Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-03
Out of the Ruts.

Nothing is much more hopeless than
the ways of household that gets to
living in ruts," and hasn't gumption
enough to lift itself out. The same
things to eat, the came people to see,
the same round of duties, and cares,
and pleasures, the same old thing "
over and over again on all sides-what
wonder that so many women grow NOR
bid at never accomplishing anything,
and come to regard housekeeping as a
tiresome treadmill, mitigated in its
dizziness only by sense of duty done,
and happiness conferred to others?
We once ventured to suggest to dis
couraged home-maker-the noblest title
to which any woman need aspire-that
it would be good thing if she would
trade off some OF the pretty, pious mot
toes that adorned her dining room, for
the truly Golden Text, "Variety is the
Spice of Life" She was too bright to
be told what we meant; but as she pre-
tended to wonder, we went on to say
that if the useful truth which this trits
saying embodies should be applied, as
it might be, il our homes, there would
be good deal more fun in the world,--
better digestion, better humor, and q
keener relish of all the good things of
life; and that hence and therefore the
earth would be less of dog-kennel
of place in which to tarry, than the
grumpy Mr.. Thomas Carlyle once de-
clared it to be.
just now. al the opening of spring,
it is the housewives privilege, and
should be her pleasure, to introduce
new variety upon the little stage of life
whereon she is manager, scene-shifter,
prompter and player. The winter bills
of fare, both mental and physical, are
now too heavy. Our bodies do not re-
quire the same amount of fuel in April
that they did in December. The air, the
sky, the face of Mother Nature, all are
changed the requirements of living
are altered.
Recognize this fact in your house.
and especially on the table. Many per-
sons will find their appetite equal to
q plate of oranges (that can now be
bought very low by the box, and often
save in doctors bills ten times their
cost if freely used), or can relish q
saucer of oatmeal and cream, dish Of
hominy, rice, or eggs. who can't, and
ought not to make breakfast of chops,
fried potatoes, and griddle.cakes. Good
salads, lettuce. new milk, fish, fruit,
rice, and grains, cooked in different
ways, afford the variety of diet that is
needed. If your cook or your cook.
book is not suggestive. send for bills of
fare to the popular restaurants or ho-
tells, and gather new hints from those
who make study of catering to the
public.
A good deal may be done in bright
ening and freshening the house in rec
ognition of the advent of spring. A
few window flowers from the florist, if
your own have failed-as they probably
have, unless you have escaped the
average experiences change about in
the arrangement of the sitting.room,
lighter reading, jollier games, and more
lively music for the evening-earlier
bedtime and earlier rising hours, out
of.door walks at different seasons-any-
thing suitable to change the order OF
things, and get out of the ruts, should
be the order OF the day in households
that wish really to live, not simply to
exist,-G0lden Rule.