The National tribune., 1883-02-01
W0MbN'S WORK.
Aunt Helen'S Home TaIkS---0ur Let
ter OX---HOusehOld Hints,
ICOufil,uCd.]

[Couf'nucdl
"Nv last rapcr" resumed Aunt Helen. when
the family were once more assembled around
the library table, was not one OF mere gener-
alities, As may, perhaps, have appeared. Under
( lying all contained there, was the earnest
thought that It would he well if the features
the simplicity and naturalnCsS of everything
which most forcibly impress the stranger who
enters for the first time one Of those homes,
might become the controlling clements III the
home which is so soon TO he founded by one OF
our number. Next week The practical work OF
rearing this home Will begin, and in order that
each of Us may add Il stone to Its foundation.
have decided to beg weekly BUdGet from the
rest of YOU. Oiu Nursery will naturally fail 10
the mother in our midst; or Scw5rg-rO0m
passes appropriately to Ethel; orr Table to
Table, the one. of all others to appreciate its
dclicacics. Upon Mr. Athclton and Teddie we
impose no Gp.ci&iticS. believing that the anna
bility o. each will prompt him 10 cast into our
budget many helpful and pleasant word.
| Emerson once tcrsely asked: Does any one
! care for the WWis when the King IS within?'
! Now, in the home which we are about to found
| l think we shall give to inmates and walls
! nearly equal Importance. In every home, how
/ ever, there IS Il central figure, round which the
/ chief interest gathers and from which 90 out
! the most potent influences for good or evil.
/ This figure is the Uife. That every true man
! in bestowing upon a woman that title bcStOws
/ the highest gift in his power no woman can
/ deny. But we have often wondered if every
woman in receiving this title solcmnly con-
siders how she can most worthily wear it.
Does she think Of all the sweet and graceful
cOurtcsies which might gladden. the days, while
they Tighten the WEAKNESS of labor and care,
and tighten continually the bonds of love and
respect in her home? Does she think that now,
for anotherS sake, tie curb must always he tight
upon the old willlul self, or perhaps that the
soft answer which turneth away wrath "
must often be given? Perhaps most wives err
most III making in the very beginning of their
home life Il thrcadbarc thing of existence.
The minute and homcly details of life are part
of Il WOman'S heritage, and because they are
inevitable they ought to be cheerfully met.
Is there any more reason why these details
should be laid before the husband than before
the friend or lover? Men have their own pc
culiav business cares the harasSnents of profess
sion, a trade, and many have ever before them
the cOrrOding problem how to make a moderate
income meet the needs Of n growing family.
Many men bravely keep these harassments
from their wives, and should not the latter
show toward their husbands an equal gcner-
osity in all matters where complaint is useless
When the day, with its disturbing cares, is over,
many q man returns to a cherries home, the
sound o: a querUous voice grcetS him, an I'M
responsive face checks the smile ON his own, or
rcprcSse5 the cherry word which he was about
to utter; there is poured out TO him a long list
of domestic grievances, which he cannot rem
edy if he would; perhaps the fires are out, the
lamps untitled, the meal late, the house in dis
order, the children ill-natured and in soilcd
Clothes the wife with disarranged hair and
negligent dress. This picture is not over
drawn; many time have we ourselves seen
it, both in humble and i'll handsome homes. Is
il any wonder that the husband and the sons
turn away with sickening hearts from their
daily depTessionS, and that the daughters grow
up TO be only TcpctitOIs of the mother! The
wife has her cares serious and pcrpleX!ng ones,
and it would be unjust and unnatural to think
Of finding III her the careless gayety of the
maiden. Housekeeping has its perpleXities-
cooks are stupid or arrogant, children are fret
full and often sick, domestic contingencies are
continually arising, and there are times when
even the most willing heart cannot force a
smile to the lips, but the gentle word may al
ways be uttered, as the quick and bitter one
may be repressed. The toilette, however simple,
may be carefully arranged, the hair III order,
the house tidy, and at least one room comfort
able-warm or cool, as the season may demand.
Probably, wife can pay Il husband no more
delicate compliment than in this very matter
of the toilette. AS the hour for his return ap-
proaches, let her don fresh ruche or collar, q
becoming uCChIlc, II DAINTY apron, lTTcpEOdCn-
able cuffs, or some substitute for these; let her
hair be prettily arranged, and if a day at home
has tempted her to retain the comfortable
bedroom slippers, let these be replaced by
eatly-titting boots or slippers. More than
women estimate is the value which a husband
places upon these little toilette touches which
he knows are made for his sake alone \ con-
venient custom is to have for these simple toll
cites some pretty basque sacque, sleeves or
mo- he m r,lanSa. triI with aj6nr-
down, fur, braid lace, or some inexpensive ma
terial. make dOuble-breasted, or open and filled
in with lace or illusion. These SaCqueS always
brighten up q home toilette, are easily made
and easily donned. We think that the habit
which many women have of appearing at the
breakfast-table with curl-paperS or cTimping
pins cannot be too strongly reprehended. \
hostess would scarcely appear thus at table be-
fore the cOmmOnest guest; why then before her
husband before whom no guest should, in the
Wlte's heart at least, take precedence? A wife
should preserve toward a husband that delicate
reserve and Difference which always accompany
perfect love and reverence. This probably, is
the sureSt safeguard against years of daily as
ISOLATION under the same roof Few women
realize what a fearful test there is in unbrOken
daily intercourse. Their dearest care ought to
be to rob this association Of its almost inevita-
bic monOtOny; their unccaSing effort to bring
to the hearth some new and attractive things
The apathy into which husbands and wives so
often sink is one of the greatest enemies to
home happiness, and little care on the part
of each might make this result impossible.
The true wife looks well to the ways of her
hOusehold-She sees that the meals are regular
the buttons Sewed on, remembers that "Willful
waste makes woelul want" foods the house
with sunshine when the sky is clear, and
brightens it with something else when the
sky is dark; she has an extra plate for the
husbands friend, she accepts invitations from
her husband, and enters into his pleasure plans
as readily as she did in the lover days. A wise
wife knows enough of her husbands business
matters to be help and not milestone in his
daily life" And with this, Aunt Helen's paper
was at an end.
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.
The Eitchen-h Poet EniInl characterization