Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-18
For the Woman's Column
Good Housekeeping.

One of the most essential REQUESTS to
good housekeeping is neatness, and Sec
ondary to this but scarcely of less i'm
portance, is perfect system well carried
out. 1t serves better to regulate the work
than anything else, as il may include all
kinds, whether of greater or less i'm
portance.
Pope says. "order is heavens first law. "
and to gain this permanently it is neces-
sary that everything, however small
should have its place and after use be
carefully restored The house should al
ways be picked up. and no article al
lowed to lie around carelessly.
AS many things of consequence seem
something of a burden, such as cooking,
sweeping, mendirg, washing and ironing
&c, they should never be permitted to
imagination like hideous phantoms, in
creasing the load already ahead and be-
coming a dread for the morrow. All
these require especial attention. and should
each have day for its particular perform
ance. From Monday morning until Sat
urday night definite arrangement made,
whereby they may be disposed of, in
turn, easily and quickly. Little things
too, can be adjusted with the same ease
and regularity. but due allowance
made. at all times. for the inter-
ruptions and draw backs. which con-
stantly occur to prevent ones plans being
perfected. or course, the chief of all this
is the wife or housekeeper. To her
shoulders belong the management of the
house, with all its attendant responsible
ties.
Nothing adds so much to the happiness
of the family, as a well kept house, and
nothing detracts so much from Its pleas
ures, as a negligent uutidy woman at the
helm. When this woman is the wife and
mother the influence is far worse. Usual
ly both parents are paragons of perfection
to juvenile eyes, and the examples set
for them. do much toward moulding the
the future OF the child. Where the moth
err is nurse. cook and chambermaid, ali in
one. much intelligence and tact is needed
by her. to make the home what it should
be. This is well exemplfied in the farm
ers home. Here she is expected to rise at
five and retire-when she can performing
with one pair of hands, all that is necessa-
ry to be done indoors, out of the twenty
four hours. She is required to be neat
tuu paiusthhluS. uut IL Is very uilIlCulJ 10
acquire the reputation of n careful house
keeper. if no assistance is rendered her by
the pater familiss or other members of
the family. To this end, the husband
ought to be pattern of neatness.
When he carelessly comes in
from out door work. without using the
doormat, soiling the tidy floor or carpet.
with mud or whatever may be clinging TO
his feet. or when the hat, coat or boots
are hurridly cast aside in some convenient
chair or corner. it is well to remember SO
much is added to the load of the perhaps
already over ourdened woman. 1t is her
hands which restored the floor to its origi-
nal purity and cleanliness, and she who
patiently hangs up the scattered garments.
The acts of the tobacco user. to whom
legitimately belong all the disorder and
filth OF the habit scarcely need mention
ing. 1t is only trifie to carefully deposit
the pipe filed with ashes on the nicely
busted mantel or window sill, or at will
discharge the entire contents on the car
part or like place convenient. 1t NAV be
useless to speak of the matches wasted
and heedlessly tossed about, or the deli
cate nicety(e) displayed when the ex.
pectations of the chewer reach the
floor and hearth. All these NAV be
only trivial actions. but they serve, never.
theless to weaken the wiie's energies. and