Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-05-10
WORKINGWOMEN.
Those Who Fail to Learn How to be
Practical.
[Woman,s World. |

[Woman,s World.
There are few sadder sights in the world
than to see an intelligent sober artisan
married to an ordinary domestic servant
such unions are very commOn) and observe
the progress of their lives, say. for year.
They have both saved a little money, and
take cottage, which they furnish, mot
wisely, but too WELL" and commence life
under, apparently, the most favorable cir
cumstances.
They have delightful breakfasts and
dinners. Jack never lived so well In his
life, even when a single man, and he thinks
what real treasure he has found in Jill" "
She loves him devotedly, thinks she can
never do enough for him, and that nothing
is too good to give him to eat. She had
helped in the kitchen" in her last place,
and being an observant girl, with pros
pect of a home of her own, she watched
the cook and certainly learned great deal.
But, unfortunately, she had picked up, not
only cooks skill but her extravaganza,
and when quarter day came round Jack
remembered, with start that they had
both forgotten it and also the un-
interesting but undeniable fact that
boots and clothing wear out and
there was no provision at all for
replacing them. They had been very
happy and enjoyed themselves very much,
and Jill declared that they really had
nothing out of the way, after all )" only
she forgot that the style of cooking in a
rich mans kitchen is not suitable for
poor mans cottage. Fried fish need not
of necessity be an expensive dish, but ac-
cording to modern methods OF cookery 1T
is, and exceedingly indigestible into the
bargain, soaked as it generally is with
lukewarm fat and half smothered in a
semi cooked mess called melted butter"
ne-half of which is invariably wasted.
There is total ignorance with regard to
the use of fire. Three times as much coal
as is really necessary is burned; saucepans,
frying pans and kettles get worn In no
time These may seem sordid and unin-
teresting details but to the worklngman's
wife they are, or ought to be, matters of
vital importance, and should be taken into
consideration; for if all the wages are spent
in being comfortable and having things
nice, there is a good chance OF poverty
coming in at the window even before love
has looked toward the window.
And yet in such case the woman is
scarcely to be blamed; she means well, but
she knows no better. She initiates to the
best of her ability what she has seen pre-
sumably better informed people do, but
10 .-rSvIae~Iy IguOTanU Uutn as 10 Une
value of the food she buys and cooks and
also the proportion of wages that should
be spent on it. In fact, domestic servants
make about the worst, instead of the best,
wives for workingmeD, for they have ideas
beyond their means. With better training
with any training would understand
that what might be very appropriate
"dish" for wealthy idle man, would be in
no way suitable for poor, hard working
man. If economy were practicpd by the
wealthy classes the poor would uDques-
tionably soon benefit by it. If servants
were properly trained and children prop
erly educated, much of the sinful waste
that goes on every day would be avoided
and poor people would be much healthier and
happier. There is hardly any class unless
the very wealthy )who do not suffer more or
less from extravagant cooking and waste.
In lodgings, to persons with fixed incomes,
it becomes very serious matter. Milk,
butter, eggs, sugar, cheese, spices and such
things vanish in the most astonishing way,
though the landlady and servants may be
most scrupu!ously honest. They have
simply got into wasteful way, and until
that way is amended no amount of culture
or amusement or increased wages will i'm
prove the domestic condition of the wives
of workingmen or the homes of working