar
rel, in shed or cellar ali refuse pieces
III another, to save time and handling
when whole paperS are wanted. Cover
shelves and the bottoms of drawers
which are used for food and kitchen
utensils with papers, neatly folded.
This viii save much cleaning. Ar
IdIl21 hil1ilth IllJuIc ~ saw I'LL
necessary steps. Articles which can
wait to &C upstairs or down-cellar lay
down till you are obliged to go. Teach
children and servants to avoid IN
necessary 5 cps III their labor and to
max every motion count. The value
of such habits cannot be computed.
Load both ways" is 4 good motto for
houseworkers. Let vour brain serve
your hands; You thought . before
you. This makes your labor interest
ing: and when the mind is a co-Opera-
tor YOU are no lOngera drudge. House
keeping becomes a fine art. IwillnOt
touch upon cooking. which in itself is
a profession. Excellence in that art is
largely made up Of, first, the ambition
to be a good cook then comes, natur-
ally. a discriminating taste study OF
results attention to hose small varia-
tons which affect results Judgment
practice. These things are all neces-
sary and nave an Importance, to which
rules and recipes are secondary. This
art merits a separate paper So let us
go on to the dlning-room. Keep the
d~ining-labIe always set, if possible. 1t
saves a great alnount of time and
labor. In umner netting can cover
it. to protest from flies in winter. if
exposed To dust, a white tablecloth
may be laid over it. 4 home-maker
{ should be fastidious about her table
linen. Get good. heavy. handsome
cloths, and then take good care of
them. As washing, and particularly
ironing, wears heavy linen in the
folds, be choice Of their purity. Put
napkins or even towels white under
the childrens plates; and under the
carvel's plate, reaching under the edge
of the platter, put a mat of enameled
cloth. Put table-mats (;hey can be
~crocheted easily and cheaply of coarse
cottonl under all dishes which come
from the stove. and place plates md
pies and plddings. Doing this. your
cloth, X 'pting accidents. viii keep