Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1882-01-06
Housekeeping and ne-KeepIng.

Il Rural World,
Housekeeping and Home Keeping.
know there are those whose super
ior wisdom can influence the minds OF
their laboring sisters better than can,
still when think of this subject, l feel
as though l must add my mite, poor
though it be. We are too apt to con-
slider the necessary work that the house.
hold requires. nothing but drudgery.
Do We, WHO have the superintendent
Of the Homework, and participate
therein. strive to make it what 1t ought
to be! 1t is the work of our homes,
the most blessed work that woman can
do; for from our homes the influence
goes out all over the land to make the
rising generations better or worse.
1t is not only housekeeping. Blu,
something more, it IS housekeeping.
1t is not merely the mechanical per
formance of round of duties each
day, but it is an art that brings into use
all our latent ingenuity, and requires a
keen sense of the beautiful, with firm.
ness and perseverance, to overcome
all the petty trials and difficulties that
are forever crowding around the path
of a housekeeper.
Housekeeping is an art that needs
just as finished and education. and as
thorough practice, to become an
adept, as what are termed the ''fine
arts" but why fine arts! know not,
for housekeeping is not one of the
fine arts, what is2 To be sure there is
the coarser work the same as there is
everything. The painter must know
how to properly clean his brushes and
palette, he must mix his paints and
oils, and if the picture does not suit,
perhaps the canvas will have to be
cleaned so as to commence again; but
the toll is forgotten, for he works for
an object, for browning beauty.
And should we not toll as unceasing.
ly through all these little duties, doing
faithfully, still not dwelling too much
on the trivial, but through all keeping
and recognizing a higher beauty that
shall bless us while We labor, and make
life's picture perfect in its complete
ness! We cannot like the artist,
efface our work, for we are building for
eternity; let US then give the seemingly
uncomely labors more abundant
comeliness.
Order and harmony should be every
housewives motto; as the old saying.
ga place for everything and everything
in its place do not say the bread
should never be burned, or the room
never Uttered; for all these things will
sometimes happen to the best of house.
keepers. But l do say there should
be neaness and order, not meaning
that every chair should be set back as
though it were glued there, and the
whole house wear look of primeness
and GOODNESS that repels one, and DAM
pens the spirits of every one that comes
10, but that all things should be refined
and perfectly natural, from the kitchen
TO the parlor, and all blend and har-
monte in true beauty without confu-
sion or disorder. Every housekeeper
can and should be just as much a lady
as though she never entered the kitchen
and partook Of the labors there. 1
Housekeeping does not exclude
those other employments that have of
themselves SO large a share in our
world. Music, drawing and painting,
and also literary pursuits they ali have
their place in the model housekeeper's
domain, and help to make life and home
beautiful.
The housekeepers and homekeepers
Of our land have a large field of labor.
Oh! that they realized more fully the
great and noble work, which if entered
INTO in spirit and in truth would be
heirs. Housekeeping has direct in
|luence on the inmates OF The house.
hold, and remember that the influence
Of our homes, and the teachings and
practice of the home lite, act directly
lpon the nation, so if we would have
,ur nation pure, upright and truly great,
We must begin at our homes and make
hem pure. honest and wholesome.
a. NJ. K.
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