Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-14
INCOMPLETE TRAINING.
Housekeeping Knowledge Which Every
Young Wife Should Possess.

Housekeeping Knowledge Which Every
Young Wife Should Possess.
A noticeable portion of the discomfort
of life TO the newly-married arises from
q certain defect in education-we regret
to say ton the part of the wives
Other portions may arise Ito say moth
ing of other shortcomings in the wi7eS
from the eXactions, tyrannies, tempers
and general ill-bchavior on the part of
the husbands. But one serious flaw in
the knowledge and habits of the wives is
sufficient to develop many of these tenn
pers and exactions, and sometimes to
drive the husbands elsewhere for the
comfort that they ought to have at
home.
If II woman marries and undertakes
the conduct of home, it is supposed
that she knows how to conduct the
house, and If she does not know how,
she must learn how; for no matter what
she thinks is woman's sphere in general,
it is certainly her duty to fulfil her obi
cations, and the obligation that she has
here assumed is that of conducting the
household affairs as well rs il is possible
to conduct them.
Yet, in view of this, how mans young
wives are there who, if the cook should
suddenly fail them, can make one single
article Of daily dct-the article of the
morning coffee, for instance-as well
as it ought to be made? Some sort of
coffee, Of course, she could turn out,
but, as a general thing, it would be
a strong and bitter draught, rather
inclined TO be muddy, and not the
clear, amber, translucent amHnl pO-
table that diffuses a rich and pung1nt
odor through the house. Or, aga.n,
take an entirely different branch of
housekeeping atlairs-the washing of
the flannels. Perhaps the husband is
sensitive to the weather, rheumatic or
phthisicky, cannot wear the ordinary
and comparatively inexpensive flannel,
and has to have peculiarly thick and
nice flannel that is very costly, or
evon il he does not differ from the
great majority, but, wearing ilannels
at all, he can not afford to have
them shrunk to nothing, or so that it
is an effort to get into them after they
have been washed a few times, and DIS
likes to 90 about trussed up like a fowl
ready for the spit Ten to one, then,
the second time the new flannCls
tome ont of the wash they will not only
be as stiff as q board, but so shrunken
as 10 be some sizes too small for the
owner In vain the young housckccpcr
has them washed; she thinks her mother
had fannels washed; in vain she asks
all her acquaintance in subtle ways how
Il is that they wash llannes; in vain at
last, she makes no ado, but asks the
scornful elder housekeepers, perhaps,
indeed, her husbands mother among
them, what, course they have pursued
with this troublesome branch of laun-
dry-work; every one has different
way, and few of them right way, and
some of them even tell her there is no
way; and it takes struggle of months,
together with infinite unhappincss,
elimination, recrimination and tears.
in order to make the thing satisfactory,
and to do right mt last that which should
have been done right in the beginning,
The whole trouble is due to defective
j education. For while the young lady
has learned to talk French, to play Schu-
mann and Schubert, to understand
. political economy, and has, it may be,
, all those accomplishments with which
Miss Pinkerton represented Miss Tiilin
to Mrs. Butte Crawlcy, she has not
learned the proper way in which to
make coffee or wash ilannols. 1t was
, supposed, perhaps, that she would never
have such work to do; perhaps SHE
never will; but all the same it is ex
ceedingly desirable that she shall know
how to do it, even if she is never called
, upon to lift finger in the actual effort.
; In some of our schools of lato ccrtaiS
domestic branches have begun to receive
. attention, whether in the intcrlude o.
, books or as of equal Importance. Ono
of these branches is sewing, in whost
: various departments the girls are in
, structed, and proficiency with the needle
: is required of them as much as with the
crayon and blackboard. And although
, as much as that is aSsuredly a grca
gain in public instruction, rs the nea
placing of patch or working of a but
ton-bole is something to bc learnct
, early, yet it would not be amiss II tn,
: matter went still further, and instruc
ton were given in the arts of tho kitch
en-, the laundry, and the buttery as well
: Even If this were too much TO have
, intermingled with the regular and usla
: course of study, it might not be impos
. sible to add it to the course subsequent
. ly. and to consider no girls education
r complete till she has diploma in tn
: common sorts of every day cookery
, and the simple housekeeping usage
which will come into play the momcn
/! that she has a home OF her own. 1t i
{ very well for her to know Greek If sh
Y will, or to be able to read the Vcdas il
/ the original but she is by SO much les
, q woman if she do not know how also [,
: set her house in order. She is tho vic
;, tim of misplaced confidence, tho marty
= to her husband, the slave to her work
q If she has not this knowledge; and
{ she has it, she is mistress of the situa
!, ton, and rules her corner of the worl,
a with an absolute sway from whicl
j. there is not only no appeal, but no wis
y for power of appeal. .-Harpc,'S Bazdr
H -a-e -
IhD,ncrIO lorilRtGc