Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-12
HOUSEKEEPING.
some Good Advice BY q Woman to Hel
Housekeeping Sisters.

HOUSEKEEPING.
Some Good Advice BY Woman to Her
Housekeeping Sisters.
Successful housekeeping! How many
of us fully realize the meaning of that
term? As I take it, successful house
keeping does not consist merely in
keeping the house scrupulously clean
from garnet to cellar, and the table al
ways supplied with the choicest food;
but in doing our work in the easiest
and pleasantest manner to ourselves,
and in that way which makes those
about us in every way most comfort
able. And to do this requires judgment,
patience ard much careful study and
forethought- We have been deluged
with advice about having time, a
plan and place for everything; but all
We who have tried it know how utterly
impossible it is to keep our resolutions
regarding the last two, especially where
there are young children, or frequent
callers to break in upon the routine;
but have found it s. great saving of
time and strength to plan by Titles.
While ironing. sitting to pare potatoes
or apples. nursing baby, etc., I keep
thinking what shall do next. planning
every step, then if any mistakes occur
they are only mental ones; for instance,
if a trip to the cellaris soon to be made
l endeavOr to think of everything that
is to be taken, and everything that can
be brought at that time, instead of
rum ng with or after one thing at
time in the hurried moment in which
1t happens to be thought of.
Try it, ladies, you have no idea what
a help it is until you do try planning
what you will do next, and Just how in
every particular; it is so much easier to
revise it and 9Srrect it in our minds
than with our feet If you are forget
full. it is convenient to have a slate
hanging in the kitchen on which you
can note down many of the important
little things which might otherwise not
be thought OF when it would be easiest
to do them. On the other side of the
slate you might keep a record of the
names and dates of papers in which you
saw recipes you wish to try, or any val
liable hints; for one often sees such,
and when we take many papers it is
difficult to find what one wants without
some clew; when full, copy into little
memorandum book, unless YOU have
tried enough (and placed in your tested
receipt book which every houSekeeper
should make for herself), to erase and
make room for more. Speaking of
planning, L presume none of you retire
at night without seeing breakfast all on
line in your mental vision. it saves so
much hurry and worry in the morning
-ah! this worry, it is the bane of
American women. Let US strive to al
ways remember
"'Tis acorry, not scork, that kills.
Another one of the greatest aids in
avoiding hustle and confusion is to be-
gin in time. 1t is certainly much bet
ter to do a thing in season than out of
season, and if it must be done why not
do tin time? Form this habit and it
will soon become sort of second ma
ture to be punctual.
l have found it easiest as soon as
breakfast work is done and house in
order Zone room at least so you will not
be embarrassed if neighbor steps in),
to arrange for dinner all that can be
gotten ready at that time; it is SO much
pleasanter to have it off ones mind at
once than to wonder all through the
forenoon, what shall l get for din
nerP" And, when possible, 1 set the
table at any leisure time, putting on
salt, spoons, castor, everything that
will not dry out or spoil from getting
too warm or too cool, and that will not
attract flies. though, l hope, many are
using screens, they cost but little and,
though they do not afford complete re-
lief from the pests, they are a wonder
full advantage. Another help, where
the household is so fortunate as to have
baby in it, is to arrange its nap with
fhn
sible, having him asleep at that time;
with little care to form the habit
healthy babe can generally be put to
sleep an hour before dinner and sleep
till it is all over. Mine does-some-
times.
On ironing day have adopted the
plan suggested by writer in late
paper, always to iron the finest, most
tedious clothes first. for two very good
reasons: first we are fresh and have
more strength and patience for them
than when weary at the last, and, Sec
ond,- if We are hIndered in any way so
that anything must be hurried over, or
shook out and left till another time, it
will only be the coarse articles, which
will not be hurt so much by such treat
ment. As to what pieces need ironing
each one must be her own judge. /
used to think that every article must be
smooth and nice before putting away,
and they do look nicer, but with my
little ones around me now, with minds
and bodies to be cared for as well as
clothing, l find sheets wash-rags, fam
nels and coarse underwear can gOwith-
out sometimes for the sake of having
the time thus gained to make a child
happy, read new paper or book, ar
range some little surprise for papa"
or at least have time to compose my
self and be calm and pleasant when he
comes; l know we can not always do
this, but lets do so whenever we can. re-
member;ng the faces are very much
like mirrors, giving us back a ref1ec-
ton of our own; but want to say just
here that when leaving things undone,
or slightly done. let it not be anything !
that will endanger health. Everything
in and about the house should always |
be so clean and fresh and pure as to in
cur no risk in that direction.
AS to place for everything. have it |
so if you can: where closets and cup
boards are scarce this is difficult, and |
if out-of-the-way places are chosen |
some OF the careless ones will not al |
ways put them there, so we think it |
best to have boxes, pockets, hooks and |
closet-door catch-a1ls in convenient |
places to keep those things which are