The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-12-23
HOW TO KEEP HOUSE.

A Brief, But Wise, Treatise On . Subject of
Great Interest.
Women are always somewhat super
sensitive about their work. There is
probably no point on which this super
sens.tiveness is more displayed than
that of Housekeeping. To be called a
slack" housekeeper stings q woman
to the quick. no matter how deserved
the impeachment may be; yet the mo-
ment q woman does that he is X ting
herself in her housekeeping to do o
than she otherwise would for fear that
''people will talk" that moment she
begins to endanger her whole theory of
life. 1t is this keeping house 81 as to
please society and to p!acate 1.-THE neigh
bors" which is at tho bottom of much
of the overwork and the bel. Lifting of the
mind, which are the bane of house,
keepers.
Don't try to keep your house too
Clean" says q clever writer, '.or else q
step-mother will bring up your chill
dren."
Tn 8 simple but interesting ~presenta-
ton of the matter throws a flood of
l ght upon it. It intimates that q
housekeeper has duties besides keeping
house and paramount to that one.
A housekeeper is usually a wife. A
wife, besides seeing that her husband
meals and neat clothes. should make
herself q companion for HIM. HIS
mind is usually sharpened by activity
in business or professional life. She
must see to it that her mind is kept as
sharp as possible, by reading and study.
She should try to remain, so far as her
effort can go, what she probably was
in the days of their courtship-tbe
most interest ng 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 tie most
charm g 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 con-
versation. Whose else a be 30 good
for them as hersp She should see to 1t
that they have those In full measure and
of good quality.
She is also a member of some social
circle. The greatest work that women
can do to improve the social fabric is,
f course. in the home; but there arc
many outs de duties VIII oh no self-re-
spect ng oma should neglect, and fot
VIII CHI she should save q portion of her
time and strength.
The keeping of the house, then, is
only one of several vocations of the
house-keeper, and subord nate to those
of the W fe, the mother and the social
being. That is to say the keeping Of
the house in which fam ly and friends
are to be fed and sheltered is only n
means to the securing of their health
pegins to think OF the cleaning and
cooking as ends n themselves, and de-
votes herself to the. to such an extent
that her usefulness in higher spheres is
imp / ed, 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.
Relegaue c~onversat on about the house
hold affairs to the background. unless
the humorous side is uppermost. See
that good meals, plain and substantial,
are served, no matter what cleaning Or
other work is going on. Do not tire
yourself ont with trying to do double
work in q day. BY system this can he
avoided. Never mind what 1.-the neigh
bors'' say. Keep continually in mind
that you are keep ng house not for the
sake of keeping house, but to make
homes in which husbands and children
and friends shall thrive and re oiee con
tinually.-Eate. Epson Clarke, n CAs
oaoo Inter. Ocean.