Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-02
THE HOUSEHOLD.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY AND HOME DscoRa-
TIoN AND FURNISHING.
The Parlor, Kitchen. Store-rocm, Studio,
Library. Nursery, Sewisg- room,
Garden and Poultry Yard
Some rlain words


One is sometimes painfully impressed
when in large gathering OF people,
whether at opera. house or church, by the
expression Of discomfort on the faces OF
the women. 1t is an interesting expert
ment to fancy ones self inside anothers
head, and to speculate upon just what
thoughts and emotions have drawn the
facial muscles into their peculiar forms.
Occasionally a woman is seea in whom
there appears to be no correspondence be-
tween the soul and the muscles, some
strange disease having made the latter i'm
movable and incapable of performing their
functions, but generally the minds con-
struetion may be read or guessed at from
the expression of the face. 1t is clear
enough that in many cases a well-defined
diseontentis felt I; they are dissatisfied with
their surroundings often the one great
trouble about dress is enough to account
for the turning down of the corners
OF the mouth, the unpleasant look about
the eyes, and even for the two little
wrinkles over the nose. 1t is not easy, and
one doesn't feel happy if she really longs for
sealskin jacket, to be obliged to take up
with something far cheaper and less be-
coming My uncle Toby" noted this
fact, and speaks with some degree OF
sympathy of those women who " couldn t
have silk and SO wouldn't have calico. ;"
Bat this indication of discomfort is not
ALWAYS to be accounted for in this way. IL
is seen when so far as outward clrcum'
stances are concerned there is nothing left
to wish for They have home. friends,
money, position, and even that inner salts
faction which religion is able to give, but
they do not know what to do with them
selves. They have received good educa-
tions, as the world goes /; they are usually
what is called cultivated ladies they have
accomplishments and some requirements,
but they are not contented, from the TACT
that they have nothing specific to do. 1t
is not enough simply to live, to do the
everyday duties which fall to their lot,
without need OF applause. They are not
sufficient unto themselves; their educa-
ton, so far as it has affected them, has I'M
fitted them for a commonplace and hum
drum life. They are not content TO do
common things nobly. Some great. indie
finite achievement seems to becSon them
on away from those duties which lie close
beside and before them, and the feeling
operates so powerfully that it is written
indelibly upon the face. There can be but
one remedy for it, and that is first to re-
cornize the trouble, and then with all the
energy of ones nature to accept life as it
is, and make the most of it. No woman's
life need be utterly without atmosphere
while music and literature and nature in its
varied forms remain to be studied. be-
lieve that no woman ever lived Who had
not something which she ought do, and it
is possible for her to cultivate that habit of
mind which finds expression in Words
worth's ode to DUTY Nor know We
anything so fair as is the smile upon thy
face. y E. w. B.