The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-11
Why do we Keep House?
BY KATE UpsoN CLARKE,

BY KATE UPsoN CLARKE,
Editor of Good Cheer. contributor to Harper's
Christian Union, ETC., etc.
Women are always somewhat su-
persensitive about their work. There
is probably no point on which this
Representatives, is more displayed
than that of housekeeping. To be
called "slack" housekeeper stings a
woman to the quick, no matter how
deserved the impeachment may be ;
yet the moment women does that
she is exciting herself in her house
keeping to do more than she other
wise would; for fear that "people
will talk" that moment she begins
to endanger her whole theory of life.
1t is this keeping house so as to please
society and to placate 1.-The neigh
bors" which is at the bottom of much
of the Cverwork and the belitting of
the mind, which are the bane of
housekeepers.
"Don't try to keep your house too
clean," says a clever writer, cor else
a stepmother will bring up your
children"
This simple but strong presenta-
ton of the matter throws a food of
light upon it. 1t intimates that a
housekeeper has duties besides keep
ing house and paramount to that one.
A hOusekeeper is usually Wife.
A wife, besides seeing that her hus-
band has clean rooms to live in, we'll
cooked meals and neat clothes, should
make herself companion for him.
His mind is usually sharpened by
his activity in business or profess
sional life. She must see to it that
her own mind is kept as sharp as
possible, by reading and study. She
should try to remain 80 far as her
efforts can go what she probably was
in the days of their courtship-the
most interesting person in the world
for him to be with. Above all things,
she must keep herself well and strong
or else good spirits. which are the
most charming attributes in either
man or woman, will be lacking.
Then she is usually a mother. Her
children are full of questions. They
desire her companionship and her
conversation. Whose else can be as
good for them as hers? She should
see to it that they have these in full
measure and of good quality.
She is also a member of some social
circle. The greatest work that wo-
man can do to improve the social
fabric is, of course, in the home but
there are many outside duties which
no self-respecting woman should ne
glect, and for which she should save
portion of her time and strength.
The keeping of the house, then, is
only one of several vocations of the
housekeeper, and subordinate to those
of the wife. the mother, and the
social being. That is to say, the
keeping of the home in which fam
lily and friends are to be fed and shell
tered is only means to the securing
of their health and happiness. Just
as soon as woman begins to think
of the cleaning and cooking as ends
in themselves, and devOtes herself to
them to such an extent that her USE
fitness in higher spheres is impaired,
she is making a mistake. Keep the
balance true. Remember that the
objects of our earthly toll are to keep
our loved ones well and happy. Rel
egate conversation about the house
hold affairs to the background, I'M
less the humorous side is uppermost.
See that good meals, plain and sub
stantial, are served, no matter what
cleaning or other work is going on.
Do not tire yourself out with trying
to do double work in day. By sys-
tenn this can be avoided. Never
mind what "the neighbors" say.
Keep continually in mind that you
are keeping house not for the sake of
keeping house, but to make homes
in which husbands and children and
friends shall thrive and rejoice con-
tinually.