The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-10-06
HOUSEKEEPING.
PliIadelpLia Record.

{ FAHnoefl'ata Hfcord.
II poets are born, not made, so are
housekeepers. This is evinced by the
difference in the ways Of little children.
One, while playing house and tending
her dolls, displays wonderful neatneSs
and precision the other is in every
way contrary. These characteristics
grow as the body grows, and in time
the once tiny girl who had a place for
everything will reign over wellordercd
household, while the home Of the other
will represent chaos. But, without
doubt, what is nature to one may be-
come second nature to the other. The
habit Of order may like any other
habit, be acquired, and although the
made housekecper may not so nearly
attain perfection rs the born house.
keeper, she may gain remarkable sense
OF nicely in the arrangement OF her
household effects. There is, too, a
wide difference Of opinion as to what
constitutes good housekeepcr. One
person may interpret good housekeep.
ing to mean an appalling precision in
the position of tables and chairs, books
and music. We have all seen this sort
OF house; there are anxious looks at
the boots OF the guest in muddy weather,
and frowns for the child who darcs to
drops crumb on the floor. The inmates
seem to move by line and speak by
ro,e; even the furniture appears to ache
with stiffness. The propensity Of the
housewife TO Scour and scrub, dust and
sweep, is with her mania. The cheer
and comfort of home are sacrificed TO
the god of cleanliness, and we involun-
,arily hcavc sigh OF relief as we emerge
from the depressing influence which
such degree OF ncatncss is likely TO
cngcnder. Other persons regard the
woman good housekccpcr who is
good manager. There is no undue
waste in her kitchen, no badly cooked
or served dishes on her table. She
goes on the theory that il she is eco.
nomical and gives her family good break
fast and dinners she has fulfilled the
chief aim Of her existence. At the
same time, the household belongings
may be in 4 state of confusion as dire
rs though n cyclone had swept over
them. The ideal housewife must, OF
course, be systematic. She must be
capable, prudent, orderly. Possessing
these attributes, she is far on her way
toward perfect housekeeping.
The wise patriarch advised his son TO
select wife vino would not step over 4
broomsiick. As the story goes the son
was obedient, and at gay May day
party deputed broomstick to choose
for him 4 wife by placing it in the way
the maidens were obliged to pass. Some
of them stumbled over it, others jumped
over it. until at length one orderly
young lady probably 4 born house.
keeper stopped and put it in its place.
True to his word, the young man made
her his wife, the broomstick having de.
cided the matter for him. Whether
the marriage was happy one or not
the legend does not disclose. II 4
young man desires a wife to keep his
house alone the plan adopted by the
hero Of the storyy.ight be coed ans;
II he wants companion the broom
stick test might not be infallible. To
have place for everything and to keep
everything In its place is good axiom,
but there are women possessed Of noble
and endearing qualities who step over
broomsticks every day. Nevertheless a
good housekeeper will avoid much Of
the friction of domestic life, and every
effort which tends to perfection in the
art is commcndable.
tsY-In order to relieve exhausted and
cxasperaied audiences, the Rev. +. p.
Parker proposes that ministers should
rhyme the "usual notices" for the choir
to sing. From the IadtpeaaeM Jffklv.
dif we quote some amusing specimens:
On Thursday evening will he held
The weekly gathering for prayer;
The pastor feels himself impelcd
To urge the brethren TO be there.
The Ladies Sewing Circle meets
On Saturday =. NJ;
And garments for the Mission Box
May then be sent to them.
s.N.
The Busy Bees will meet
On Friday evening next;
oung gentlemen 10 tea, at SIX,
They eagerly expect.
The deacons Of this church,
Aud the committee too.
Will meet on Monday night,
Grave matters to review.
A full attendance Is desired
And Is most urgently required.
WHAT Is A CARAT?-Thc carat is an
imaginary weight, that expresses the
finencss Of gold, or the proportion OF
pure gold in mass Of metal; thus, an
ounce Of gold is divided into a. caratS,
and gold of ,, carats fine is gold Of
which ,, parts out Of - are pure, the
other two parts being silver, copper, or
other metal; the weight Of 4 grains,
used by jewelers. in weighing precious
stones and pearls, is sometimes called
diamond weight-the carat consisting
of 4 nominal grains, little lighter
than 4 grains troy, or ~ ITO carat
grains being equal to u grains troy
The term or weight fOH derives its
name from bean, the fruit OF an Abys-
sinian tree, called k1aya. This bean,
from the time of its being gathered
varies very little in its weight, and
seems to have been, from very remote
period, used as weight for gold in
Africa. In India also the bean is used
as weight for gems and pearls.
BSy-Hestcr Stuart writes OF the old
maid: Her days are days of pleasant
ness, and her nights are nights Of peace.
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