Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-03-18
Hous--tfDIne.

When there is too much house, there
is always too little hOme Good house
keeping Is by no means as rare as good
housekeeping. 1t IS of far less impOr-
tance. 4 certain amount of drudgeTy
must be gone through with. daily, in
any calling; about three-fouTths of life
is drudgery. One-fOurth can be rescued
from the toll and moil of the world by
management and thought. The most
| 1ifticult and the most necessary lesson
for housekeeper TO learn is that she
must assert her Individuality 1t is
useless to try to please everybody. Many
things in our homes are done directly
with ian eye single'' TO our neighbOTS.
Work must be pruned down and lopped
off until it matches strength, for the
latter refuses TO be enlarged by any
amount or thought.
1t IS nice point to adjust this balance
properly. 1t requires much giving up
and letting go. What shall we give up?
Ay, there's the rub. Everything seems
so important. Things must be kept
clean, there is no doubt about that; but
the number of things TO be Kept clean
can be greatly diminished. Wisdom
would suggest the minimum consistent
with comfort and refinement. In many
homes there is an embarrassment of
riches in the shape of cOnveHlences and
/ petty treasures that must be kept in
order, stealing time that might be be-
slowed with profit and satisfaction upon
the higher things of life: people. books,
art, nature and all the subtle excel
lences that make life worth living.
Each must solve for herself the Ques-
ton of simplifying living in order to
ennoble domestic life. Every woman
knows her own eomplexity. The same
things do not press with equal weight
upon all. On general principles, how
ever. it is safe to say that
''There's too much worry goes to
bonnet.
There's too much ironing goes to
shirt
There are too many preserves; too
many rufiles and tucks and elaboration
in the making and trimming of gar
ments, that add labor and do not add
to their beauty.
WOman's fetters are largely self
made. Carvings, upholstery, brasses,
bronZes, that cause frowns, back k-aches.
irritability and heart aches. are a poor
investment of money and time. Things,
more than people, bring women to the
verge of despair. The endless round Of
imagined duties causes chronic over
work among women, produces the sad
1est results to them and those depen-
dent upon them for rest and comfort.
There is nothing in the world dread" "
said the Household Philosopher, like
a thoroughly exhausted woman. No
amount of personal comfort ever COM
pensates for such a state of affairs -
OF course not. What constantly tired
woman Is capable of generous sympathy
and ready help, or of cOmpanionship?
Can she divide care and double joy?
The better part of the life cries out for
warmth and tenderness; but the women
who should give it are blindly wasting
themselves on material things, polish
ing the outside of the cup without a
thought of the wine within.
To conquer prejudice. spTmount e-ls-
cation and overcome habits of mind and
body, implies force of will and power of
effort. This same conquering and
overcoming is necessary TO the true
emancipation of womcn