Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-18
KITCHEN DRESS.
HOW WOMEN SHOULD PREPARE
FOR CULINARY WORK.
Combining the Useful With the
BeautifuF-MakingB Both Service
able for Domestic Purposes.

The uniform insisted upon SoY women
by those who direct gymnastic exercises is
the only one appropriate .or homework, so
far as undergarmenss are concerned. No
corsets, loose bands, and the weight of the
skirt suspended from she shoulders, is the
only formula for a comfortable working
dress for women that ever has or ever esn
be given. We hear, in fancy, the exela-
nation, uttered by ar overwhelming
chorus of feminine voices. "No corsets 2
Give up our supporters?' and we make no,
reply save airy it."
Leaving the matter of srderclothine
the outer garments should certainly be
made in one piece. For stout women
wrapper in Gabrielle or princess fashion is
the most becoming, while for slender forms
the plain full skirt attached to a spencer
or yoke waist is more desirable. For ma
terial, cotton -ginghams, seersuckers
or calico-are the only suitable fabrics for
working dresses. These can be worn the
year round by lining with heavy I'M
bleached muslin for winter, and, if neces-
sary, adding an extra undergarment. In
these one can always feel and look tidy.
Wooden material has such an affinity for
ashes, dust and grease that if worn one
must either spend much valuable time and
strength brushing and cleaning or pass for
a sloven. Bingham and seersucker are
preferable to calico. 1t takes no longer to
make them up, and although they cost
twice as much, they will wear twice as
long. The crinkled seersuckers, too, re-
quire no starehing, and but little, if any
ironing. Medium colors are to be pre-
ferred, except, perhaps, in midwinter
Another very pretty style of making
these dresses for slight women, which we
omitted to mention, is basque waist with
full skirt shirred on it. Simplicity for
working costumes cannot be too strongly
urged.
The accessories of a working toilet are
as important as those of ball attire. A
white collar is Indispensable Some ladies
prefer paper TO linen for morning wear.
As anything white at the wrists is out of
the question, a ruffie of the same material
forms neat finish for sleeves. This may
vary in width to suit the taste of the
wearer. Neatly arranged hair is an i'm
portant an item as the collar. Frizzes,
while more becoming to most faces than
plain bands or pompadours, are not al
together neat for the kitchen. Moreover,
steam and perspiration are sworn foes to
curls that are not natural.
Kitchen aprons, gloves and caps, to be
worn when sweeping, busting and attend
ing to fires, are essential to cleanliness and
soft hands. ooh, l can't bother with
glove" exclaims some one. How much
trouble and time are necessary to the Slip
ping on of a pair of loose gloves kept in
convenient place? And how amply re-
paid is one for the infnitesimal amount
of both involved when she takes up her
sewing. Consider, too, how much more
soothing the touch of soft hands to the lit
tie ones and invalids than that of hard
palms and rough, cracked fingers.
Caps should be worn only when neces-
sary, as covering the hair tends to produce
badness.
Shoes must not be forgotten. The ankles
tire when slippers are worn, and heavy
shoes are apt to cause WEAKNESS, although
useful when the ground is wet. Cloth
shoes with moderately thick soles are the
most comfortable when working about the
house. Be sure to wear shoes sufficiently
large, or you will reap bitter harvest of
corns, bunions and tender feet Overshoes
should be kept in a convenient place to be
put on when necessary.
Change the dress after bathing the hands
and combing the hair, when the main
work of the day is over. Rest and refresh
ment invariably attend this custom, no
matter how tired one may be. If too ut
terly exhausted to attempt this, rest as
sured that you are o7ertaxing yourself to
an extent dangerous in the extreme.
Change of dress, if only from one calico,
is always to be made then if possible.
A sponge bath of cold or tepid water
also often rests one when very tired. This
can be taken in ten minutes, as it is better,
if one has not time to do more, to simply
wiring the cloth or sponge nearly dry and
go over the surface Of the body once, rub
bling thoroughly afterward with Turkish
towels, than to omit daily bathing entirely
Those who do homework need to battle
oftener than those who do not.
Pumice stone, good soap, scrubbing-
brushes for the hands, lemon Juice for
stains, and vaseline or rose water and
glycerine or cold cream should be kept on
a shelf over the kitchen sink. To apply
one of the last frequently to the hands,
and also to occasionally rub the face and
neck with dry cloth tends to keep the
skin and hands in good condition. When
you see the cloth after rubbing you will
be amazed to discover that you had so
dirty face. The face and neck should
always be cleaned before going to bed by
using a dry cloth or one moistened in
tepid water, or cold cream, or something
of the sort, applied. For the morning
and afternoon washes cold water is more
refreshing and stimulating than warm.
1t is we'll always to apply an unguent after
washing, rubbing off and in, when used
during the day. By using these means no
woman need have the coarse, rough, I'M
naturally dark skin which is undeniably
produced by constant housework, unless
some precaution be taken to counterfeit its
effect. Have the appliances convenient,
and after the habit of using them is once
formed you will find it harder to forget
these luxuries than il was at first to re-
member them.-Idble Talk.