The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-21

Mrs. Martha N. McKay's Theory Of the
True Science Of Housekeeping.
Full Text Of Paper Recently Read Be-
fore the Social Science Association
oe1. of Indiana.
ssWhen There is Discord In Mans Stomach
There Is Disease in His Brain and
Demons Are in His Thoughts"

Following Is the full text of the very ex-
cellent paper recently read before, the Social
Science Association of Indiana, bysMrs. Mar
tina N. Mckay, of this city: -
It is recorded IN the eleventh century that
when the beautiful Saxon, Margaret, became
the wife of Malcolm MacDuncan she also
became his teacher, and an inspiration Tor
orous intellect, this early Scottish king was
uneducated, and the books of devotion,
which Margaret brought, he could not read.
But he caused them to be richly bound and
ornamental with gold and jewels. He
would hold them while she read and kiss
them in token OF his reverence for them and
her. Very many of the duties-the respon-
slbilitles-of housekeeping and home
making are, it has seemed to me, sealed
volumes to most men. Eyer so learned in
other directions, ever so tender and willing,
they can at most as the case now stands, but
win the gold and gems for the binding, and
hold the book, while the mother, wife or
sister explains the contents.
But, with the acceptance or this
belief, comes also the admission
that to women will belong the duty OF lift
ing housekeeping into the ranks of the dig
nified professions. We must ourselves
organize to secure the aids which higher
civilization may develop, and the helps
winch wise cooperation in the future may
give. All true women desire and deserve to
have homes, but all women do not like the
details of housekeeping, as we now define
it. Yet where does this work go forward,
unless guided by woman's hand? To those
who devote to it their whole energies. their
lives, more credit should be awarded, and
those who would fain "conslder the hllies,"
but have struggled bravely with the multi
tude of uncongenial tasks, place should
he civ the nnracnrf1ad saints
When housekeeping is considered as
science and Is accorded the high place 1t
deserves, it will still be in the hands OF
women, as it should be, but, by division of
labor and an opportunity OF selecting differ
emit departments of work, these duties
will fall into willing hands. By early
and judicious training the work will be
easily performed, because thoroughly under
stood, and will no longer be counted
-drudgery.
There are women who are natural house
keepers. Sweet Phebe Pyncheons, whose
very presence dispels the dust and gloom of
the House of Seven Gables. / should like to
believe that maj ority OF women possess
this talent. But there are gifted women
such es Elizabeth Stuart Phelps has de-
scribed in the character OF Avis-who can
not help shudderiDg when the new girl
knocks at the door, asking what shall be had
for the next breakfast" The one is house
keeper, the other an artist, but both
equally need, and desire home-and re-
ieved of certain details in domestic affairs
which are pleasant to the one and terrible to
the other. Avis is no less honemaker
than Phebe, Her heroic struggle against
inclination is powerful argument in favor
of something akin to cooperative house
keeping, and it was evidently the purpose
of the author of Coates Ajar" to aid the
solution of the domestic problem by this
touching story. livery year, under the
teaching of science, we are believing more
and more that upon the comfort and welfare
of the body depends the mental and spiritu-
al growth; for, in this earth
life the spirit must be clothed in flesh,
and not more essential is the body to the
soul than is q suitable dwelling place for
that body, while the soul possesses it. One
of the questions pressing steadily for solu
ton, is how to SO order our lives that we
shall divide duly the time between wants,
temporal and spiritual.
A woman, whose helpful pen has done
much good service to our country, says:
"God has seen best to make us 30 that we
must spend large part of our time in keep.
ing ourselves clothed, and fed, and housed.
and clean, and, therefore, we are bound to
conclude that, in thus spending our time,
we are answering, 20 far, the end OF oul
creation; but one who knows nothing ex.
perimentally of woman's work can not ap-
preciate its real worth; can not know what
skill, what patience, what expenditure oil
nervous and muscular tissue is required, and
what mastery generalship is demanded in
the marshaIing oil domestic affairs, so thai
everything shall, day by day, and season By
season, come out well"
1t "order is Gods first law" nowhere il
= the enforcement more needed than in
housekeeping. To this end, brothers, SOM
and husbands could aid effectually by put
ting in their proper places the articles they
use, the books and papers they read. and
the furniture they disarrange. Here, the
importance of early training can not b.
oyerestimated, for habit does indeed, be
come second nature, and the disorderly DO,
can not change readily in mature life. Say
an English writer, Laws and principles ar
not for the times when there are no tempta
lions. They are for moments when bod,
and soul rise in mutiny against thei
rigor" And to the house and its govern
ment is this especially applicable.
1t is not alone in the steam of Monday
the dust from the broom on Friday, or tn
hurry of Saturday, that the enforcement o
domestic laws is essential, but when "orde
reigns," when everything seems for the houl
done; then the wise housekeeper must still
post her sentinels and allow no sleeping OF
the post. She must keep the burden o
work ahead, lest it fall back and crush her
She must have reserve force ready TO
emergencies, and Notwithstanding the rougl
seas into which her ship may sail
she must, like a true captain, keel
herself calm and clear to Civ
the orders which may prevent q wreck
Truely, said wise man OF our own genera
ton, the woman who has managed he
household, settled the inevitable dis
putes of her children, borne with serenit
the countless and unavoidable trials O
domestic life, has performed q task NOR
difficult than presiding over Senate, o
even nation. In some respects house
keeping in the United States is more dill
ficult than in other countries, particularI
in our mother country. We have here n
trained class to aid rs. Yet our young Re
public is not only, in most things abreast
but ahead of the times. Express trains tax
the latest fashions for overskirts from Ne,
York to San Francisco. We have the lates
and most beautiful designs in furniture, i
china and silver. Yet we must give thes
delicate and beautiful treasures we besto'
As wedding gifts into the hands that hav
hitherto handled only wooden bowls i
Germany or in Erin. 1t is not their fau