Helena weekly herald., 1885-06-04
DAINTY HOUSEKEEPING
Some Examples of Cory Homes I'm small
Quarters In New York.

.Sfecial correspondence
New YORK. April 30.-Housekeeping in
rooms does not promise much comfort TO 4
persons who live in half grown overgrown I
towns. They picture il as they. have toe |
frequently seen it-a crowded, announcement, .
unridy. illy-ventllatei existence, cramped
compromise between raw poverty and the
borderland of respectability. All that and
worse it often Is, when attempted where there
are neither material conveniences nor man.
agerial skill to keep it from falling into I'M
sightlness But in New York one finds II
perfected into an art, and by no means a low
phase of art, either.
Here the whole tendency il TO compactneSs
and daintiless. II needs the hand % an artist
TO bring tine crude complications o: house
keeping down TO a miniature COMPASS and
still keep the gloss of neatness and attractive
ness thereon. The old saw says that any.
body can work with plenty Of tools, but only
the expert workman can produce something
excellent with few tools. On the saisie grOanis
il might be said that anybody can keep house
nicely who has plenty OF room 10 operate In,
but only genius can keep house beautifully
in small quarters. Here such geniuses are
foand. The crowded condition Of the city
develops them.
II is wonderful what results in the way Of
COW homes can be obtained in the most url-
promising quarters and with the most mex
,eusiye adiuncts when a tasteful and skillful
hand directs matters Housekeeping well
a. everything else can be simpliiied, refined
and iesutifed. The disagreeable features OF
il. the fuss ana furry and clatter which were
once considered a necessary part o: II by
.aal,y Of the rlsh-and-hGT order of house
keepers. have been Thoroughly eliminated oy
/ the needs of this big city, where space Is
more valuable than anything else.
sometimes wonder what one of the old
fashioned housekeepers, who went through
the lay al breakneck pace AMI thought in-
ceSsant work her greatest glory, would think
( if she could enter some little gem of "a New
/ York fiat. no bigger than an old-time kitchen
would be il divided into compartments, and
s.se how smoothly roll the wheels of the mea-
GgsY She wouldn't approve Of il. Of cours,,
because there is no fuss and huriah about il
none Of the signs of hard work, which she
worshiped. and sacrificed her time to, and
made everybody around her uncomfortable
shout. No. there Is none Of that in the per
sected system Of housekeeping "a We sea II
here. where comfort, beauty and coziness
ioil hands to make three OF four rooms intc
"a home.
Ihave friend whose little nome Of three
rooms l. more exquisite In its atmosphere ol
refined comfort than any elegant mansion
/ ever entered She ''does her own work,
.or that i one of the beauties and pleasure,
of the condensed system of housekeeping
no servant 10 bring disorder into the little
bower Of home under pretense of doing the
work The work in this case isn't diff
cult, because. although she and her big son
who occupy all tlyee rooms, have every
comfort they need, her ability 10 plan urr
erringly and execute ski.lfully and speedily
is so great. and the conveniences for such {
stvle OF living 20 numerous here, that thu
actual labor Is only enough TO interest her
Being person of fine education, much cul
ture and extraordinary taste, when richie
took unto themselves wings and flew away
she knew how 10 rob Poverty Of his externa
hideousness. Only an artist could so effect
iyelv reconcile these two mortal enemies
Beauty and Poverty, and get good servic
from both.
GHow does she manage 10 get much out o
little! some one asks. BY being painstakins
by bringing 10 the work of home-making a
rnuch interest, thought and ability "a sh
would bring 10 the work of writing poem
painting picture or rendering the leadin
y6Ie i'm orera. had she been born "A writer
FAINTER or singer She takes pride in he
work. and the results justify it. Som
women are ashamed Of doing housework
sheir own homes. IL they cook meal, or
try TO, they feel degraded and injured most
likely, and wind up by getting irritable and
insult somebody while they are eating It.
rhe truth is, efficiency in any useful direction
should cultivate self-respecr, ard l. bound &c
command the respect of others: ard when
woman brings intellectual ability to th'
work of housekeeping, instead of the wort
degrading her she refnes IL.
But must tell you how my friends horn'
Of three rooms is arranged II is the entir'
l top floor of a house, not fat The larges
room is the sitting room and her own bed
=. chamber the inevitable and somewhat orna
mental upright folding bed doing heroi
, duty as a mediator between comfort an
'looks' sake" The floor is carpeted wit
E fresh and pretty colored mating, with
bright rug in the middle. There are soft
D cream-colored curtains, inexpensive bu
most tastefully banded and looped wit
: warrn-tinted satin and ribbons. There ar
odd bits of furniture that fit well in Cd
places few easy chairs, and good broad
comfortable lounge. There Is a small Eas
lake bookcase full Of books; there are few,
very few, good pictures, and q small nun
= Der Of ornaments The entire furnishings
the room would sell for a song. as the "a,
ing is, but everything is 50 immaculatel
clean. and arranged by such deft an
tasteful hand, that the effect is that Of De
a feet harmony, sweetness and cheerines
The walls are papered with pale yellow an
e cream colors, which light up day or nigh
. and add to the summery atmosphere whic
is part of that room winter or summer.
!, The second large room is divided into tw
y compartments by means Of the useful an
picturesque portiere. One-half is the son
~ bedroom, which is as dainty as dolls hous
. the other IS converted into kitchen, whis
might b. mistaken for mimic cook-roor
y so tiny and orderly are all its belonging
4 Its mistress has an eye to ventilation, as We
v as 10 other things. The cooking Is all don
ON gas stove handsome enough TO adorn
= parlor. and loud smells of fries and broiEs a