The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-09


air show. r-ysr Iark Sna
--o-
ssentials and Nun Essentials.
lie who should run 10 and fro in the
world seeking to draw a line between
he essentials and the non-esseDiisls q
life. would, If s1ccessful, do more for
in general, and for womsnkind
in particular, than any Of the phiian-
.hropists than ever lived. We are all Of
Us doing twice a. much every day Of our
lives As We need do. We grow bnrden-
ed and bent and gray, chasing after b1b-
bles. We are doing twenty things an
hour, whers ten would snfiiee,' and our
years are ike over-fnll vessels, spiIling
more than they carry.
When see a woman With wri1kIes
aud hollow eyes, and hand that irem-
bles ike an aspen before she IS fory,
know that she has saer'Heed herself 20
the non essentials Of life.
Il IS not essential thai We wear our
selves out keeping 10 the conventional
routine Of traditional system Of house
keeping. Sweep on Friday though the
heavens fall Polish up the silver every
weekiand lay it back in It's dreary des-
uetude. Windows cleaned once week,
though the trump Of doom be sounding.
Floors waxed and all the observances
that prsain to cut and dried custom
maintained, at the expense ofgray hairs
and wrinkles. We are mastered by the
non-essentials Of work, while the essen
tials are ignored or forgotten. Il IS es-
sential that we have nutritious and we'll
cooked food We can do without
pies if the bread be good, and We can
dispense with the waiter girl al the ts-
ble. and some Of the non-essenti4is Of
dainty and eleg tns service, If We are sure
that things are well cooked and clean.
Neatness combined with wb0lssomeness,
and order IS heavens essential law, bat
show is a tyrant non-essential that lays
its heavy yoke upon too many Of Us
1t is essential that our drains be kept
clean and that our plumbing be in good
repair, and yet how many housekeep-
er will strictly enforce the window pol
ishing and the silver rubbing business,
while her kitchen IS full Of the perfumes
Of an uneleanly drain, or the defective
plumbing upstairs turns her bedrooms,
for all their embroidered shams and cost
" ornamentation, into veritable gate
ways to death
How many conscientious Housewives
keep their homes right up to the stand
ard, 50 far as non-essentia. observances
20. and vet strangely forget the essential
and fundamental laws Of hygiene, com
fort and heart delight l would ratner
be a burr on a burdock bush, than dwell
in the best kept home that any carefsl
Martha ever presided over if that home
we're ruled by the arbitrary nOn-essen-
tiais Of east-iron rule and superficial and
ostentatious show.
/ Itis not essential that housecleaning
time should be fortaste Of the bad
place; that the foundations Of the solid
earth should be rent up by the roots
that red-armed daughters Of Erin 81 ould
descend upon US and toss rs on soaPy
sea over the rapids Of household anarchy
and despair. Il is essential, though,
that week by week and month by month
we keep the home wholesome and sweet
with plenty Of air and sun, and that. as
nature does, We apply the law ofaverase
so that we need no periodic upheaval
of the central forces once 4 year TO cleanse
us. Burn up the rubbish as We 90 along
or give away what can be Of service
Keep no numbering trunks and dark
closets filed with non-essentials to bs
repacked and sorted over twice year.
Ii is not essential that our hospitality
become our hardest task-masfer, and tina
to entertain our friends, and keep up Il
the social standard about Us, We kill JOY
and murder peace. Ifthe friend whom
we expect, is coming merely to be fe,
and entertained, it would be as well fo
him, and better for Us, if We pay hi
! board at frst-class hotel. 1t is essentia
that we teach our children that the frs
grace of hospitality is its sincerity, ant
that to be honest and sincere oyer a dr.
cracker, is better than to be a hypOcrit'
and a sycophant over a roasted OK viii
a dressing Of fine herbs Fussy displa,
and overdone pomposity are the non
essentials that make the finest feast
burden, and the most polished host
time-server.-Amjsr.