The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-05-18
Ladies' Department.
A Modern Linen Press.
(Concluded.)

which is so frequently encountered
in households, where money is freely
spent in other directions, aad at
tempted to account for it by the ex-
pense incurred by the first purchase,
which of course would be quite
heavy.
"Probably," returned the lady;
'sand yet, all in all, exclusive of real
linen, which, as far as bedlinen is
concerned, can easily be dispensed
with, very fair collection can be
made for sixty dollars, and a hun
dred dollars will stock closet as
large as this with excellent linens.
But do you knoS where / place the
blame? Upon the housewives moth.
err. In this county the majority Of
the women consider their daughters
trousseau complete when sufficient
personal apparel has been provided
for the exigencies of one or more
years Why do they not follow the
customs of their own grandmothers,
or Of every Continental mother, and
give the daughter about to take
charge of new household sufficient
linen tor every emergency? This
collection dates from the nucleus
provided in my trousseau, and as ]
never deviate from the rule Of imme-
diately replacing whatever is drawn
from the reserve stock, my shelves
are always moderately well supplied.
Exclusive OF real linen, and more
or less deliberately embroidered
sheets and pillow-eases, the amount
of money required to mike such a
nucleus is not large. OF course the
size of the reserve stock will govern
the cost; and if the collection is but
modest. no doubt scanty reserve
will often have to be drawn upon to-
cover the demands made by sickness,
or by the presence OF strangers
within the gates; but this need deter
no one from making beginning.
Since you have shown interest in a
subject SO dear TO my hehrt, allow
me to give you a rough estimate of
the amount required to purchase a
moderate stock of good quality; for
here, as everywhere else in the
household, cheap and coarse mater
ials prove dearer in the end, and are
unlovely while they last: 6 table
cloths (varied lengths), SIS, 2 dozen
napkins, 81; ! doz. tea napkins. $3.50;
2 doz. towels, 81 so, 6 honey-cemb
spreads, Sc; Is sheets, p yards by
p, $3.50; doz. pairs pillow-slips.
4 by I, 81; doz. dish towels. 81 SO;
/ doz. glass towels, $3.50; ] doz bath
towels, 81 SO; J doz. kitchen hand
towels, 80 cents; 4 roller kitchen
towels, 81 5O-making in all. SCI 40.
"Of course with the above esti-
mate household say of four persons
and q servant will be able to Law
aside only q small reserve stock.
On the basis OF three beds, each re-
quiring honey.comb quilt, two
sheets, and two pillow cases, six
sheets and twelve pairs of pillow
slips can be reserved; probably six
towels and two bath towels (for the
servant will use the kitchen hand
towels in her room) can also be
spared; while two table cloths, a
dozen napkins, half dozen glass
and half a dozen dish towels would
make a good showing on the upper
shelf. You think the reserve stock
too insignificant to be called such?
/ have not taken into consideration
the fact that most households have
already some stock on hand, and in |
such cases more of the linens can be |
added TO the reserve; or il it be a |
new household just sprung into ex.
istence, and the family consists Of
Adam and Eye alone, less linens are
required in use, and the reserve is
correspondingly increased. And
granting that the reserve be small,
remember it can be gradually in
creased. and an occasional five
dollar bill. judiciously invested
will make a respectable addition to a
scantlly filed shelf. Perhaps you
have noticed that l have made no
al urnuao Co., coo 49, af roooaap nharOoc2